Summary: When her brother is sent to fight in Vietnam, twelve-year-old Jamie begins to reconsider the army world that she has grown up in. 163 p., Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
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Eva Perry Mock-Newbery Club 
This story takes place during the Vietnam War, and the protagonist is an “army brat,” that is, a girl whose dad is in the military. She admires her father so much that she is really surprised when he doesn’t want her older brother to join the military. When her brother goes to Vietnam, he sends her pictures instead of letters, and her perception of war begins to change. This is a believable story with a likeable main character, and I enjoyed it right up until the end, which I found to be sudden. It wrapped up all the action without really having a satisfying conclusion. Of course, that may just be my perception, and you may feel differently. Excellent writing, though, from a Durham author who visited our group a couple of years ago.
I agree. I wanted it to go on a lot longer. The setting is historical, but the characters are timeless.
I loved the characters in this book. They were complex and not always what they appeared to be at first. They also changed as the story developed.
This was a great book! I enjoyed the writing style because it was not overly descriptive but still got the point across well enough for me to understand the book properly and in detail. The plot was good, but in parts I felt that the same idea was being used more then once. This book was most enjoyable and I think that it has a good shot for winning or at least honoring our Mock Newbery Award.
I feel that this book is full of characters changing and revealing their true personality. I like how the author uses the timeless topic of realizing the horrors of war from a historical perspective. Dowell also incorporates the subject of photography in an interesting way. This book has Newbery potential.
I really liked this book, and I think it has a good chance of winning. However, I have two criticisms however, first I’m not sure this book is distinguished, I kept thinking about another book called Greetings from Planet Earth while I read this, and secondly, I was not entirely satisfied with the ending, the author never explained why TJ kept taking pictures of the moon!! Also it seemed that the author just ended the book. She rushed her plot a little. On a positive note, I did like how the author was able to work in comparisons to todays war and how families of troops fighting in Iraq must feel.
I have a theory about why the characters keep taking pictures… I think they were counting the days by taking a picture of the moon every night. And if you think about what else they were taking pictures of around the same time and what was going on in the book then, you can sort of figure out some more about what the characters might be feeling and doing during those times.
I loved the characters and the change between there thoughts. Yet i did not want it to end so quickly.
I thought the ending was just fine. It would’ve been interesting to see what happens later, but I didn’t feel that it was rushed. I liked the rest of the book too. It has Newbery potential.
well, it might be chosen by the Newbery comitee, but i found this book rather slow. it seemed to drag a bit. still, i did like the card playing dude, i think his name was holister or something like that. forgive me if i am mistaken
This book was really good and the ending was sad, but i liked it. it wasn’t that distinguished, so i don’t think it could win the newbery, but it will be really popular.
During our First Top 3 Vote this year, the following comment was made about this book:
“This book has all year remained at the top of my list, and the details have are still freshly in my mind.”
I Really Enjoyed this book.
i didn’t mind the ending, i just wished it went on longer ( ;
i know i agree too