The Art of Keeping Cool (Aladdin Historical Fiction) [Paperback]

Janet Taylor Lisle (Author)

Book Description

Series: Aladdin Historical Fiction

The War At Home

Fear permeates the Rhode Island coastal town where Robert, his mother, and sister are living out the war with his paternal grandparents: Fear of Nazi submarines offshore. Fear of Abel Hoffman, a German artist living reclusively outside of town. And for Robert, a more personal fear, of his hot-tempered, controlling grandfather.

As Robert watches the townspeople's hostility toward Hoffman build, he worries about his sensitive cousin Elliot's friendship with the artist. And he wonders more and more about the family secret everyone seems to be keeping from him -- a secret involving Robert's father, a bomber pilot in Europe. Will Elliot's ability to detach himself from the turmoil around him be enough to sustain him when prejudice and suspicions erupt into violence? And can Robert find his own way to deal with the shocking truth about his family's past?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

PW said, "This wrenching WWII novel traces the relationship between two 13-year-old American boys and a German-born Expressionist painter reputed to be a spy. The intimate first-person narrative brings universal themes of prejudice and loss to a personal level." Ages 10-14. (May)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7-Despite a misleading title (the word "cool" does not conjure up the 1940s), this is a well-drawn story that is part coming-of-age, part mystery. Robert and his mother have come to live with his grandparents on the Rhode Island coast in 1942, soon after his father has gone off to fight in the war. The coastal residents are getting ready for war and a German painter, living like a hermit on the outskirts of town, has raised suspicions of being a spy. To complicate matters, Robert's cousin Elliott, also an artist, is at odds with their grandfather, an imposing patriarch prone to anger. As the summer unfolds, the tension mounts. Robert and his mother wait anxiously for word from the front; Elliott grows more unhappy at home as he befriends the painter; the town turns against the outsider with tragic consequences; and Robert finally learns why his father has been estranged from his family. The focus is clearly on the men of the household, and cursory treatment is given to the women's feelings and thoughts. Although women in such situations are indeed often overshadowed by their husbands or fathers, the emotional depth of this story is undercut by their portrayals. Still this is a heartfelt story about family dynamics and the harmful power of prejudice and hatred.
Cyrisse Jaffee, formerly at Newton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689837887
• ISBN-13: 978-0689837883
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > History & Historical Fiction > Historical Fiction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drawing Life in World War II., April 15, 2002

By 

Lindsey Smith (Illinios) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Keeping Cool (Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (Awards)) (Hardcover)

It's during World War II and Robert's father, Ken, has gone off to join the Royal Air Force of England. Robert and his family moved out to live with Grandpa, against Ken's wishes. Ken and Grandpa have never gotten along for some reason, and Robert is determined to find out why. Elliot and Robert join a German artist, turning the whole community against them, because of the fear that he may be spying for their enemy in war, Germany. Grandpa and Robert don't get along, and family tensions boil again as "civil war" breaks out with the next generation.
I loved this book because of the build up of character that Janet Taylor Lisle creates. Everyone is an individual. Grandpa is always angry. Grandma is always trying to protect people from Grandpa. Robert's mother is always quiet. Elliot is always drawing life in W.W.II. And father like son, Robert and his father always think things through and stand up to Grandpa. I would contrast Janet Taylor Lisle to Philip Pullman because they are the exact opposite. Pullman likes to write deep fantasy while Lisle likes to write shallow fantasy. Pullman writes about things that he imagined while Lisle writes about history.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Art Of Keeping Cool, March 1, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Art of Keeping Cool (Aladdin Historical Fiction) (Paperback)

It is the spring of 1942, a few months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
America is at war with the Germans, and the Japanese. Also known as World War Two. Robert, a thirteen-year-old boy that lives in Sachem's Head, Rhode Island has to live thought this amazing, and confusing experience called `WAR'.

Robert's amazing experience starts in the book "The Art Of Keeping Cool", By Janet Taylor Lisle. Robert is the main character of the book, with his cousin, Elliot at his side. Elliot is the kind of boy who is shy, and sits in the corner at dinnertime. He is not really notices by, but that doesn't stop him from drawing his amazing artwork, and seeing Abel Hoffman. Abel Hoffman is a German artist that lives in the woods of Sachem's Head. The whole town has turned their backs on him because he is German. People start to think he is a German spy, so they start terriorsing him, and soon it comes to the F.B.I searching his house. He didn't even do anything, but they have to be suspicious for their own safety. This is just one example of what war does to people.

Robert finds himself caught in the middle, when Elliot starts to go to Abel's house everyday. Should he cover up for his cousin? Tell his family?, or ignore him? This is only one of Robert's fears (or conflicts of the book) that he has to deal with including war, his hot-tempered grandpa, and discovering the family's secret.

If I could only tell you the ending, because it's so shocking and exciting, but your going to have to wait and see what happens with Elliot, and Abel. Does Robert come to find the family secret? Or will this war ever end?

I think that this book tells me, or teaches a lesson about life, that you have to learn to face your fears, and learn to trust people, like Abel. It also tells me when war comes, and your right in the middle of it; it can lead to many problems in the world, and questions. Like `why do we have wars?'

This book shows me that war affects people in their everyday lives. That's why you should read "The Art of Keeping Cool", By Janet Taylor Lisle.
I recommend this book to ages 12 and up, because it was kind of hard to understand at first.

This multi-layered novel blooms its many layers into your mind, with many questions. To get the answers you're going to have to read the book. This is a historical fiction you'll won't want to miss out on.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars World War II... MUST HAVE, May 6, 2007

By 

Care (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Keeping Cool (Aladdin Historical Fiction) (Paperback)

Lisle, J. T. (2000). The art of keeping cool. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

Synopsis: In 1942, when Robert and his mother are forced to leave with his paternal grandfather in Rhode Island, Robert begins to find many questions within his life. Thirteen year old Robert does not understand why his father who is a fighter pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force in England becomes estranged from his family. Robert and his mother are not the only family members displaced and living with their grandfather in Rhode Island. Robert meets his aunt, uncle and cousin Elliot. Elliot, an artist, has mastered the "art" of keeping cool while Robert is confrontational with his acerbic grandfather. While Elliot befriends a reclusive German artist, the prejudiced townsfolk and their anti-German sentiment, rages on with tragic results. Not long after moving to Rhode Island, questions begin to arise in Robert's mind that only time will begin to answer. When Robert's father is declared missing in action, he tries to figure out the world around him and the changes in society brought on by the war and his relationships with his family. Readers are gripping the edge of their seats as they read this heartfelt story and discover the reasons why Robert's father has become estranged with his family.

Evaluation: Winner of the Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award, readers will truly be transported in time to see the historical events of WWII through the fresh young eyes of Robert. As Lisle writes about the tensions within this family, readers are able to see the events of WWII from Robert's perspective. This mystery and coming of age story also examines the dysfunctional household in Robert's life. This story is likely to appeal to boys and girls in grades 5-7. In addition, Lisle's story will make an exceptional component of any WWII unit. Serving as a read aloud or instructional text, educators will likely find this story bring sensitive topics to the surface. Generating discussion of the war sentiments and human errors seem likely topics to explore. Lisle's delicate writing shows the harmful power of hatred and prejudice and their affects on the human spirit.