Book Banter: Shooting the Moon

Book Banter: Shooting the Moon

There are not a lot of books for kids about the Korean War or the Vietnam War. Both are obviously very controversial in American history and we’re still feeling some of the repercussions today, as our veterans are sharing their stories with us. I think Shooting the Moon by Frances O’Roark Dowell is the perfect picture for students to understand some of the controversies, while not dealing with the graphic details they may encounter elsewhere.

If you have students with military family backgrounds, this novel may hit close to home, depending on deployment status. It also provides a great opportunity to talk about military lifestyles - not only the person in the military, but the commitments, as well as sacrifices, their families make. I’d say it’s a PG rating and geared towards students grades 4-6 depending on where the focus is driven in class.

Jamie is a spunky lead female character who I liked right away! Although I don’t have immediate family in the military, the loyalty she felt to the army and the need to impress her parents, as well as her older brother, is the qualities where I could (and where many kids will) relate.  My favorite scenes were when she was working in the rec center on base. Cleaning up after the soldiers, playing gin with Private Hollister, and eventually learning to develop film to see the pictures her brother was sending her from the front lines. Although it is a “carefree” location, she learns so much there and it seems to be a source of stability for her during this time. She meets other soldiers at the base through the rec center, and it gives her a much bigger picture of what is going on in the war and in the government than she would ever get just hearing from her father or brother.

I’ll be honest when I say I’m not sure of the symbolism or direct connection to the moon. I see why TJ sent other pictures in his film, as well as why he sent her pictures instead of a letter, to begin with. There are so many items that could have been chosen, I missed a deeper meaning in that choice that I’m still trying to figure out. Although I am at a loss, it may be obvious to other readers - just not me! And if the symbolism slips by you, too, it will not hinder understanding or even the enjoyment of this book.

The nerd that I am thought of so many ways to connect content to students' lives. Teach them how to play gin, explain the relationships that are difficult with someone with a mental disability, have a guest speaker come in a talk about photography, do a mini-research project on the moon, space travel, or the Cold War during this time period...this list goes on and on! If you’re still in an environment where you are teaching this novel, consider using my choice board to help you with ideas to incorporate cross-curricular.

If you need a quick read, this is a good one to finish up in a day! I would love to hear if you have read the book and what you think.

Happy Reading!