Soldier Boys - Hardcover

Hughes, Dean

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689817487 ISBN 13: 9780689817489

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001

Synopsis

As one American teen proves his worth to his father and dedication to his country by joining the Army's paratroopers, a fifteen-year-old German boy is working hard as a member of the Hitler Youth in preparation for his big moment on the battlefields of World War II.

About this title

About the Author

Dean Hughes is the author of more than eighty books for young readers, including the popular sports series Angel Park All-Stars, the Scrappers series, the Nutty series, the widely acclaimed companion novels Family Pose and Team Picture, and Search and Destroy. Soldier Boys was selected for the 2001 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list. Dean Hughes and his wife, Kathleen, have three children and six grandchildren. They live in Midway, Utah.

From School Library Journal

Gr 7-9-Parallel stories follow teenagers Spence Morgan, a farm boy from Utah, and Dieter Hedrick, a farm boy from Bavaria. Stirred by complex feelings of patriotism and adolescent insecurities, both young men find themselves fighting for their respective countries in World War II. The first part of the story follows Spence from his small-town life to the rigors of basic training as a paratrooper; Dieter has left his family in order to supervise other Hitler youth, digging trenches on the German border. Then suddenly, both teens are thrust into the chaos and carnage of the Battle of the Bulge. Dieter has his eyes opened somewhat by a disillusioned and embittered corporal in his unit. Spence learns of war's truths when his best friend dies. The novel comes alive in these final chapters, capturing the soldiers' struggles to stay warm and to overcome their fear, and the battle scenes place readers in the center of the action. Hughes doesn't flinch from describing the devastating effect of a bullet. Soldier Boys rises above the clich‚s of standard World War II stories and serves as a reminder that wars are often fought by young people like those we see every day in our libraries.

Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0689817487
• ISBN 13: 9780689817489
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 159