Peace Is a Four-Letter Word

by Janet Nichols Lynch

Emily Rankin is a normal sixteen-year-old girl, the daughter of orange ranchers in rural Visalia, California. She is a cheerleader and A student, and her boyfriend is the star center for the basketball team. She also has a new history teacher, Dr. Connell McKenzie, who is challenging Emily to think for herself. To think, for example, about the fact that the president has been amassing troops in the Persian Gulf, and that war is imminent—--but not inevitable. The year is 1990. As a rare and devastating chill threatens to wipe out her family'’s entire orange crop and the rest of the Central Valley'’s economy with it, Emily must make a to stand up for her values and risk losing her friends—--her boyfriend included--—or to keep the peace by not speaking out against the war.

158 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Janet Nichols Lynch is the author of seventeen books. Her most recent novel, MORE TO LIFE, about the humor and challenges of aging, was published Fall 2025 by Legacy Book Press. Her children's Black historical novel, ELLEN OF ALLENSWORTH is about a girl growing up in Allensworth, the only town in California owned and governed by Blacks, which is now a California Historic State Park. Janet's debut novel, CHEST PAINS, was published in 2009. Her short fiction has appeared in THE NEW YORKER, SEVENTEEN, HIGHWAY99, A LITERARY JOURNEY THROUGH CALIFORNIA'S GREAT CENTRAL VALLEY, and elsewhere. Her young adult novels include MESSED UP, a 2009 ALA Quick-Pick for Reluctant Readers and a VOYA (Voices of Youth Advocates) Top of the Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers; RACING CALIFORNIA, a 2012 Society of School Librarians International Honor Book; MY BEAUTIFUL HIPPIE; COMMIE PINKO; and WHEEL OF FIRE. Janet has also written nonfiction for young readers including CLARA SCHUMANN, PIANIST AND COMPOSER; FLORENCE PRICE, AMERICAN COMPOSER; ELIZABETH WARREN AND IT TAKES TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT; AMERICAN MUSIC MAKERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN COMPOSERS; and WOMEN MUSIC MAKERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN COMPOSERS;

Janet was born in Sacramento, California, and graduated with a BA in Music from California State University, a Master of Music Degree in Piano from Arizona State University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Fresno State University. She has taught music and English at the community college, high school, and middle school levels, and private piano to all ages.

Janet lives in Visalia, California, with her husband composer Timothy Lynch, and they have two grown children, three grandchildren, and three cats. Janet has completed twenty marathons and numerous other races and triathlons. As an avid cyclist, her longest ride was from Phoenix, AZ to Washington, D.C., and she is nearing the completion of her goal of cycling in all fifty states. Find Janet on Facebook at facebook.com/jnicholslynch and Instagram at janet_nichols_lynch. Her website is JanetNicholsLynch.com.
 

Reviews

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story about a high school student influenced by her pacifist history teacher on the eve of the Persian Gulf War.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A interesting book about a girl who discovers who she really is.