AUGUST 2009 Alternate BOM Selection
Mare’s War by Tanita S. Davis
Knopf Books for Young Readers, June 2009
Hardcover, 352 pages, $16.99
ISBN-10: 0375857141
ISBN-13: 978-0375857140
Book Description
Meet Mare, a grandmother with flair and a fascinating past.
Octavia and Tali are dreading the road trip their parents are forcing them to take with their grandmother over the summer. After all, Mare isn’t your typical grandmother. She drives a red sports car, wears stiletto shoes, flippy wigs, and push-up bras, and insists that she’s too young to be called Grandma. But somewhere on the road, Octavia and Tali discover there’s more to Mare than what you see. She was once a willful teenager who escaped her less-than-perfect life in the deep South and lied about her age to join the African American battalion of the Women’s Army Corps during World War II.
Told in alternating chapters, half of which follow Mare through her experiences as a WAC member and half of which follow Mare and her granddaughters on the road in the present day, this novel introduces a larger-than-life character who will stay with readers long after they finish reading.
About the Author
Tanita S. Davis is the author of the young adult novel A la Carte, published by Knopf in June 2008. A native Californian, she lives in Glasgow, Scotland.
Author’s Website
http://www.tanitasdavis.com
I really loved this book! I’m a historical fiction lover and I knew almost nothing about the WAC so this book was right up my alley. But it’s also good for people who aren’t too into historical fiction, especially the sometimes humourous, sometimes touching present day parts.
Ari, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I just received my book today, so I can’t wait to read this one.
-Tee
Several Color Online readers have read and love this book. Thrilled to see it here. Tanita is a talented writer and a great person. Thanks for the post.