Shooting the Moon

Jamie Dexter loves playing cards with the soldiers at Fort Hood, where her father serves as an Army colonel. When her brother TJ enlists to serve as a medic in Vietnam in 1969, she expects him to return with heroic war stories like the ones she has grown up hearing. TJ begins sending rolls of photographs home from Vietnam for Jamie to develop in the Fort Hood recreation center's darkroom. Through learning to process and print the black and white film, Jamie gains a new hobby and perspective. As Jamie's understanding of photography grows, so does her awareness of the complexities surrounding war and military service. Her preconceived notions about combat, bravery, and what it means to be a soldier begin to shift. The novel explores themes of family bonds, coming of age, and how personal experiences can transform long-held beliefs. Through Jamie's story, readers encounter questions about patriotism, sacrifice, and the ways people cope with difficult realities.

Readers appreciate how the book handles complex topics like war and family relationships through a child's perspective while avoiding heavy-handedness. Many note the authentic portrayal of Army life and base culture in the 1960s. Common praise focuses on: - Strong character development of Jamie - Details about darkroom photography that engage young readers - Balance between serious themes and lighter moments - Realistic sibling relationships Main criticisms: - Some find the pace too slow in the middle sections - A few readers wanted more resolution with certain plot threads - Young readers occasionally struggle with the Vietnam War context Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (90+ reviews) CommonSenseMedia: 4/5 One middle school teacher noted: "My students connect with Jamie's journey from Army brat to someone who understands war's complexities." Multiple reviewers highlighted the book's success in making photography interesting to children who've only known digital cameras.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry A young girl confronts the realities of war through her family's role in the Danish Resistance during World War II.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt A seventh-grade boy navigates life, family, and the Vietnam War during the 1967 school year.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Two children create an imaginary world to cope with real-life challenges and loss during a pivotal year of friendship.

The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt A teenager works to understand his brother who returns from military service a changed person.

The Blue Star by Emily Gray Tedrowe Two women face the complexities of having loved ones deployed in the Iraq War while managing life on the home front.

🌟 Frances O'Roark Dowell wrote the book based on her experiences growing up as an "Army brat" during the Vietnam War era 📷 The darkroom developing process described in the book is historically accurate and was a common hobby in the 1960s, before digital photography 🎖️ The book won the Christopher Award in 2009, which recognizes works that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit" 🏆 The novel earned a place on numerous state reading lists and was nominated for the Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award 🎯 The game of Hearts, which features prominently in the story, gained particular popularity among U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War as a way to pass time between missions