Heart of War

by M. Zachary Sherman, Fritz Casas (Illustrator), Raymund Bermudez (Illustrator), Josef Cage (Illustrator)

Overview

A heart-pounding, action-packed tale of combat and kinship skillfully crafted by United States Marine Corps veteran and acclaimed comics writer M. Zachary Sherman (SOCOM: SEAL Team Seven). Follow the Donovans through four generations of American wars — from World War II to the War in Afghanistan — where each explosive moment defines the future of this military family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781623700027
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	02/01/2013
Series:	Capstone Bloodlines Series
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	730L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 13 Years

About the Author

M. ZACHARY SHERMAN is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He has written comics for Marvel, Radical, Image, and Dark Horse. His recent work includes America's Army: The Graphic Novel, Earp: Saint for Sinners, and the second book in the SOCOM: SEAL Team Seven trilogy.

Interviews

Action-packed military fiction for boys United States Marine Corps veteran and acclaimed comics writer M. Zachary Sherman Story spanning four generations of U.S. wars

Editorial Reviews

High in body count and strong on martial values, these eight linked short stories ably capture the emotional intensity that the imminent prospect of violent death sparks in soldiers and others caught up in combat. . . .The fast-paced, action-oriented stories emphasize personal courage, sacrifice, and loyalty under fire.

Booklist Online

This book was gripping and insightful. It is a book about heroes of the highest caliber, both from the rank-and-file to the most elite corps of the American military. I highly recommend it.

Kids Book San Francisco Book Review

...written in a straightforward style and is easy to read. . . .likely to appeal to readers who are fascinated by the army and by war.

Teens & Magazines Books

Written by a former marine, this collection of short stories traces the military history of the Donovan family from WWII through the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the War in Afghanistan, and the War in Iraq. Individual vignettes describe different soldiers on missions that occur during these major conflicts. Through four generations, the main characters are linked both by a sense of duty and an ongoing familial obligation to serve the United States of America. While the stories are based on real soldiers and actual events, the characters are fictional. The only woman to be included is a nurse during the Vietnam conflict. Fast-paced action and unexpected plot twists guarantee most stories will be read in a single sitting. The recurring theme of a watch that is passed down from father to son also unifies the individual stories in the collection.   At times, the writing style becomes stark and staccato, reflecting the author’s background in comic book writing.  Even though he takes a no-nonsense approach, he also deals with fear, guilt, and anger realistically. The selflessness and courage portrayed by the characters represent admirable values without appearing saccharine or stereotyped.  This book will have limited general appeal among young adults, but in order to serve all segments of the teen population, it deserves a place in most libraries. The majority of librarians have several patrons who will devour these stories and ask for more. It stands out as an unusual and worthwhile offering among current YA fiction.

VOYA

This would make a great present for boys who love to read about war, and is fantastic in libraries because the stories are in order.

Ms. Yingling Reads blog

Overall a good read for an older-young reader...any boy that loves war type games will like this.

George's Books and Bits blog

...quite compelling. A page-turner, not to be missed by anyone who enjoys reading historical military stories.

NetGalley Review

10/01/2013
Gr 6 Up—This loosely related collection of short stories follows different members of the same family fighting in several of the 20th-century conflicts America has been involved in, specifically World War II and those in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East. The book suffers from repetitive and clunky writing, formulaic plots, little to no analyses of the political reasons behind warfare, and overly simplistic "us-versus-them" narratives. However, the plots are certainly full of sustained action and suspense, with plenty of military details to intrigue more technical-minded readers. The different times and places might inspire an interest in further historical reading, and the few instances of continuity between generations, present in family heirlooms that characters take with them into battle, provide a satisfying sense of closure. Some readers will be discomfited by the jingoism in each story, while others will identify with the themes of patriotism and loyalty through militarism. And while each story takes place on an active battlefield, depictions of gore and violence are minimal.—Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School, New York City

School Library Journal