by Joyce Moyer Hostetter
For those students looking for good World War II historical fiction, only from the interesting perspective of a small town in North Carolina, look no further. This sequel to the novel Blue finds fourteen-year-old Ann Fay Honeycutt recovering from polio, while adjusting to life without her four-year-old brother, who sadly loses his battle with this frightening illness. In addition, Ann Fay is welcoming home her beloved "Daddy" who is just returning from fighting in the war. Unfortunately, as a result of being shell shocked and flooded with terrible memories of what he saw while fighting on the front lines, her father is greatly changed. While trying to adjust to her new life on crutches, including dealing with the pain of returning to school a year behind her classmates because of her hospitalization, she believes she must continue to be the "man" of the family. This is because her father no longer seems capable of filling this role. Happily, Ann Fay receives a golden opportunity to rehabilitate at the FDR Warm Springs Foundation. Franklin Delano Roosevelt is not only the President of the United States, but her inspiration, and she is excited about the possibility of running into him. But how can she leave her family in North Carolina to take care of herself in Georgia? With an unstable, out of work father, a grieving mother, twin sisters and a new baby on the way, Ann Fay must find the courage to heal herself first. Upon arriving at Warm Springs, she soon learns how quickly a person can heal when surrounded by warmth, understanding, and support. Surrounded by people who share her struggles, Ann Fay is thriving in her new home. However, something happens to her parents which causes her to leave the friends she has come to love in order to rescue her family once again. Will she be able to succeed this time? Or will she learn that it's alright to ask for help when it is needed, even if the aid comes from an unlikely person? Through Ann Fay's moving, at times humorous narration, readers will feel close to her and family, and will be rooting her on as she strives to regain her strength and mobility, as well as rally back from the overwhelming pain and loss around her.
Recommended for grades 6-12
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter