April Morning

Every book we review on this blog is highly recommended by someone in our family. We aren't going to bother with the books we didn't absolutely love. I want to standardize a few things to make it easier for us and others to decide whether we want to pick up this book or not (see the list below), but please know that if the book makes it to these pages, we think it is worth your time and energy!

APRIL MORNING by Howard Fast

Is there....

• Romance?   Yes
• Adventure? Realistic/Revolutionary War Adventure
• Mystery? No
• Sports? No
• Controversy? A little about the ethics of war like if it's okay to shoot second, etc...
• History? Yes! This is Historical fiction about the Battle at Lexington
• Princesses? No
• Violence? Yes! People are shot. There is blood and vomiting and more blood.
• Sad? Yes, but not without hope
• Religion? Yes. Very well done, I thought.
• Particularly Original? For me, it was. People compare this with RED BADGE OF COURAGE, which I did not like as a teenager. This felt more realistic. You are in the main character's head and experiencing what he is experiencing, and I felt like that could have been me. I'd give it points for originality in terms of its simplicity and power, but not necessarily the subject matter. 
• Out of Print? No! And it's available for free on Kindle Unlimited.
• Terrible Cover? Yes. I'm going to do a post very soon on how to fix this problem. Terrible covers are a BIG problem. 
• Age Recommendation? I hate this question. I really do. How do you determine if something is appropriate for what age levels? I would recommend this for boys and girls without hesitation. The language is difficult enough, I wouldn't give it to someone younger that ten, but I suppose I would particularly recommend it to someone twelve and up. 

The Upshot:

Adam is a great character. Self-doubting yet angry, impulsive, and interesting. He is honest with the reader and honest with himself. He grows throughout the book, but in a small, believable way. The novel is personal, well-researched, motivating, and inspirational. This is a book that sticks with you. Lucy read it many years ago, and I only had to give her the briefest summary before she remembered the story and pronounced it "really good". Quick and absolutely worth your time (and the time of your child!).