  | Yonder Author: Standish, Ali | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
Danny Timmons has looked up to Jack Bailey ever since Jack saved two small children from drowning during the Great Flood of 1940. Now, with his father away fighting in World War II and his mother about to have a new baby, Danny relies on Jack's friendship and guidance more than ever. So when Jack goes missing without a trace from their small Appalachian town, Danny is determined to find him.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG+ Reading Level: 5.10 Points: 10.0 Quiz: 515716 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (03/01/22)
School Library Journal (00/07/22)
Booklist (+) (05/15/22)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 07/01/2022 Gr 5 Up—Jack Bailey became a hero to Danny Timmons the day he dove into floodwaters to save two girls while the adults stood by and watched. That was three years ago, but a lot has changed in that time. It's now 1943, and Danny's father is off fighting in the war, his pregnant mother is editing the local newspaper, a Black family has had to move away from town, and another family is being treated badly because of their son's desertion. One thing that hasn't changed is the bullying Danny has faced at the hands of a classmate. When 15-year-old Jack defends Danny, his hero status grows in Danny's eyes, and the two become friends of sorts. They share a paper route, go fishing, and Jack tells Danny of a magical place called Yonder. Then Jack disappears. Danny is determined to find out what happened to him—even if it means putting himself in the sights of Jack's abusive father to do so. Danny's quest to discover what happened to Jack opens his eyes to the bullying and prejudice all around him and make him question what it means to be brave, and what really makes a hero. VERDICT This is a quiet yet powerful, story told through flashbacks over the span of several years. Recommended for general purchase.—Heather Webb - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 05/15/2022 *Starred Review* When his friend Jack disappears, Danny fears the worst. Though Jack is considered a hero in the town of Foggy Gap for rescuing two kids from drowning in the Great Flood of 1940, he was regularly beaten and neglected by his father. After Danny's concerns are dismissed by adults, he takes it upon himself to find out what happened to Jack. Could he have been killed, enlisted in the war, or did he runaway to Yonder, a magical place with no war that Jack once mentioned to Danny? As he follows the clues with the help of a former friend, Danny begins to challenge his cozy assumptions about Jack, the residents of Foggy Gap, and even himself. While there are many books about WWII for young readers, stories about life on the American home front are less common. Yonder is a heartfelt tale about what it means to be a hero and take a stand against injustice. By drawing parallels between events in Foggy Gap and those happening in Nazi Germany, Standish (The Ethan I Was Before, 2017) challenges readers to explore the irony of Americans supporting the war effort abroad while denying the humanity of many back home. Highly recommended for any fan of WWII-era fiction. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
