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Operation Oleander: A Gripping Story About Charity, Friendship, and War in Afghanistan for Kids
“Full of detail about Army life, Patterson’s elegant prose brings readers deep inside Jess’s conflicted point of view.” — Publishers Weekly
Ninth grader Jess Westmark had the best of intentions when she started Operation Oleander to raise money for a girls’ orphanage in Kabul. She named her charity for the flower that grows both in her Florida hometown and in Afghanistan, where her father is deployed. But on one of her father's trips to deliver supplies to the orphans, a car bomb explodes nearby and her father is gravely injured. Worse, her best friend’s mother and some of the children are killed. Is this all Jess’s fault?
Ninth grader Jess Westmark had the best of intentions when she started Operation Oleander to raise money for a girls’ orphanage in Kabul. She named her charity for the flower that grows both in her Florida hometown and in Afghanistan, where her father is deployed. But on one of her father's trips to deliver supplies to the orphans, a car bomb explodes nearby and her father is gravely injured. Worse, her best friend’s mother and some of the children are killed. Is this all Jess’s fault?
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 11, 2017
Woof. Just heart-breaking.
When you're trying to make the best of a not-great situation... When you are trying to do good... When you feel like you have found the way to actually make a difference...
...The last thing you expect is for it all to come crashing down. To maybe do more harm than good.
I'm always looking for books set in military families, as that's a mirror for many of the kids in my community. Specifically for 6th-8th graders, since I visit them once a year. This book was on the intense end of what I usually take on those visits.
This one fits both criteria, following through with all the feels (as I told the kids).
I booktalked this in 2017. It addresses activism, friendship, absence of a parent, sibling relationships, base life, and much more.
When you're trying to make the best of a not-great situation... When you are trying to do good... When you feel like you have found the way to actually make a difference...
...The last thing you expect is for it all to come crashing down. To maybe do more harm than good.
I'm always looking for books set in military families, as that's a mirror for many of the kids in my community. Specifically for 6th-8th graders, since I visit them once a year. This book was on the intense end of what I usually take on those visits.
This one fits both criteria, following through with all the feels (as I told the kids).
I booktalked this in 2017. It addresses activism, friendship, absence of a parent, sibling relationships, base life, and much more.
June 1, 2018
Love the line “life is too short not to plant flowers.” A reminder that we must all do what we can to make the world a better place. I must remember that day lilies are called Hemerocallis - Greek for “beauty for a day.”
May 10, 2013
Summary:
Jess, Meriwether, and Sam live on an army base. Their fathers/mothers are soldiers deployed in Afghanistan. Jess comes up with a plan to help the orphans of Afghanistan with care packages. At first the teens are proud of their efforts, but in the process of delivering the items, a bomb goes off killing Meriwether's mother along with orphans. Things change after that. It seems like the adults along with Meriwether want to distance themselves from any involvement with the orphans and any charity work for the war torn country. They want to sweet the whole incident under the rug. Meriwether has a very hard time being around Jess, almost as if she blames Jess for her mother's death. Jess has to deal with this guilt, but also wants the efforts to not be in vain. The soldiers were there helping, should the mission cease and give in? Jess wants more than ever to help the children of Afghanistan, but she is a freshman that has to deal with a lot of other things as well.
My thoughts:
I have a hard time reading about war. I've had several friends injured in Afghanistan. It touches a deep place inside of me that is hard to acknowledge while reading someone else's story. I admire Jess. At such a young age, she puts something together to help someone other than herself. Most teenagers don't think in the same way. Jess also clearly stands up for what she believes in. These are characteristics that should be explored and encouraged in our children. I hope this book brings awareness and ideas to youths across the country. I hope that there are people that say, "if she can do it, I can do it." I know that there are tough themes within the story; however, the strength shown throughout the novel and the growing up that happens towards the end bring everything together and make the goals really count.
Jess, Meriwether, and Sam live on an army base. Their fathers/mothers are soldiers deployed in Afghanistan. Jess comes up with a plan to help the orphans of Afghanistan with care packages. At first the teens are proud of their efforts, but in the process of delivering the items, a bomb goes off killing Meriwether's mother along with orphans. Things change after that. It seems like the adults along with Meriwether want to distance themselves from any involvement with the orphans and any charity work for the war torn country. They want to sweet the whole incident under the rug. Meriwether has a very hard time being around Jess, almost as if she blames Jess for her mother's death. Jess has to deal with this guilt, but also wants the efforts to not be in vain. The soldiers were there helping, should the mission cease and give in? Jess wants more than ever to help the children of Afghanistan, but she is a freshman that has to deal with a lot of other things as well.
My thoughts:
I have a hard time reading about war. I've had several friends injured in Afghanistan. It touches a deep place inside of me that is hard to acknowledge while reading someone else's story. I admire Jess. At such a young age, she puts something together to help someone other than herself. Most teenagers don't think in the same way. Jess also clearly stands up for what she believes in. These are characteristics that should be explored and encouraged in our children. I hope this book brings awareness and ideas to youths across the country. I hope that there are people that say, "if she can do it, I can do it." I know that there are tough themes within the story; however, the strength shown throughout the novel and the growing up that happens towards the end bring everything together and make the goals really count.
August 19, 2016
Jess and her friends have been collecting donations for an Afghan orphanage at the Army PX (grocery/big box on base store) while their parents are deployed there. It was a way for her to work together with her dad and to be part of the mission. But when tragedy strikes, she is left with questions. Was it her fault? Should she continue the mission?
Why I started this book: I'm bouncing between 5 books right now... I can't focus on any of them. So it was the perfect time to start another book.
Why I finished it: This is a powerful, short book. And I loved the situation that this Army brat is facing. Without talking down, it explores the emotions of having a parent deployed and in danger.
Why I started this book: I'm bouncing between 5 books right now... I can't focus on any of them. So it was the perfect time to start another book.
Why I finished it: This is a powerful, short book. And I loved the situation that this Army brat is facing. Without talking down, it explores the emotions of having a parent deployed and in danger.
October 17, 2013
Anyone living in an area where oleander grows knows that although its flower may be pretty, it is a highly poisonous plant. And that makes it the perfect metaphor for Valerie O. Patterson's novel Operation Oleander.
Living in army base housing at Fort Spencer, Florida, and with her father deployed to Afghanistan along with the mother of her best friend, Meriwether Scott, ninth grader Jess Westmark came up with what should have been the perfect idea for staying close to her dad. Along with Meriwether and their friend Sam Butler, son of the base commander, Jess has been faithfully setting up a table in the PX to collect school supplies to send to an orphanage for young Afghan girls. Jess named the project Operation Oleander because she noticed that this plant, which is plentiful in Florida, was also growing right outside the orphanage.
Things went well with Operation Oleander and boxes full of school supplies had already been sent to Afghanistan, even if Meriwether and Sam were a little less enthusiastic that Jess was about the project. Then came word one Saturday morning that there had been a bombing at an orphanage involving soldiers from Fort Spencer. Suddenly life changes for everyone as news comes out that two soldiers had been killed and one of them was Meriwether's mother, while Jess's father had been gravely injured.
Now, Jess must deal with her worry about her dad, as well as her own guilt knowing that he and Mrs. Scott were unofficially at the orphanage delivering the school supplies collected by Operation Oleander. And what about Meriwether, who now blames Jess for her mother's death and wants nothing more to do with her?
But Jess also wants the project to continue. After all, wasn't it her father who taught her the meaning of Duty, Honor, Country? For Jess, that means that now isn't the time to give up, because if she does, evil wins.
Operation Oleander is a nice book about families coping with a family member being deployed to Afghanistan and living on an army base. I found the story to be very readable, and well written, though I was often very annoyed at Jess as a character. Sometimes she behaved like a younger girl, other times she seemed insensitive to anyone else's feelings and her reactions felt off base. If my dad were as gravely injured as her dad was, I think that would be the number one thing on my mind and I don't think I would have revisited the idea of Operation Oleander until sometime later. On the other hand, I think Meriwether's reactions are spot on.
Jess was also an orphan, adopted by the Westmark's as a baby. There are no issues about this in the book, which is nice because so often adoptee feelings of not belonging are the crux of a novel's storyline (which is a valid storyline, but would have really overloaded Operation Oleander if it had been included). Still, I would like to have learned more about her adoption other than that her real name is Jess since she is always quick correct people who call her Jessica. Why Jess?
I also think that if Patterson had stuck with the main storyline, this would have been a much better book, because by the end of the book, there was just too much going. Introducing a religious protest at Mrs. Scott's funeral and Jess's reaction to it were just a little over the top for me. Though now outlawed, I know these occurred in the past, it was just too much here.
Despite these things, I would still recommend Operation Oleander because it is a poignant story of kids coping with war and military life, and should have wide appeal and will certainly spark many conversations about whether or not the military should participate in humanitarian endeavors in a war zone. To that end, I should say that when my Kiddo outgrew her beanie babies, I donated all the ones that had no religious significance to the army, who gave them out to the children in Afghanistan, so I guess I am on the pro-side of humanitarian endeavors by the military (for more information on that, click HERE
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
Living in army base housing at Fort Spencer, Florida, and with her father deployed to Afghanistan along with the mother of her best friend, Meriwether Scott, ninth grader Jess Westmark came up with what should have been the perfect idea for staying close to her dad. Along with Meriwether and their friend Sam Butler, son of the base commander, Jess has been faithfully setting up a table in the PX to collect school supplies to send to an orphanage for young Afghan girls. Jess named the project Operation Oleander because she noticed that this plant, which is plentiful in Florida, was also growing right outside the orphanage.
Things went well with Operation Oleander and boxes full of school supplies had already been sent to Afghanistan, even if Meriwether and Sam were a little less enthusiastic that Jess was about the project. Then came word one Saturday morning that there had been a bombing at an orphanage involving soldiers from Fort Spencer. Suddenly life changes for everyone as news comes out that two soldiers had been killed and one of them was Meriwether's mother, while Jess's father had been gravely injured.
Now, Jess must deal with her worry about her dad, as well as her own guilt knowing that he and Mrs. Scott were unofficially at the orphanage delivering the school supplies collected by Operation Oleander. And what about Meriwether, who now blames Jess for her mother's death and wants nothing more to do with her?
But Jess also wants the project to continue. After all, wasn't it her father who taught her the meaning of Duty, Honor, Country? For Jess, that means that now isn't the time to give up, because if she does, evil wins.
Operation Oleander is a nice book about families coping with a family member being deployed to Afghanistan and living on an army base. I found the story to be very readable, and well written, though I was often very annoyed at Jess as a character. Sometimes she behaved like a younger girl, other times she seemed insensitive to anyone else's feelings and her reactions felt off base. If my dad were as gravely injured as her dad was, I think that would be the number one thing on my mind and I don't think I would have revisited the idea of Operation Oleander until sometime later. On the other hand, I think Meriwether's reactions are spot on.
Jess was also an orphan, adopted by the Westmark's as a baby. There are no issues about this in the book, which is nice because so often adoptee feelings of not belonging are the crux of a novel's storyline (which is a valid storyline, but would have really overloaded Operation Oleander if it had been included). Still, I would like to have learned more about her adoption other than that her real name is Jess since she is always quick correct people who call her Jessica. Why Jess?
I also think that if Patterson had stuck with the main storyline, this would have been a much better book, because by the end of the book, there was just too much going. Introducing a religious protest at Mrs. Scott's funeral and Jess's reaction to it were just a little over the top for me. Though now outlawed, I know these occurred in the past, it was just too much here.
Despite these things, I would still recommend Operation Oleander because it is a poignant story of kids coping with war and military life, and should have wide appeal and will certainly spark many conversations about whether or not the military should participate in humanitarian endeavors in a war zone. To that end, I should say that when my Kiddo outgrew her beanie babies, I donated all the ones that had no religious significance to the army, who gave them out to the children in Afghanistan, so I guess I am on the pro-side of humanitarian endeavors by the military (for more information on that, click HERE
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
March 7, 2013
Operation Oleander by Valerie O. Patterson is the tale of a young woman who just wants to do something right by the world. Jess knows that sending care packages to an orphanage in Afghanistan is the right thing to do and she loves the fact that she is helping people outside of her own country. Because she lives on a military base, she faces mixed feelings about her charity project but it only amplifies when the news of a bombing reaches the base. As news filters in through the system, she finds out that the bombing happened at the orphanage while her father's unit was dropping off supplies. The disastrous effects of the bombing are blamed on Jess's efforts and suddenly everyone wants to cover it up. All Jess wants is to help the children just like her father and her best friend's mother would've wanted.
I really adore the plot of the story. It something that I can relate to very easily because I have always wanted to do something like what Jess did. She managed to give assistance to the "enemy" during a war that was fraught with conflict and she bonded with people who she was supposed to hate. I've always wanted to go into a war zone and do humanitarian work so I definitely was excited to read this story. After reading it, I knew that this was my sort of book.
Jess faces a lot of emotional trauma through the story as she struggles between what she thinks is right and everyone else tells her is right. From the beginning, it seems like no one is standing behind her. She feels like her friends don't believe in her cause and that they are just waiting for her to give up. But she refuses to. When the bombing happens and it is revealed that her father is injured and her best friend's mom is killed, everyone urges her to give up this misguided idea of helping them. Her only thoughts are of other people as she tries to keep her head above water. All she knows as she tries to do what she thinks is right is that helping those orphans was what the members of that unit wanted. She is a strong and courageous main character that knows she has a work to do and won't let anyone stop her from doing it. Screw the adults. She was creating her own path.
The two best friends that dominated the beginning of the book was Sam and Meriwether. Sam is the son of a high up military officer who everyone seems to think shouldn't hang around the lower class soldier's families. He is the definition of calm and collected in the story. My friends would call him the voice of reason in that group of friends. Through everything, Sam stands by Jess no matter what, even though he agrees that what she is doing isn't worth it. Meriwether in the beginning is a better friend than Sam but when her mother dies, she can't seem to handle being around Jess. Just like everyone else, she blames her for the death of her mother. I feel bad for the downfall of their relationship even though by the end they seem to be friends again or at least something similar to it.
I love this book. I would read this book again. It is definitely the perfect book for me.
I really adore the plot of the story. It something that I can relate to very easily because I have always wanted to do something like what Jess did. She managed to give assistance to the "enemy" during a war that was fraught with conflict and she bonded with people who she was supposed to hate. I've always wanted to go into a war zone and do humanitarian work so I definitely was excited to read this story. After reading it, I knew that this was my sort of book.
Jess faces a lot of emotional trauma through the story as she struggles between what she thinks is right and everyone else tells her is right. From the beginning, it seems like no one is standing behind her. She feels like her friends don't believe in her cause and that they are just waiting for her to give up. But she refuses to. When the bombing happens and it is revealed that her father is injured and her best friend's mom is killed, everyone urges her to give up this misguided idea of helping them. Her only thoughts are of other people as she tries to keep her head above water. All she knows as she tries to do what she thinks is right is that helping those orphans was what the members of that unit wanted. She is a strong and courageous main character that knows she has a work to do and won't let anyone stop her from doing it. Screw the adults. She was creating her own path.
The two best friends that dominated the beginning of the book was Sam and Meriwether. Sam is the son of a high up military officer who everyone seems to think shouldn't hang around the lower class soldier's families. He is the definition of calm and collected in the story. My friends would call him the voice of reason in that group of friends. Through everything, Sam stands by Jess no matter what, even though he agrees that what she is doing isn't worth it. Meriwether in the beginning is a better friend than Sam but when her mother dies, she can't seem to handle being around Jess. Just like everyone else, she blames her for the death of her mother. I feel bad for the downfall of their relationship even though by the end they seem to be friends again or at least something similar to it.
I love this book. I would read this book again. It is definitely the perfect book for me.
September 1, 2016
Jess Westmark’s father is in the military in Afghanistan, while she and her mother and sister are back on base in Florida. To feel closer to her father and to try to make a difference to the orphans of Afghanistan, Jess rounded up her two best friends and started a small charity called ‘Operation Oleander,’ to gather in-kind donations for the orphanage near where her father is stationed. Then the unthinkable happens; the taliban bombs the orphanage while Jess’ father and other soldiers are delivering the supplies, and there are injuries and fatalities. While Jess and her friends struggle with guilt and grief, emotions on the base run high, and the future of Operation Oleander is on the line.
What a lovely, heartbreaking and true book. I am not from a military family myself, so I can’t say for sure that this is an accurate depiction of that, but it sure feels like it from stories I’ve seen in the media about such families. Patterson sets up a really fraught situation where the ethics are realistically unclear, and everyone’s viewpoint has merit (except for the church members who protest the funeral of a soldier—I think it’s pretty clear that if anyone is going to hell, it would be them). This is a book that will really make kids think about right and wrong, good and bad, and how to help when help seems to bring down retribution and hatred.
In just writerly matters, the book is excellently structured and concise, and gets right to the point while still building the world with great detail. The characters are unique, flawed, and believable, including the secondary ones. Overall, a gem, with its only flaw being that not many kids would choose to pick it up of their own accord.
What a lovely, heartbreaking and true book. I am not from a military family myself, so I can’t say for sure that this is an accurate depiction of that, but it sure feels like it from stories I’ve seen in the media about such families. Patterson sets up a really fraught situation where the ethics are realistically unclear, and everyone’s viewpoint has merit (except for the church members who protest the funeral of a soldier—I think it’s pretty clear that if anyone is going to hell, it would be them). This is a book that will really make kids think about right and wrong, good and bad, and how to help when help seems to bring down retribution and hatred.
In just writerly matters, the book is excellently structured and concise, and gets right to the point while still building the world with great detail. The characters are unique, flawed, and believable, including the secondary ones. Overall, a gem, with its only flaw being that not many kids would choose to pick it up of their own accord.
March 4, 2013
Jess feels good about the school supplies she and her friends, Meriwether and Sam, have been collecting for an orphanage in Afghanistan. Her dad and Meriwether’s mom are both deployed there, and Jess feels doing something to help the orphans lets her feel close to her dad while he’s gone.
But when the troops stop off to deliver supplies one day, a bomb goes off, killing some of the orphans and Meriwether’s mom. Jess’s dad is badly injured. Suddenly the troops’ involvement in the local civilian problems doesn’t seem like such a good idea. Jess struggles with the guilt she feels at the same time she becomes more determined than ever to help the children in Afghanistan.
Operation Oleander by Valerie O. Patterson highlights issues from the war in Afghanistan in a way that kids can relate to. Jess was adopted by her parents when she was younger, so she feels particularly connected to the orphans, especially to a girl named Warda who her dad has sent photos of. The issue of whether U.S. soldiers can play a humanitarian role as well as a military one in the countries where they are deployed is interesting to consider.
Jess struggles to do the right thing, but not everyone agrees on what the right thing is. She’s also wondering how she can support Meriwether, who has just lost her mother, especially when she’s worried about her dad and his recovery. The issues Jess faces, and the way she decides to deal with them, should lead to interesting discussions in mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 9 to 13.
The author gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
But when the troops stop off to deliver supplies one day, a bomb goes off, killing some of the orphans and Meriwether’s mom. Jess’s dad is badly injured. Suddenly the troops’ involvement in the local civilian problems doesn’t seem like such a good idea. Jess struggles with the guilt she feels at the same time she becomes more determined than ever to help the children in Afghanistan.
Operation Oleander by Valerie O. Patterson highlights issues from the war in Afghanistan in a way that kids can relate to. Jess was adopted by her parents when she was younger, so she feels particularly connected to the orphans, especially to a girl named Warda who her dad has sent photos of. The issue of whether U.S. soldiers can play a humanitarian role as well as a military one in the countries where they are deployed is interesting to consider.
Jess struggles to do the right thing, but not everyone agrees on what the right thing is. She’s also wondering how she can support Meriwether, who has just lost her mother, especially when she’s worried about her dad and his recovery. The issues Jess faces, and the way she decides to deal with them, should lead to interesting discussions in mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 9 to 13.
The author gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 11, 2013
“[B]eautiful, delicate, but also with a dark side, one not to be trusted. Just like people.” This is how Jess comes to describe the gorgeous oleander blossom, a tree that grows in Afghanistan and America, the flower she has used to define her charitable cause of collecting for Afghan orphans. But Jess lives on an army base. Her father and the fathers of her friends are all soldiers, all deployed. And the plight of orphans might be closer to home than the reader thinks.
When a bomb goes off and soldiers are killed, Jess is told to cease and desist. Hearing criticism in everyone’s worry, and blame in each expression of concern, Jess wonders if her care for orphans has killed the mother of a friend. But not caring would mean her father’s pain is all for nothing.
The writing’s beautiful and delicate, with a dark side, like the oleander, like a teen. The story’s seen through Jess’s eyes, with all her teen confusion and pain and enthusiasm. The first chapter’s oddly bewildering. But soon anger builds—are adults really so unfeeling? Then comes growth and love and maturity. Truly a story where the character changes with the reader, where wonderful lessons can be learned, and truth hurts, Operation Oleander, by Valerie O. Patterson won my heart in surprising ways despite my initial confusion. It's vividly real, achingly honest, and a wonderful story for our times. Highly recommended for middle grade readers and adults who want to understand war, or just see through the eyes of a teen.
Disclosure: I received an uncorrected proof through the Amazon Vine program.
March 3, 2013
Jess is a teen who lives on a military base, her father is in Afghanistan and she is trying to do her part by gathering donations for a nearby orphanage that her father is stationed near. Unfortunately it is on one of those visits, that the group of soldiers is attacked, leaving her best friend motherless and her own father in a hospital. Jess starts to question whether this is her fault and tries to keep up her project, only to be forced to shut it down as the base grieves.
I enjoyed this book because it is so close to our hearts what our troops are doing and have done in Afghanistan. It was a tough book to get through at times, with the emotions running high at all times. Jess is not the only one who feels she is to blame and she needs to find a way to reconcile with her best friend. Jess had the strength and willingness to keep going forward with Operation Oleander even though she was not able to and I admired her character for that.
Patterson did a great job of creating connections between characters and the situation and it played out in a way that tore at the reader's heart. I definitely felt that this story is one that can be easily connected with, especially for families that have a loved one in Afghanistan.
Final Verdict: Overall, an outstanding book that explored a war our country is still fighting and the people who are affected by it. Well written and with strong and realistic characters, I could not put this one down.
I enjoyed this book because it is so close to our hearts what our troops are doing and have done in Afghanistan. It was a tough book to get through at times, with the emotions running high at all times. Jess is not the only one who feels she is to blame and she needs to find a way to reconcile with her best friend. Jess had the strength and willingness to keep going forward with Operation Oleander even though she was not able to and I admired her character for that.
Patterson did a great job of creating connections between characters and the situation and it played out in a way that tore at the reader's heart. I definitely felt that this story is one that can be easily connected with, especially for families that have a loved one in Afghanistan.
Final Verdict: Overall, an outstanding book that explored a war our country is still fighting and the people who are affected by it. Well written and with strong and realistic characters, I could not put this one down.
June 6, 2017
Operation Oleander is a middle grade novel that tells the story of three friends who are children of soldiers and live on an Army base. Jess, Meriwether, and Sam set up a charitable project on base to collect school supplies for an orphanage in Afghanistan. While delivering these supplies, Jess’ dad is injured and Meriwether’s mom is killed. As Jess tries to defend the importance of the school supply project, she faces the possibility of losing her friendship with Meriwether as a consequence.
An insightful book that deals with military themes in real life. We see what living on base is like, the challenges of maintaining family relationships during deployment, and the support that the army families give to one other. Because it deals with a contemporary war situation (Afghanistan, the Taliban, and anti-military protests at the funeral of Meriwether’s mom), Operation Oleander is a daring book that promotes values of friendship, family, courage, and honor without becoming overtly political. Unfortunately, the characterization is just acceptable—Jess is the only character who is really developed, and I wish that her friends Meriwether and Sam had more presence in the story. Also, at times Patterson’s descriptions do not seem to reflect the perspective of a 14 year old. However, the story of Jess learning to be a good friend, standing up for what she believes in, and acting as an anchor for her family is a worthwhile one.
www.goodreadingguide.com
An insightful book that deals with military themes in real life. We see what living on base is like, the challenges of maintaining family relationships during deployment, and the support that the army families give to one other. Because it deals with a contemporary war situation (Afghanistan, the Taliban, and anti-military protests at the funeral of Meriwether’s mom), Operation Oleander is a daring book that promotes values of friendship, family, courage, and honor without becoming overtly political. Unfortunately, the characterization is just acceptable—Jess is the only character who is really developed, and I wish that her friends Meriwether and Sam had more presence in the story. Also, at times Patterson’s descriptions do not seem to reflect the perspective of a 14 year old. However, the story of Jess learning to be a good friend, standing up for what she believes in, and acting as an anchor for her family is a worthwhile one.
www.goodreadingguide.com
March 1, 2013
3.5 Stars
I thank my lucky stars that I haven't lost anyone to war, and my heart goes out to all of those in the Armed Forces. When I think about all of the kids who have parents in the military my heart breaks for them. To live in fear every day praying your parent(s) make it home is something I can't fathom. Jeff has lived with this fear and her nightmare comes true - her father is injured in an attack at an orphanage that Jess has been collecting school supplies for. What's worse, her best friend's mother is killed in the same attack. Jess has to somehow juggle all of these emotions of blaming herself over the death of her best friends mother, her father's injuries, and being the strong and steadfast big sister. Bless her, the girl tries. She has been taught to be tough, reliable, and a fine upstanding military daughter, and I was waiting for her to just break. She did, but not for long and her friend Sam was there beside her.
This is a great middle grade read to introduce young readers to the really tough subject of war and loss. Jess, Sam, and Meriwether have a great relationship that will serve as great examples of what true friendship is really like.
Interview with Patterson at the blog.
I thank my lucky stars that I haven't lost anyone to war, and my heart goes out to all of those in the Armed Forces. When I think about all of the kids who have parents in the military my heart breaks for them. To live in fear every day praying your parent(s) make it home is something I can't fathom. Jeff has lived with this fear and her nightmare comes true - her father is injured in an attack at an orphanage that Jess has been collecting school supplies for. What's worse, her best friend's mother is killed in the same attack. Jess has to somehow juggle all of these emotions of blaming herself over the death of her best friends mother, her father's injuries, and being the strong and steadfast big sister. Bless her, the girl tries. She has been taught to be tough, reliable, and a fine upstanding military daughter, and I was waiting for her to just break. She did, but not for long and her friend Sam was there beside her.
This is a great middle grade read to introduce young readers to the really tough subject of war and loss. Jess, Sam, and Meriwether have a great relationship that will serve as great examples of what true friendship is really like.
Interview with Patterson at the blog.
January 1, 2015
This is a great book for tweens. Many kids know very little about war if they aren't paying attention to the news. The book gives you a glimpse into the very real intrusion war has on the lives of families in the States when a parent is fighting on foreign soil. It doesn't really matter what war it is--when your parent is deployed you live in fear that the black car will come and there will be the dreaded knock on the door.
The book also explores what it is like being an 'army brat' living on a US military base. I spent a summer on a base and can imagine the setting. But for many kids it is a totally foreign place that they have rarely heard about. It is interesting to see the relationships between the kids and their families in this military microcosm.
There are also some good lessons in the book about people trying to do something good but doing it without understanding the potential consequences of their actions. There is an unfortunate incident in the book that the main character Jess has to come to grips with--is she partly to blame for what happened?
Thought provoking but also endearing. Jess is a likeable character. The book has no sweet happy-ever-after ending but is satisfying all the same.
The book also explores what it is like being an 'army brat' living on a US military base. I spent a summer on a base and can imagine the setting. But for many kids it is a totally foreign place that they have rarely heard about. It is interesting to see the relationships between the kids and their families in this military microcosm.
There are also some good lessons in the book about people trying to do something good but doing it without understanding the potential consequences of their actions. There is an unfortunate incident in the book that the main character Jess has to come to grips with--is she partly to blame for what happened?
Thought provoking but also endearing. Jess is a likeable character. The book has no sweet happy-ever-after ending but is satisfying all the same.
April 28, 2013
Young girl's dad is in the Army. Young girl's friend's mom is in the army. They deliver supplies the girls collect for an orphanage. When the 2 and another man are delivering the supplies, 2 of them are killed and one is severely injured. Is it because these girls put them in harm by doing this collection for the orphanage? Should we help children overseas?
This book was OK. I was really drawn into the story. Jess and her friends Meriwether and Sam really want to do something. But once the accident happens, everything falls apart and who is really to blame, even there is anyone to blame.
Good storyline, great direction. But somehow it was lost on this reader. I felt the conversation really left me saying, what. Half the time I had to read it again to see if that is what I read. And it skipped at times, where I personally was lost.
I felt it needed more of an edit and really it could be excellent. However, for the younger crowd, they might really have some good discussions with this book. That is why I gave it a 4. Good talks can come of it!
This book was OK. I was really drawn into the story. Jess and her friends Meriwether and Sam really want to do something. But once the accident happens, everything falls apart and who is really to blame, even there is anyone to blame.
Good storyline, great direction. But somehow it was lost on this reader. I felt the conversation really left me saying, what. Half the time I had to read it again to see if that is what I read. And it skipped at times, where I personally was lost.
I felt it needed more of an edit and really it could be excellent. However, for the younger crowd, they might really have some good discussions with this book. That is why I gave it a 4. Good talks can come of it!
February 23, 2014
Operation Oleander by Valerie O. Patterson is a book about a ninth grade girl named Jess who's dad ships out to Afghanistan. All she wants is to feel close to him again so she and her two best friends start an organization called Operation Oleander. The organization sent care packages to afghan orphans. The operation goes from good to bad when a bomb goes off near the orphanage. The bomb kills troops and civilians. The Author of the book Valerie O. Patterson creates a story that kids can relate to if they have a parent serving overseas. Valerie O. Patterson also does a good job of showing readers how choices are made during war. Operation Oleander brings out emotions because I know what its like to have someone you love overseas. I liked this book because it was very enticing and there was never a dull moment. In the book the author uses metaphors and descriptive words to make this book interesting. I only wish the ending of the book hadn't been so abrupt. I would recommend this book to someone who wanted something quick and exciting.
April 27, 2016
Jess and her friends Meriwether and Sam all live on the army base. Jess' dad and Meriwether's mother are both over seas in Kabul Afghanistan, so to keep close to them the kids are raising money for supplies for an orphanage over there and their parents are delivering the school supplies and such as the kids send them. But one day the unthinkable happens. A car bomb goes off in front of the orphanage and their parents were there. As information trickles in Jess turns to Sam, whose dad is the commander of the base. He will be the first to know what is happening. Jess and Meriwether have a lot to face in this book and this book gives the reader a look at that it is like for all the kids with military parents over seas. This is a really short book, but it can get really powerful if you let it all soak in. I think it was written more for the 6th-8th grade reading level, but it has some power behind this story. This book gives some real life lessons and information. If you are looking for something realistic about the War in Afghanistan this may be one to look at.
February 5, 2013
I enjoyed this novella very much, I could only wish it were 150 pages longer, to continue what happens to the characters and situation. Jess’ dad is serving in Afghanistan. To stay close to him she raises money to buy school supplies with some friends for a girls’ orphanage there. Operation Oleander, named after a flower that grows in both Afghanistan and on the Florida military base where Jess lives, gives Jess purpose. But when there’s a bombing while Jess’ dad and his friends are delivering supplies there that seriously hurts her dad, kills her friend’s mom and kills some number of orphans, and the Army stops the fundraising. (All this is on the back of the book, so it's not exactly a spoiler.)
I liked and understood the characters and situation. I would like to read more about Jess and her family. I read a lot of YA novels, but I believe this is the first one I’ve read about a family member of a servicemember. What's with that?
I liked and understood the characters and situation. I would like to read more about Jess and her family. I read a lot of YA novels, but I believe this is the first one I’ve read about a family member of a servicemember. What's with that?
March 10, 2013
Full review can be found at http://www.apatchworkofbooks.com
Books about military kids and their families always tug at my heartstrings. I miss living on a base and having the community of people around that know exactly what it means to be in the military and everyone being in one place for the same reason. It's an important community to have. Books like this one are important for kids who have parents serving and I think Patterson did a really nice job expressing the emotions that so many of us go through when our family is overseas.
Jessica came off very young sounding to me -- not like a 14-year-old -- but other than that, I really thought the book did a solid job at getting a great message across, while still being fictional.
Full review can be found at http://www.apatchworkofbooks.com
Books about military kids and their families always tug at my heartstrings. I miss living on a base and having the community of people around that know exactly what it means to be in the military and everyone being in one place for the same reason. It's an important community to have. Books like this one are important for kids who have parents serving and I think Patterson did a really nice job expressing the emotions that so many of us go through when our family is overseas.
Jessica came off very young sounding to me -- not like a 14-year-old -- but other than that, I really thought the book did a solid job at getting a great message across, while still being fictional.
Full review can be found at http://www.apatchworkofbooks.com
July 8, 2013
This book was about how a group of 3 friends made an charity organization called Operation Oleander. This organization helped girls living in Afghanistan go through school. They did many fundraisers to earn money to buy and send pencils, paper, bags and many more school supplies to them. The people that delivered the supplies were U.S army soldiers that were deployed in Afghanistan. These army soldiers were also the parents to the three that created the club, Jess, Merriweather, and Sam. In the book, when the soldiers go to deliever supplies, a bomb set off and Jess's dad gets badly injured, and Merriweather's mother gets killed. This causes lots of conflict in the book.
This book was not my favorite. I think it was kind of rushed and repetitive. The end ended quite abruptly, which I didn't like. Also, all of the conflicts in the book are repetitive.
This book was not my favorite. I think it was kind of rushed and repetitive. The end ended quite abruptly, which I didn't like. Also, all of the conflicts in the book are repetitive.
June 9, 2013
This book focuses on young Jess who lives on a military base with her mother and baby sister. With her best friend, Jess has put together Operation Oleander; a program the gives donated school supplies to orphans in Afghanistan. Her father has been deployed to Afghanistan and delivers Operation Oleander's school supplies to the children directly. Here is when good intentions lead to horrible consequences. A group of men bomb the orphanage because of the American military presence. Thus leaving Jess confused scared and suddenly blamed for the killings of troops and orphans. Operation Oleander shows the untended consequence and how ugly some people can be towards those that are just trying to help. I would recommend this to those interested in the subject no matter the age.
January 22, 2015
Operation Oleander is the story of a girl who finds that good intentions can still have awful consequences. Her dad is overseas and she wants to do something so she creates Operation Oleander to solicit donations to go overseas to a local orphanage. Unfortunately, one day as the unit is delivering supplies to the orphanage, there is a terrorist bomb attack. Now her best friend's mom is dead, her dad is injured and many died from the orphanage as well. Can she find a way to make any of this make sense?
This book is a middle grade book, and it tackles some hard questions. I like that the author doesn't try to give easy answers. If you are looking for a book with some deep issues, give this one a try.
This book is a middle grade book, and it tackles some hard questions. I like that the author doesn't try to give easy answers. If you are looking for a book with some deep issues, give this one a try.
April 25, 2015
This book is so good I am saving it for when my granddaughter gets older. I have a shelf of books for her, so this one will definitely be on it.
It was good to see the support of the military children. You hear about the support for adult members, but this really showed the children of the military.
I enjoyed watching the characters develop. The story moves at a nice, quick pace. I would like to have heard more about Jess's coming into this family.
This book should be in school and public libraries. It would open up a conversation for students with military families.
opesopinions.com
It was good to see the support of the military children. You hear about the support for adult members, but this really showed the children of the military.
I enjoyed watching the characters develop. The story moves at a nice, quick pace. I would like to have heard more about Jess's coming into this family.
This book should be in school and public libraries. It would open up a conversation for students with military families.
opesopinions.com
July 22, 2013
Really, 3.75!
For the first few pages I was afraid this would be a slight look at war from the POV of an Army brat. It became clear quickly that the many contradictions of military life would be treated fairly. Broader issues surrounding the irrationality of guilt, misdirected anger, and the confusion that so many of us connect with "duty, honor, country" are also probed in a manner accessible to adolescent readers.
I kept recalling the old saying, "No good deed goes unpunished." Fewer cliches would have earned this title a solid 4 stars.
For the first few pages I was afraid this would be a slight look at war from the POV of an Army brat. It became clear quickly that the many contradictions of military life would be treated fairly. Broader issues surrounding the irrationality of guilt, misdirected anger, and the confusion that so many of us connect with "duty, honor, country" are also probed in a manner accessible to adolescent readers.
I kept recalling the old saying, "No good deed goes unpunished." Fewer cliches would have earned this title a solid 4 stars.
June 8, 2013
Title: Operation Oleander
Author: Valerie O Patterson
Chapters: 21
Pages: 187
Genre: Teen real life issues military brats
Rating: 4 stars
Operation Oleander was a book that hit home with me a little bit. The novel centers on a military base and the kids or military brats growing up on the base. How the kids have to deal with the issues that come with having a parent in the military. I could relate to the kids because I was raised as a military life, and it’s not an easy way to grow up but I wouldn’t have changed it for anything.
Author: Valerie O Patterson
Chapters: 21
Pages: 187
Genre: Teen real life issues military brats
Rating: 4 stars
Operation Oleander was a book that hit home with me a little bit. The novel centers on a military base and the kids or military brats growing up on the base. How the kids have to deal with the issues that come with having a parent in the military. I could relate to the kids because I was raised as a military life, and it’s not an easy way to grow up but I wouldn’t have changed it for anything.
May 12, 2013
It was good to see Valerie explore the dark side and consequences of donations. All too often when we start rummaging through our house or start up a collection for an area that recently had a disaster and it has consequences. I'm reminded of the earthquake in Haiti. Donation centers were so overwhelmed with bags and boxes of unwanted clothes or toys and that did not meet the needs of the Haitians. Enough ranting. This book was well written and Valerie's writing seems more polished and mature. A good read and schools should definitely put this book on their reading lists.
August 11, 2013
This is a well-written book for middle schoolers who like to read about sad things. Although the summary says the main character is a ninth-grader, Jess reads far more like a 12-14 year old. If you are looking for something uplifting about families with members in the military, this isn't really the book. If you are looking at the realistic hardships of military families and the difficulties of how to help children in war zones, then this is the book for you.
June 28, 2014
This book was about a ninth grade girl whose dad is deployed to Afganistan. She makes it her mission to collect school supplies for an orphanage in Afganistan. When tragedy strikes, she learns that her cause becomes political.
I really liked this book. I have not read many fiction books about the war in Afganistan. The only drawback to this book is that I wish I knew more about the backstory with the main character.
I really liked this book. I have not read many fiction books about the war in Afganistan. The only drawback to this book is that I wish I knew more about the backstory with the main character.
March 25, 2013
Jess Watermark starts a charity called Operation Oleander to support a girl’s orphanage in Kabul, Afghanistan. The mission of the charity is to gather supplies and send them to the orphanage. One day an explosion happens right outside of the orphanage and causes Jess to question her charity work. Reviewer #4
April 14, 2013
I recieved this novel from NetGalley.
this novel is wonderful. It is more suited to younger readers but it touches on some inspiring subjects and teaches the reader that hope can come out of a less than average situation. This novel is well written and a joy to read. I enjoyed it thoroughly and recommend it to anyone. it is definitely worth the time it takes to read. amazing novel
this novel is wonderful. It is more suited to younger readers but it touches on some inspiring subjects and teaches the reader that hope can come out of a less than average situation. This novel is well written and a joy to read. I enjoyed it thoroughly and recommend it to anyone. it is definitely worth the time it takes to read. amazing novel
April 16, 2013
Operation Oleander was very interesting, it made you realize how hard it is to have a parent serving in the army. I kind of felt like the author rushed to finish the end of the book because it didn't really explain what happened to Jess and Cara towards the end. Also, the emotions weren't as strongly felt and expressed. In all, I thought it was a beautiful story.
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