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Slap Your Sides
World War II is raging in Europe, but back home in Sweet Creek, Pennsylvania, Bud Shoemaker, a Quaker and a pacifist, has taken a one-man stand against the fight by declaring himself a conscientious objector.
Fourteen-year-old Jubal sees his brother′s choice as noble and brave, although most of the town (including Jubal′s dream girl, Daria) sees Bud as a coward -- or worse. The line between right and wrong has become alarmingly blurred, and it won′t be long before Jubal′s family begins to buckle as it struggles to cope with the consequences of Bud′s decision
Ages 12+
Fourteen-year-old Jubal sees his brother′s choice as noble and brave, although most of the town (including Jubal′s dream girl, Daria) sees Bud as a coward -- or worse. The line between right and wrong has become alarmingly blurred, and it won′t be long before Jubal′s family begins to buckle as it struggles to cope with the consequences of Bud′s decision
Ages 12+
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
7 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
M.E. Kerr
46 books58 followersM. E. Kerr was born Marijane Meaker in Auburn, New York. Her interest in writing began with her father, who loved to read, and her mother, who loved to tell stories of neighborhood gossip. Unable to find an agent to represent her work, Meaker became her own agent, and wrote articles and books under a series of pseudonyms: Vin Packer, Ann Aldrich, Laura Winston, M.E. Kerr, and Mary James. As M.E. Kerr, Meaker has produced over twenty novels for young adults and won multiple awards, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her lifetime contribution to young adult literature.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 16, 2010
Written from a point of view I hadn't considered before, that of a Quaker boy who is trying to determine what his duty during WWII. His older brother has already signed up as a conscientious objector, and this has resulted in some unwanted attention for the family back home.
I don't really hear about COs in literature or film, maybe because we have this idea of heroism that is attached to military service (please note: I'm NOT saying military service isn't heroic). On the other hand, it must take a lot of courage to refuse to support the war in any way, particularly (as is pointed out quite often in the book), in THIS war, when Hitler was attempting to annihilate and entire race.
Although I liked getting another perspective, I did NOT like the ending.
I don't really hear about COs in literature or film, maybe because we have this idea of heroism that is attached to military service (please note: I'm NOT saying military service isn't heroic). On the other hand, it must take a lot of courage to refuse to support the war in any way, particularly (as is pointed out quite often in the book), in THIS war, when Hitler was attempting to annihilate and entire race.
Although I liked getting another perspective, I did NOT like the ending.
October 7, 2024
This book was horrible. I was excited to read a book about Quaker beliefs and how that affected them during WW2. This book was so awful though. It was basically about people losing their faith and a horrible outcome for everything. I thought it was shocking that anyone affiliated with Quaker beliefs would write this and so I read the author bio in the back of the book. THE CHARACTER SHE BASES OFF HERSELF IS THE ONE WHO VANDALIZES THEIR STORE! Honestly that made so much sense. This book is anti-Quaker propaganda and straight vitrol.
I cannot say enough times: Do not waste your time on this book.
I cannot say enough times: Do not waste your time on this book.
September 24, 2009
It definitely makes you think about what do people really think and how far will people go to stand up for what they believe in.
September 28, 2018
A coworker donated this to the library, and wanted me to check it out.
Set during WWII, it tells the story of Jubal Shoemaker, a 14 year old teenager in Sweet Creek PA. While many of Jubal's older peers find themselves enlisting to fight in the war, Jubal's brother Bud signs up as a conscientious objector (CO). Raised in a Quaker household, Bud is a pacifist and is sent to a Civilian Public Service Camp, where he and his fellow CO's are threatened and endangered by their choice. Back home, the Shoemaker's are also scrutinized and threatened due to Bud's choice. Told from Jubal's perspective, readers are given an interesting historical perspective not often seen in historical fiction, and shown the intolerance that many CO's and their families faced at the time.
I loved that this gives a voice to nonviolent protesters, and since I work at a Quaker school, the Quaker perspective was nice (thought at times a bit stereotypical). While I felt the writing was a tad weak, I'm reminded it's for middle schoolers, and may even appeal to older elementary grades. So I will be adding this to our collection and recommending for any student looking for a historical fiction read!
Set during WWII, it tells the story of Jubal Shoemaker, a 14 year old teenager in Sweet Creek PA. While many of Jubal's older peers find themselves enlisting to fight in the war, Jubal's brother Bud signs up as a conscientious objector (CO). Raised in a Quaker household, Bud is a pacifist and is sent to a Civilian Public Service Camp, where he and his fellow CO's are threatened and endangered by their choice. Back home, the Shoemaker's are also scrutinized and threatened due to Bud's choice. Told from Jubal's perspective, readers are given an interesting historical perspective not often seen in historical fiction, and shown the intolerance that many CO's and their families faced at the time.
I loved that this gives a voice to nonviolent protesters, and since I work at a Quaker school, the Quaker perspective was nice (thought at times a bit stereotypical). While I felt the writing was a tad weak, I'm reminded it's for middle schoolers, and may even appeal to older elementary grades. So I will be adding this to our collection and recommending for any student looking for a historical fiction read!
April 7, 2020
We hear tales of heroic characters serving their country by fighting in wars. What about characters who choose to serve their country by not participating in war for religious reasons? What about the family of those characters? “Slap Your Sides” is a coming of age story told by a young boy who and his family endure backlash from their community in response to his eldest brother’s choice to not enlist in the USA army of WW2.
I believe this book should be a required text for young adults ages 12-16. While it is important to serve your country, it is also important to take into consideration that there are more than one ways to serve. Also, this book invites readers to think about those with differing religious beliefs and social opinions than yours. A thoughtful and bittersweet book.
I believe this book should be a required text for young adults ages 12-16. While it is important to serve your country, it is also important to take into consideration that there are more than one ways to serve. Also, this book invites readers to think about those with differing religious beliefs and social opinions than yours. A thoughtful and bittersweet book.
October 12, 2018
In the beginning of the book. A 13 year old boy named Jubal said bye to his brother named Bud as he got on the train. That Christmas was different because everyone used good manners. They had the radio on and a song came on called Remember Pearl Harbor.
I've had a person leave in my family before and I know how it feels. I relate to this because my dad left. He was an important part in my life and I looked up to him just like Jubal looked up to his brother.
This book reminds me of the blind side because Micheal was separated from his mother just as Bud and his brother were separated. The movie hunger games cause Catness volunteers herself for a spot in the hunger games.
I've had a person leave in my family before and I know how it feels. I relate to this because my dad left. He was an important part in my life and I looked up to him just like Jubal looked up to his brother.
This book reminds me of the blind side because Micheal was separated from his mother just as Bud and his brother were separated. The movie hunger games cause Catness volunteers herself for a spot in the hunger games.
May 18, 2011
Quakers have always been pacifists and so whenever war comes, they have invoked their religious belief as conscientious objectors. Most people see this unwillingness to fight as cowardice rather than religious conviction. During World War II, conscientious objectors were quite ostracized, as they have been in all wars that they refuse to participate in.
Slap Your Sides is about what happens to a family when one of their sons, Bud, refuses to go to war when he is drafted because of his Quaker beliefs. The story is told from the point of view of thirteen year old Jubal Shoemaker, faced with the idea that the war could continue until he old enough to be drafted. Jubal goes through some real soul-searching before he decides he will follow in his brother’s footsteps. Middle brother Tommy isn’t nearly as interested in the war or his “conchie” brother as he is in “scoring” with girls.
The family must deal with harassment and snubbing by former friends and neighbors as well as constant graffiti on the windows of the family department store, and even vilification on a local radio program hosted by their neighbor, Radio Dan, who happens to have two sons service overseas.
Though he looks up to his brother and admires Bud’s resolve to follow his beliefs, Jubal also wants to be liked by the people around him. Daria, Radio Dan’s daughter, is forbidden to have anything to do with Jubal and his family, but a closeness begins to grow between them anyway. Daria loves to ride horses and Jubal invites her over to the farm where he works in the stable on the weekend to ride with him. Daria cannot understand Bud and Jubal’s pacifist position on war, but she slowly begins to change her opinions, or rather form her own, when letters from her start brother to arrive, questioning the wisdom of war. But it takes the death of one of her brothers for Daria to really see the pointlessness of war and to begin to understand Jubal’s position. At the same time, Jubal’s beliefs are called into play when he must make a snap decision about what he perceives to be an attack on Daria by a deranged, escaped conscientious objector.
Running parallel to Jubal’s story is that of Bud, though it is not presented directly, but through other devices, such as letters and phone calls. Bud is given the conscientious objector classification, 4-E, by the army and sent to Colorado to work as unpaid labor in a Civilian Public Service camp. There, he and his fellow COs are harassed, barred from entering stores, restaurants and movie theaters, their packages arrive empty and they threatened with bodily harm.
From Colorado, Bud is transferred to the Shenandoah State Asylum for the Insane. While there, he is seriously beaten up for of his “conchie” beliefs and one of the inmates, a very large Indian patient named Sky Hawk, is blamed. In reality, Bid and Sky Hawk had hitched a ride home from the movies and the men in the pickup that stopped had given Bud the beating, poured beer over Sky Hawk’s jacket and driven off. Though seriously injured, Bud slowly recovered. Afterwards, he participated in a starvation experiment. Men were intentionally starved to see how malnourished people could be re-nourished. All these things, and others, were considered to be legitimate forms of alternate service by the Army.
The consequences of one person’s decision to not fight are well illustrated in this novel. It is a decision that has a profound effect on the lives of everyone in the Shoemaker household. It is a part of the war we seldom see presented in novels. Kerr has done this very well in this novel, and ends Slap Your Sides with the same irony that is her trademark. After all, as Radio Dan reminds us, “Oh, listeners, the world’s filled with irony.” (pg 184)
Kerr has certainly done her homework on conscientious objectors during World War II. Feelings ran high during the war and sometimes people dressed their worst behavior up in patriotism that then run amuck. Often during the war, as is the case here, patriotism was not much better than nationalism in terms of its treatment of people who were considered inferior, for example, conscientious objectors, African-Americans or Japanese-Americans. Another bit of irony Kerr brings out.
Slap Your Sides is an excellent book in many ways and I would highly recommend it. It opens up a lot of questions about how we define what is right and wrong that can lead to interesting discussions either in school or at home. It may be about war, but some of the issues tackled will always resonate with kids.
This book is recommended for readers 9-12.
This book was borrowed from the 67th Branch of the NYPL.
Slap Your Sides received the following well deserved honors
2002 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age Listee
2002 Oklahoma Library Association Young Adult Book Award Nominee
2002 Booklist One of ten best books about religion
Slap Your Sides is about what happens to a family when one of their sons, Bud, refuses to go to war when he is drafted because of his Quaker beliefs. The story is told from the point of view of thirteen year old Jubal Shoemaker, faced with the idea that the war could continue until he old enough to be drafted. Jubal goes through some real soul-searching before he decides he will follow in his brother’s footsteps. Middle brother Tommy isn’t nearly as interested in the war or his “conchie” brother as he is in “scoring” with girls.
The family must deal with harassment and snubbing by former friends and neighbors as well as constant graffiti on the windows of the family department store, and even vilification on a local radio program hosted by their neighbor, Radio Dan, who happens to have two sons service overseas.
Though he looks up to his brother and admires Bud’s resolve to follow his beliefs, Jubal also wants to be liked by the people around him. Daria, Radio Dan’s daughter, is forbidden to have anything to do with Jubal and his family, but a closeness begins to grow between them anyway. Daria loves to ride horses and Jubal invites her over to the farm where he works in the stable on the weekend to ride with him. Daria cannot understand Bud and Jubal’s pacifist position on war, but she slowly begins to change her opinions, or rather form her own, when letters from her start brother to arrive, questioning the wisdom of war. But it takes the death of one of her brothers for Daria to really see the pointlessness of war and to begin to understand Jubal’s position. At the same time, Jubal’s beliefs are called into play when he must make a snap decision about what he perceives to be an attack on Daria by a deranged, escaped conscientious objector.
Running parallel to Jubal’s story is that of Bud, though it is not presented directly, but through other devices, such as letters and phone calls. Bud is given the conscientious objector classification, 4-E, by the army and sent to Colorado to work as unpaid labor in a Civilian Public Service camp. There, he and his fellow COs are harassed, barred from entering stores, restaurants and movie theaters, their packages arrive empty and they threatened with bodily harm.
From Colorado, Bud is transferred to the Shenandoah State Asylum for the Insane. While there, he is seriously beaten up for of his “conchie” beliefs and one of the inmates, a very large Indian patient named Sky Hawk, is blamed. In reality, Bid and Sky Hawk had hitched a ride home from the movies and the men in the pickup that stopped had given Bud the beating, poured beer over Sky Hawk’s jacket and driven off. Though seriously injured, Bud slowly recovered. Afterwards, he participated in a starvation experiment. Men were intentionally starved to see how malnourished people could be re-nourished. All these things, and others, were considered to be legitimate forms of alternate service by the Army.
The consequences of one person’s decision to not fight are well illustrated in this novel. It is a decision that has a profound effect on the lives of everyone in the Shoemaker household. It is a part of the war we seldom see presented in novels. Kerr has done this very well in this novel, and ends Slap Your Sides with the same irony that is her trademark. After all, as Radio Dan reminds us, “Oh, listeners, the world’s filled with irony.” (pg 184)
Kerr has certainly done her homework on conscientious objectors during World War II. Feelings ran high during the war and sometimes people dressed their worst behavior up in patriotism that then run amuck. Often during the war, as is the case here, patriotism was not much better than nationalism in terms of its treatment of people who were considered inferior, for example, conscientious objectors, African-Americans or Japanese-Americans. Another bit of irony Kerr brings out.
Slap Your Sides is an excellent book in many ways and I would highly recommend it. It opens up a lot of questions about how we define what is right and wrong that can lead to interesting discussions either in school or at home. It may be about war, but some of the issues tackled will always resonate with kids.
This book is recommended for readers 9-12.
This book was borrowed from the 67th Branch of the NYPL.
Slap Your Sides received the following well deserved honors
2002 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age Listee
2002 Oklahoma Library Association Young Adult Book Award Nominee
2002 Booklist One of ten best books about religion
March 9, 2017
In the book our main character comes across many challenges for him to truck through. Powerful story and a strong ending!
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March 21, 2012 Kayleigh Zabell
The novel Slap Your Sides, written by M.E Kerr, was an interesting book that demonstrated what life was like home during World War Two, and how your decisions affected others.
Jubal’s family was living a happy simple life until Bud (Jubal’s oldest brother) was drafted to join the war. Jubal, Bud, and their mother are Quakers and have strong views against the war. Bud decides to register as a 4E, instead of fighting in the war. Registering 4E means you would be volunteering in soup/food kitchens, hospitals, mental intuitions, and so on. Bud and his family were faced with a lot of discrimination for Bud’s decision. Others were angered that Bud did not have to risk his life and face the hardships of war, while their loved ones had to. Jubal’s family owned a general store, and after Bud had left someone would graffiti the windows, with sayings such as your son is useless. Jubal was sent to keep guard of the store overnight and was shocked to see who had been vandalizing the store. After Jubal confronted the culprit they surprisingly became friends, but every now and then Jubal’s family store was vandalized. As the war went on Jubal’s family was growing and falling apart. Jubal’s mother and farther are no longer on speaking terms, and Bud was wounded very badly by one of the mental patients at the hospital. With all the chaos going on Jubal had been on edge, and got himself into a situation that will affect his whole life.
I thought this book was great for readers who want to know what life was like at home during World War Two, and how fighting in the war was not your only option. Overall though, I found the book to be dull, and unchallenging. I would only recommend this book to others if they are looking for a quick easy read.
The novel Slap Your Sides, written by M.E Kerr, was an interesting book that demonstrated what life was like home during World War Two, and how your decisions affected others.
Jubal’s family was living a happy simple life until Bud (Jubal’s oldest brother) was drafted to join the war. Jubal, Bud, and their mother are Quakers and have strong views against the war. Bud decides to register as a 4E, instead of fighting in the war. Registering 4E means you would be volunteering in soup/food kitchens, hospitals, mental intuitions, and so on. Bud and his family were faced with a lot of discrimination for Bud’s decision. Others were angered that Bud did not have to risk his life and face the hardships of war, while their loved ones had to. Jubal’s family owned a general store, and after Bud had left someone would graffiti the windows, with sayings such as your son is useless. Jubal was sent to keep guard of the store overnight and was shocked to see who had been vandalizing the store. After Jubal confronted the culprit they surprisingly became friends, but every now and then Jubal’s family store was vandalized. As the war went on Jubal’s family was growing and falling apart. Jubal’s mother and farther are no longer on speaking terms, and Bud was wounded very badly by one of the mental patients at the hospital. With all the chaos going on Jubal had been on edge, and got himself into a situation that will affect his whole life.
I thought this book was great for readers who want to know what life was like at home during World War Two, and how fighting in the war was not your only option. Overall though, I found the book to be dull, and unchallenging. I would only recommend this book to others if they are looking for a quick easy read.
August 8, 2016
Interesting topic but it felt pretty glossed over here. The relationship between Daria and Jubal seemed somehow off and I wasn't all that invested in any one character. I found the brother trying to get to home plate with the girl a bit odd with all the religious aspects of the family. I guess pacifism was high on the list but not chastity. Just seemed out of place. I'm not sure I fully understand the "lesson" at the end of the book...almost felt like the author was trying to show that that pacifism "crap" goes out the window when someone you care about is threatened, which I think diminishes the concept and makes those who believe in it seem unreasonable and weak. That Jubal proved he was a more a man than he thought he could be by killing someone didn't really set well with me either. I did learn a lot about how Quakers were treated and viewed and I really hadn't known about the work camps and testing that went on so that was enlightening. Overall, this may have been better as an adult novel where deep characters and multi-layered plot lines could have shined a bit more. This is a subject someone like Jodi Picoult could do justice...I usually walk away from her books seeing all sides of an issue and feeling that nothing is black and white....everyone involved had deep beliefs on both sides and really, no one was "wrong".
July 16, 2011
I'm a huge fan of M.E. Kerr, although I can't quite tell you why. Her writing style is as quirky as her characters are, and I'm a fan of quirks, I guess. (For a great M.E. Kerr introduction, check out "Little Little." It's about dwarfs. Really.) Anyway, this one has been on my list for years, and I finally got around to it. Another interesting book with interesting characters, but the funny thing is that it really got good in the last fifteen pages or so. Not that the rest was bad, but I got especially interested in the plot in the last two chapters.
This book may not necessarily change your life, but it will fill a few afternoons with thought, laughs, and just enough sorrow to make it enjoyable. Three cheers for YA reads.
This book may not necessarily change your life, but it will fill a few afternoons with thought, laughs, and just enough sorrow to make it enjoyable. Three cheers for YA reads.
January 10, 2016
Fourteen-year-old Jubal Shoemaker's family life suddenly changes when his older brother Bud decides to fully embrace their Quaker heritage and decides he won't enlist in WWII or even go as a non-combatant (1AO), but rather be classified as a conscientious objector.
Now someone is marking the family's department store with grafitti; Bud is being harassed in Colorado; the Shoemaker family's aunt, married to a Jewish man, presents the case for fighting Hitler; and people are shunning the family, except for Daria, the radio announcer's daughter, until her own brother is killed in action. Now Jubal must confront his own decision about what he will do if the war lingers.
Now someone is marking the family's department store with grafitti; Bud is being harassed in Colorado; the Shoemaker family's aunt, married to a Jewish man, presents the case for fighting Hitler; and people are shunning the family, except for Daria, the radio announcer's daughter, until her own brother is killed in action. Now Jubal must confront his own decision about what he will do if the war lingers.
August 27, 2009
A Quaker family during WWII, has a son leave for CO camp. Book discussions the ramification of it for the family. The teenage brother does a lot of thinking about his beliefs.
I enjoyed this from a Quaker-attending perspective. It's not often you read about Quakers in YA (or any other) fiction. Seemed to be a reasonable representation of the tug-of-war between belief and action with consequences.
I didn't think the ending jived with how Jubal would behave, but, otherwise, I good book.
I enjoyed this from a Quaker-attending perspective. It's not often you read about Quakers in YA (or any other) fiction. Seemed to be a reasonable representation of the tug-of-war between belief and action with consequences.
I didn't think the ending jived with how Jubal would behave, but, otherwise, I good book.
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February 4, 2016While everyone else is marching off to war or supporting the war effort, Jubal's brother Bud, a Quaker and a pacifist, chooses to be a 4E conscientious objector. He goes off to Civilian Public Service camp in Colorado to perform jobs without pay. His choice affects the way the community treats his family. The circumstances bring up the question for Jubal's family and their fellow Quakers: is war ever justifiable?
December 13, 2012
This book wasn`t my favorite because its not the normal type of book it read it was different. Well with this book you see that people have different ways of doing things and you shouldn`t make fun of them for because it doesn`t matter how it is done. I wouldn`t recommend this book if you like action books,but if you like ww2 books from the states side then its not bad.
January 23, 2011
Everyone knew Hitler as dangerous and we had to go to war. Except for Jubel’s brother. Bud is a CO. He’s not going to war.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews