12-year-old Jamie has lived her whole life being told that the Army is the best way. Yet when her brother T.J. enlists in the Medical Corps, her father acts as if he does not want him to join. He constantly tries to get him to change his mind, but to no avail. T.J. is soon shipped out to Vietnam. While working at her summer job at the local rec center, Jamie hears many stories about the horrors of war, but nothing can influence her enough to change her opinion of it. Until one day, T.J. sends her a roll of film from the battlefield. As she develops it in the dark room she starts to see that the Army is not all she thought it was. When a devastating tragedy strikes her family, Jamie's eyes are opened to the terrible truth.
I thought that Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell was very well-written. As war is a rather sensitive subject these days, she did an excellent job making the mood of the book neither pro-war nor anti-war. She just told the truth. I also thought it was a smart choice for her to put the story in first person. It made the book easier to relate to, and you could understand better what the main character's feelings were. I would recommend this book to everyone in upper elementary and older. There are a couple spots of brief, mild profanity. However, it is a very valuable read.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA USA
