This book tells a beautiful narrative of a girl searching for normalcy after her father returns fro Vietnam an amputee. Ms. Holczer brings Lucy's large, unique Italian family to life with thoughtful, loving descriptions. As Lucy makes her first friend in her new hometown, life begins to improve & Lucy starts to see that life may have changed, but it can still be filled with laughter, warmth, & love.

I keep thinking that a tween is going to read this book and think that the draft lottery is totally made up. I think that because I am not sure how much anyone young knows about this time in American History. I hope that there a ton of 6th grade History teachers who are putting this on the shelves and in the hands of kids. There is a lot of The Wonder Years happening here but without the first person narration although, I think that might have been better. The third person perspective of Lucy worked, but then why call her parents "Mom" and "Dad" if they never have any perspective of their own? We never see or hear anything without Lucy, so I would I think first person would have worked better.

Nice work Ms. Holczer. Thanks for the ARC. Thanks to Net Galley as well.