I was looking for some war-y historical fiction to bring some variety to my junior high booktalks. I started with [b:The Right Fight|17981402|The Right Fight (World War II, #1)|Chris Lynch|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375754413s/17981402.jpg|25212270] book one of Chris Lynch's WWII series and I DNF'd after a few chapters, which were all about baseball and dames and seemed a little too twee, honestly. (I'm assuming that's not a fair representation of the book, since I figure they eventually go off to war, but... anyway. Back to the book I actually read.)

I wouldn't necessarily run out and endorse this for adult readers but I think it's hard to find stories about war that are not TOO graphic but also aren't boring, and I think this is a good fit for middle school readers who are interested in war. It's also a skillful balance between pointing out that HOLY SHIT, NAPALM IS FUCKED UP but without demonizing individual soldiers? There's a lot going on in a pretty short book but it doesn't feel overwhelming.

* note: there isn't extremely graphically described violence in this, but there is a suicide.