The storyline for Countdown follows Franny Chapman's life living in America during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Along with the story, Deborah Wiles includes footage from the 1960s. The storyline kept me on the edge of my seat and, despite living in a different time period I really connected with the main character. I learned a lot about the Cuban Missile Crisis and that time in American history that I wouldn't learn in a classroom setting.
I've read plenty of historical fiction but this one was formatted like a documentary with the pictures and quotes from the 1960s. I highly recommend it for anyone, whether you are an avid reader of historical fiction, or not. It's the first book in a trilogy about America in the 1960s and I'll definitely be looking for the next book.