Home Wars [Hardcover]

Dorothy Reynolds Miller (Author)

Book Description

Halley's father brings home four antique guns and wants to teach his two sons to shoot. But Halley's mother will not allow guns in their home, and soon there ensues a conflict in which everyone in the family learns something about love, family values, anger--and the real effort it takes to have peace.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7. When 12-year-old Halley's father brings home four antique flintlock rifles, her mother explodes, igniting a war that engulfs the entire family. Halley succeeds in spurring Mom to dispose of the guns, but Dad and Halley's half brothers, Mike and Johnny, fish them out of the creek. When her cat is shot and killed, Halley suspects the boys of the crime. Escalating acts of family terrorism culminate in Mike and Johnny being temporarily reunited with their biological mother, while Halley gets counseling and her parents refuse to speak to one another. There are frequent biblical quotations and references to Halley's Christian school. The family's church leaders offer prayer sessions to help reunite her parents. The book's strengths include the relationship between Halley and her friend Kirk, whose grandfather, Edgar, has severe physical deformities. Edgar delivers the book's resolution when he reveals an almost omniscient view of the unfolding conflict, despite his previous reticence. Unfortunately, there is too little too late to fully develop his character. Incidents at school seem an unnecessary diversion, and many questions are left unanswered. Halley's language seems old-fashioned at times, going clunk instead of click. The setting is difficult to envision, especially "The Dragon," an area of town where Mom has an antique shop. The descriptions of the family's problems develop too slowly, and the upbeat resolution, when it finally comes, seems too pat. The heavy themes in this book miss the mark.?Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Jr. High School, Iowa City, IA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; 1st edition (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689814119
• ISBN-13: 978-0689814112
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,027,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No real value., December 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Home Wars (Hardcover)

I felt robbed That I took the time to read this book, if you can call it that. Weak attempt to sell more of the brain dead on gun grabbing. Author has no concept of the real world. I suggest a trip to any communist country to gain a better preception of life.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Customer review, April 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Home Wars (Hardcover)

Mrs. Miller's prose reveals a keen understanding of adolescent concerns and behavior. Home Wars kept me interested from start to finish and I really enjoyed the storyline.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story of a girls hard life keeping her family together., March 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Home Wars (Hardcover)

I loved this book and could not put it down. Mrs.Miller wrote the book in a very interesting point of veiw. Home Wars is a story so realistic it seems as if I was one of the characters.