by Kirby Larson
First published 2018
Billie lives with her great-aunt after losing her mother and being abandoned by her father. Now her big brother Leo is leaving too, heading off to fight in World War II. During their final weekend together at the ranch, Leo brings home Denny, a fellow Marine from boot camp who happens to be Navajo. Denny arrives with an injured stray dog that Billie helps nurse back to health. She names the dog Bear and grows deeply attached to him as they spend time together. Soon Leo and Denny must ship out for the war, with Denny serving as a Navajo Code Talker. Left behind, Billie throws herself into supporting the war effort while worrying about her brother and his friend overseas. She also struggles with losing her best friend and wonders if her father will ever return. Through her bond with Bear, Billie learns about courage and discovers what truly matters most.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, military-fiction, world-war-ii
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Ranch
Period: World War II
259 pages · Kindle Edition · Scholastic Press