Thursday, October 20, 2011

Countdown by Deborah Wiles

4 stars
JF

A "documentary novel" filled with propaganda posters of the time.

I've got to say, I knew nothing about the Cuban Missile Crisis until watching Xmen First Class a couple weeks ago and then reading this novel.  (That's a sad sad knowledge base, I know.  I'm just too young.  And to be honest, so are my parents!)

Anyway, this is the story of Franny Chapman and her family, her fears, her "friends" and the crisis that made most of the world hold its breath for 13 days.  And how life continues even while you're holding your breath.

Because of the style and all the extra material it reads a little like a memoir or nonfiction, so it's a little slower going, but worth the time.

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