Synopses & Reviews
Thirteen-year-old Tommy Duncan just wants to root for the Brooklyn Dodgers and listen to the radio. But itas 1940 and the world is changing. His friend Beth just wants to talk about the war in Europe. Thatas an ocean away, though, and Tommy has more immediate concernsalike Beth looking pretty and his motheras declining health. The stories of a Jewish friend at school, however, begin to make the war more real to him.
Set in the Isolationist periodaa time in U.S. history rarely explored in childrenas literatureathis moving novel features a hero who struggles with first love, family responsibilities, and Americaas role in the world.
Review
"[A] satisfying historical novel."
-Kirkus ReviewsSynopsis
Thirteen-year-old Tommy Duncan just wants to root for the Brooklyn Dodgers and listen to his favorite radio programs. But it?s 1940, and the world is about to change. All his friend Beth wants to discuss is the war in Europe. Don?t talk to Tommy about that, though. He has more immediate concerns? like Beth starting to wear earrings and his mother?s declining health. The stories of a Jewish friend at school, however, begin to make the war more real to him, and Tommy, like the world around him, is sure to be forever changed.
Synopsis
Set in the Isolationist period--a time in U.S. history rarely explored in children's literature--this moving novel features a hero who struggles with first love, family responsibilities, and America's role in the world in the year 1940.
About the Author
David A. Adler is the author of more than two hundred books for young readers. For each day he wrote about in Don't Talk to Me About the War, he had that day's newspaper at his side. He listened to scores of tapes of the same radio broadcasts that Tommy Duncan speaks of in the novel. He lives in Woodmere, New York. This is his first middle-grade novel.