Saturday, March 5, 2016

American Ace by Marilyn Nelson - OPTIONAL


Nelson, Marilyn American Ace, 123 pgs. Penguin (Dial), 2016. $17.99. Language: PG ( 4 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.  

When Connor’s Italian grandmother passes away, she leaves a letter for Connor’s dad that really surprises his tight-knit Irish/Italian family.  The grandmother reveals that Connor’s dad is the result of a brief affair with an American WWII pilot who died during the war.  Conner dives into the research to find out who this unknown grandfather might be.  

This is a quick read as it is written in verse. While I loved the story - searching for an unknown ancestor - the time line doesn’t add up unless this book takes place 30 years ago - (If the father was born in the 1940s how does he have a 12-year-old today?) and as a book to teach about the Tuskegee Airmen, there’s too little information.  I wish the author would have narrowed the story to one thing or the other.  

MS - OPTIONAL  Lisa librarian

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