Under review

This book is from the My Name is America series.Patrick turned down college scholarships to enlist in the Marines. In December 1967, just out of basic training, he finds himself in Vietnam, "on a combat base, out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains, and jungle-and- a whole lot of enemy soldiers." His journal is an intense and vivid record of the loneliness, confusion, comradeship, and suffering during the four months spent under constant assault by the North Vietnamese at Khe Sanh. Naive and provincial, the teen is transformed and matured by combat. He develops a close friendship with Bebop, a Detroit jazz musician, and begins to question whether he and his comrades are actually accomplishing anything. "Too much shelling, too many mortar attacks, too many casualties. Not enough food, water, and mail." Patrick writes that he doesn't want to make any more friends, "because you keep losing them all the time." In April, 1968, the men of Hill 881S are sent to a "safe" base at Quang Tri. There, in an ironic twist of fate, Patrick is badly injured, and Bebop is killed in a rocket attack. Based on extensive research, Journal is supplemented with photographs, a map, a historical note, and an epilogue. ( )

This was probably one of the better books in My Name is America series. I was really excited because I know it coincided with one of the Dear America books, so it was cool too see Patrick's side of things. On a more heavier note, this is a book about a war, a very brutal war, and even though this is meant for middle grade children, that still comes across very well. It seemed believable and I wanted to keep reading this book. Well done. 4.5 out of 5 stars. ( )

Bizarre fictionalized introduction to the entire Vietnam War that shows Khe Sahn US Marines as callused and fatalistic young men. This young adult narrative takes the form of a journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty.

This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not. ( )