Where Heroes Hide

Helen Recorvits' second middle reader's novel compassionately deals with prejudice, a child's fear of war and the value of friendship. Recorvits reveals a child's thoughts in 1956 aren't so far from those of their contemporaries of today.

In the summer of 1956 ten year old Junior is trying to have fun with his buddies Bobby and Lenny. The only problem with this is that his father a highly decorated World War II Veteran is irritable and holding on to the past. Juniors father believes that Lenny, who is a polio survivor, is still contagious and he forbids Junior to be with him. Juniors father comes upon the boys playing with toy soldiers in the back yard and starts to yell and throw things at Lenny running him off. One day Junior happens on some pictures form World War II, he learns that his dad became a Hero rescuing some men from a plan crash. The only problem with this is the He could not rescue his best friend. Discussing this with Junior allows his father to come to grips with some of the problems in his live. He also comes to grip with his problem with Lenny when the boy rushes out to stop a fire engine to save the live of his friend Bobby who is trapped in a burning house caused by a local factory fire. This is an excellent book I enjoyed reading it. The authors use of words propelled me back in to the 1950s. I enjoyed how the author important aspects of history into her book.

BOOKLIST:"World War II has been over for 10 years, but Junior Webster's father, a veteran, is still angry and anxious much of the time. And he's very afraid of polio--so concerned, in fact, that he forbids Junior to play with Lenny,who is a polio survivor,and literally chases the boy out of the house...When Junior discovers his father's wartime memorabilia, he learns the sad story that underlies his father's pain. Mr. Webster eventually proves that real heroes don't require wars when he and Lenny save the life of Junior's friend Bobby. A slice of life that gives a sense of the mid-1950s."--Catherine Andronik

..."World War II has been over for 10 years, but Junior Webster's father, a veteran, is still angry and anxious much of the time. And he's very afraid of polio--so concerned, in fact, that he forbids Junior to play with Lenny,who is a polio survivor,and literally chases the boy out of the house...When Junior discovers his father's wartime memorabilia, he learns the sad story that underlies his father's pain. Mr. Webster eventually proves that real heroes don't require wars when he and Lenny save the life of Junior's friend Bobby. A slice of life that gives a sense of the mid-1950s."...

I loved this book. Junior seemed so real he nearly jumped right off of the page. Readers will laugh and cry right along with him on his adventures and during his heartache. A story about love and acceptance - set during a period and about a subject not often written about for children this age.