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'The Things a Brother Knows'

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[August 10, 2011]  "The Things a Brother Knows," by Dana Reinhardt, 2010 Wendy Lamb Books, 242 pages, young adult

Review by
Louella Moreland

America has begun to accept news stories of war as a part of our daily lives. Most of the time, the conflict is far away and we can insulate ourselves from its existence. Sometimes it comes close to home, such as that beautiful September morning when we watched in horror and disbelief as airplanes ended lives on our own soil. War touches nearly all of us. It never ceases to cause heartache, pain and lots of confusion.

During the time of the Vietnam War, our young soldiers found an ungrateful country upon their return. Americans seemed to confuse the soldiers' duties with that unpopular war, blaming those who served for decisions that were not their own. Thankfully, that has changed. Most Americans now salute our soldiers, who risk their lives to protect the rights of our country (even the rights of the Americans who disagree with our government and the foreign engagements our soldiers fight in).

However, reality is confusing: how to separate the theories behind war from the events the soldiers experience on their jobs. In Dana Reinhardt's novel "The Things a Brother Knows," we are taken as readers on a journey to understand this impossible contradiction.

Ms. Reinhardt introduces us to a Jewish family as their oldest son, Bo, returns from combat in the Middle East. Unfortunately, the horrible waiting and hoping for his return is not eased by his actual appearance. Bo is not the well-liked high school football star who left. Now he is silent, withdrawing into his room for days at a time. Through the eyes of his younger brother, Levi, readers glimpse a little more: Bo's nightmares, his refusal to ride in a car, his Internet searching for maps.

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When Bo announces he is going to take a trip, hiking the Appalachian Trail, Levi knows this is far from the truth. After a few days and with the help of his two best friends, Levi knows he must follow Bo. He must go in order to figure out how to help, even if Bo doesn't want him there. Along their journey readers begin to see the connection that brothers share, whether related by blood or experience.

"The Things a Brother Knows" is not an action adventure. The novel is not a war story. It is also, at times, not easy to read. Emotions are dredged to the surface of our own consciousness, making us ask difficult questions of our own beliefs.

So what is it? It is a discovery. It reminds us about the part of war that is often forgotten: the people who are fighting it on both sides. Most important, it is about the love of a family and the friends who support a person no matter how much a person may change.

Ms. Reinhardt's characters are full of life, good and bad, insightful and dense. They are very human. Even secondary characters are fleshed out enough for us to recognize. Readers will come away from the story feeling satisfied and hopefully with a better understanding of themselves as well.

For this novel and others about brothers or family members returning from war, see us in the Youth Service Department at the Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin St.

[Text copied from file received from Louella Moreland, Lincoln Public Library District]

(Ms. Lou's blog: lincolnpubliclibraryupdates.blogspot.com)

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