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And One for All
Book by Nelson, Theresa
182 pages, Library Binding
First published April 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 6, 2010
This story opens on Geraldine’s bus ride to Washington DC to confront her brother Wing’s best friend, Sam, who is protesting the Vietnam War. The events leading up to this trip are told in one long flashback. Wing, Geraldine, and Sam all grow up together and there’s a familiar closeness about them. Wing has never been particularly smart, yet his parents’ dream is for him to go to college. He gets thrown off the basketball team when his grades drop, and Sam who understands him best, helps him study. Both boys are 17 years old, just young enough not to be drafted.
Wing’s folks hope that he’ll get into college and then not have to go to war at all. It’s not to be. Despite all of his efforts, Wing freezes in one of his exams and makes a snap decision to join the Marines. Later, his grades come and he shows Geraldine, because ironically, he has managed to pass all of his classes. He didn’t have to join the Marines. He might have had a future in college. It’s too late, according to Wing, and his folks decide to support his decision (his dad is a WWII war hero). Sam and Wing don’t get to speak to one another until Wing is about to ship out, and that’s when Wing finds out that Sam doesn’t believe in the war, which he takes to mean that Sam doesn’t believe in him. They part, angry.
Wing writes home to his family and occasionally (and more honestly) to Geraldine. His doubts about the war, about what the troops and the United States are doing there begin to surface. And then, right around Easter, two men from the Marines show up at their door to inform the family that Wing was killed in combat. And that’s when Geraldine makes her trip to DC. She’s so mad that she can’t even think. She blames Sam for everything, and she wants to hurl the fact of Wing’s death at him – YOU did this. But when she finally sees him face to face, she can’t do it. She eventually manages to tell him that Wing was killed, and she realizes that Sam never wanted Wing to die. And it wasn’t that Sam didn’t support the troops. He just wanted the war to be over - so Wing wouldn’t be hurt, so that no one else would be hurt.
The story feels a little bit dated, but since it’s taking place during the Vietnam War, kids may overlook this. The story is told from Geraldine’s point of view, third person. It’s an interesting look at how war can tear relationships apart, and there’s a very gentle introduction to the thoughts of an actual participant – am I doing what is right? What is this war about anyway? Vietnam caused a whole lot of controversy when it was going on. And kids may relate to that today, particularly with the war in Iraq. There are plenty of soldiers there who are wondering why we’re involved at all. So, in that respect, it’s quite timely. It will probably appeal more to girls, as it’s Geraldine’s voice we’re hearing, and they’re filtered through her very girly personality – she’s a bit ineffective, she’s afraid of heights, she’s not particularly self-actualized, she’s not very spunky. She’s no tomboy. It’s a shame, too, because it’s probably the boys who need to hear what she has to say more than the girls. There are other books that may do this better. And appeal equally to boys and girls.
Wing’s folks hope that he’ll get into college and then not have to go to war at all. It’s not to be. Despite all of his efforts, Wing freezes in one of his exams and makes a snap decision to join the Marines. Later, his grades come and he shows Geraldine, because ironically, he has managed to pass all of his classes. He didn’t have to join the Marines. He might have had a future in college. It’s too late, according to Wing, and his folks decide to support his decision (his dad is a WWII war hero). Sam and Wing don’t get to speak to one another until Wing is about to ship out, and that’s when Wing finds out that Sam doesn’t believe in the war, which he takes to mean that Sam doesn’t believe in him. They part, angry.
Wing writes home to his family and occasionally (and more honestly) to Geraldine. His doubts about the war, about what the troops and the United States are doing there begin to surface. And then, right around Easter, two men from the Marines show up at their door to inform the family that Wing was killed in combat. And that’s when Geraldine makes her trip to DC. She’s so mad that she can’t even think. She blames Sam for everything, and she wants to hurl the fact of Wing’s death at him – YOU did this. But when she finally sees him face to face, she can’t do it. She eventually manages to tell him that Wing was killed, and she realizes that Sam never wanted Wing to die. And it wasn’t that Sam didn’t support the troops. He just wanted the war to be over - so Wing wouldn’t be hurt, so that no one else would be hurt.
The story feels a little bit dated, but since it’s taking place during the Vietnam War, kids may overlook this. The story is told from Geraldine’s point of view, third person. It’s an interesting look at how war can tear relationships apart, and there’s a very gentle introduction to the thoughts of an actual participant – am I doing what is right? What is this war about anyway? Vietnam caused a whole lot of controversy when it was going on. And kids may relate to that today, particularly with the war in Iraq. There are plenty of soldiers there who are wondering why we’re involved at all. So, in that respect, it’s quite timely. It will probably appeal more to girls, as it’s Geraldine’s voice we’re hearing, and they’re filtered through her very girly personality – she’s a bit ineffective, she’s afraid of heights, she’s not particularly self-actualized, she’s not very spunky. She’s no tomboy. It’s a shame, too, because it’s probably the boys who need to hear what she has to say more than the girls. There are other books that may do this better. And appeal equally to boys and girls.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2024
This may be a bias review because of nostalgia
September 22, 2017
Beautiful story of family and friendship in a time of war and political upheaval. Highly recommend.
March 17, 2021
Very touching, I was brought to tears more than once.
September 20, 2021
I’ve never cried over a book in my life. Y’all I cried so hard!
September 30, 2022
It's rare a book actually makes me cry, but this one did.
October 24, 2008
This book was amazing and i think that others would enjoy reading this book.
Read
February 12, 2009JAR5-Nel
January 18, 2016
THIS BOOK WAS OK THERE WAS NOT MUCH THAT HAPPED EXCEPT HER BROTHER WENT TO THE VIETNAM WAR AND DIED DO NO READ THIS BOOK IT IS NOT WORTH YOUR TIME.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews