![]() ![]() ![]() When Matt finally finds the courage to tell his own story, he not only begins to heal himself, but the many survivors of a senseless war who have come home to broken lives: “ She gave her child to a bunch / of American soldiers … / Jeff emphasizes the first syllable / in soldier / as if it were souldiers, / … so we must have done / something good.” ![]() When he makes the baseball team at school, he is bullied by a teammate who lost his older brother to war: “ My brother died / because of you.” He finds solace in the music he begins to play, lessons given by a gentle Vietnam vet named Jeff. He remains haunted by memories of his birthmother and little brother, even while he refuses to intone the name of his abandoning American birthfather.Īlthough young Matt left death behind, he cannot escape the relentless nightmares. He fears his new family, as gentle and loving as they are, will send him back if they ever found out what really happened in Vietnam. As one of the first groups of children airlifted out of an imploding Vietnam, Matt begins life anew on the other side of the world with a welcoming mother, father, and little brother. By age 10, Matt Pin has already had a harrowing life as a child of war. Not only will you be unable to put this down, you’ll have to be careful to remember to breathe while reading this unforgettable debut novel written entirely in free verse. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |