Reviews by Children: This category gives children and young adults the opportunity to express their opinion of a book—after all, they are the intended audience!
By Elena (Age 12), for The Children’s Book Review
Published: March 11, 2011
by Deborah Wiles
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (May 1, 2010)
Source: publisher
Countdown is about a girl named Franny who is in 5th grade during the 1962 Bay of Pigs crisis, which was a time when Russian missiles were in Cuba, aimed at Washington D.C. It was an anxious time because they didn’t know whether or not war was going to break out. In this book Franny describes her problems with her best friend and her family drama while describing what is happening in the world around her.
I liked this book because I could relate to the character of Franny because she was realistic. This book was unique because it had many pictures and photographs of real events during this period of 1962.
I recommend this book for 4th-7th graders assigned to read a historical fiction book.
Add this book to your collection: Countdown
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Note: Elena composed this with some assistance from her fabulous mom, but it is in her own words.