War & Watermelon by Rich Wallace, a Junior Library Guide selection, is set in 1969 in New Jersey just as the Vietnam War is beginning to rage and Woodstock is ready to rock suburban New York. New Jersey brothers Brody and Ryan take a road trip to the concert of their generation as Ryan continues to avoid questions from his parents about his future, particularly college, and the draft. Brody is just about to start junior high school and is eager to join the football team, but his world is insular in that his main focus is football, girls, the Mets, and the Top 40 hits.

“I grab the ball, make a juke to the right, and send a line drive over the clothesline and directly into the basket. The bell rings. Ryan puts his hands on his hips and stares at the ceiling. I raise my fists and say, ‘Yes!’

I carefully move past the shirt — it looks more like polka dots than tie-dye — and smack hands with him. ‘Champion,’ I say, patting myself on the chest.

‘Mr. Clutch,’ he says. ‘ Best in the basement, for sure.’” (page 23)

Told in Brody’s point of view, the novel thrusts readers into the life of a teenage boy who only thinks about sports and girls. But it’s more than that for Brody. He’s worried about fitting in at junior high and whether his brother will be drafted into the Vietnam War in September when he turns 18. The prose is clipped and focused, with breaks between scenes as Brody’s mind shifts from football worries to family concerns and between girls and the start of school.

Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2011/06/war-watermelon-by-rich-wallace.html ( )

I am SO glad I got the chance to experience Rich Wallace's writing. He really knows how to create his characters, give them flaws and unique personalities, blend them with a life-like plot and bring it to life for the young readers. Not to mention the cover of this book totally ROCKS! I love the "hippie" era (as I like to refer to it...) and I LOVE watermelon so the combo of the peace sign from the watermelon was spot on for me! Really captured my eye and would have made this a book I would have snatched up off the shelf.

If I snatched this book up off the shelf solely on the cover, I would not have been disappointed with the outcome of the book itself. Brody, Tony, Ryan, Jenny and Skippy....all the characters were awesomely created. I felt a connection (albeit motherly!) to 12 year old Brody, as he told his story from back in the summer of '69. I know I know, that's a song, but I just couldn't help myself. It's one of my FAVORITE "hippie" songs (I so wish I could have been born back then....I LOVE the songs, I LOVE the clothes.....what can I say, I'm a hippie geek at heart!). He was that awkward age of 12 years old, he wasn't quite into girls, but they weren't quite as disgusting. He adored his big brother Ryan, and his best friend Tony...well let's just say that he was the perfect best friend for 12 year old Brody.

But, more than anything, is the world. Brody's story takes place in a world where war is raging on around them. Ryan is about to be drafting age, and instead of applying to college to do something about that, he's goofing off, going to places like Woodstock and hanging out with his girlfriend Jenny and her friend Skippy. It's not such a carefree life, but Brody does what he can to make the best of it. It is truly a piece of history brought to life through the eyes of 12 year old Brody.

I truly think that any young reader would love this book. It's a fast paced, easy read. Recommended for a day at the beach or poolside, definitely. It's 5 star worthy and gives a lesson in a not-so-easy-world life and the raging Vietnam war, while still being funny and engaging for those young minds. I'll be setting this book on the self for my soon-to-be 9 year old son to read. I know he'll love it as much as I did. I hope that Rich Wallace has more fun, history filled young reading books for us kid-at-heart book lovers! ( )