This Means War! by Ellen Wittlinger - OPTIONAL

Wittlinger, Ellen This Means War 224 pg. Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2010. Language- PG; Violence- PG; Sexual Content- G. $16.99. Set during the Cold War of 1962, fifth grader Juliet Klostermeyer is scared about a lot of things...her parents losing their grocery store business, nuclear missiles attacking America, and losing her best friend. When a new girl, Patsy, moves in down the road, she seems like the answer to all of Juliet's problems. Patsy is brave and courageous, but when she involves Juliet in an all-out war of bravery against the neighborhood boys, Juliet has to decide what bravery really means.
The book deals with multiple topics including the Cuban missile crisis, friendship, and coming of age. It wasn't the most gripping book ever, but I think that younger grades would enjoy it. EL/MS- OPTIONAL. Whitney, Library-Teacher.