Customer Reviews

Operation Yes

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
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I knew when I picked up Operation Yes, that it was a children's book (9-12).

I knew as I was reading it that it was a children's book.

And somehow, as I got to the end, I forgot all of that and found that it wasn't ONLY a children's book. It was a thoroughly enjoyable tale about a small cast of sixth graders and their wonderfully unconventional sixth-grade teacher. Told, and told well, from the viewpoint of a sixth-grader, reading Operation Yes is almost like being back in a sixth grade yourself, minus the tripping over things and grass stains on the jeans.

The backdrop of the story, a fictional Air Force fighter base in a nation at war, serves both as a credible setting and a constant reminder of the outside world. In a fashion all too common on and around military bases, but atypical for the average group of 6th grade students, the outside world intrudes abruptly into the daily routine, sparking a decidedly unconventional response by students and staff.

Operation Yes not only illustrates some of Long War's effects on military families and communities, but does it with compelling characters, a delightful story, and an emotionally stirring finale. The book rings with authenticity, from the "click" of flightsuits in the clothes dryer (a flightsuit has 8 metal zippers of varying length) through the day-to-day activities common to fighter bases, to the family adaptations called for by remote assignments, constant moves, and recurring combat deployments. Thought-provoking reading; I can't wait for the movie.

Highly recommended.

I teach 7th graders, and this was one of those books that made me laugh out loud during our class silent reading time. As a result, I ended up with a waiting list of kids dying to read my classroom copies of Sara Lewis Holmes' latest title so they could see what all the laughing was about for themselves. They won't be disappointed.

There's a lot to love about this book - the fact that it takes place at a school on a military base, the rich, wonderful and funny cast of characters (including a school librarian who's building a castle in the library and who curses by shouting the titles of famous children's books - love her!), and the sense of community and hope that the book provides. This is going to be an extra special book for kids in military families, but it's one that all kids will relate to and enjoy.

Miss Loupe is the new sixth grade teacher at a school just outside a Air Force base in North Carolina; Bo Whaley is the base commander's well-meaning, trouble-making son; Gari Whaley is Bo's cousin whose mother is deployed in the Middle East; the whole sixth grade class is a group of individuals who are waiting for something to turn their lives into something...meaningful. That something may be Miss Loupe's crazy ideas about improv theater and the practice of saying, "Yes, and..."--crazy smart ideas which show a group of disconnected kids how to make their lives and themselves a true piece of art.
Having spent a large part of my own childhood as a "military brat" (Sorry, dad...I know you don't like that term--neither does this book's author, seemingly, so you're in good company...), Operation Yes really resonated with me, and I feel it provides a fascinating look for civilian kids into a virtually untapped setting and group of characters. I did find the initial pacing somewhat slow; it took a while to get to a real "plan" on any character's part. The multiple POV's may have accentuated this; to me, what propelled the story was the relationships, rather than any one character or plot element. On that note, however, the relationships were exceptionally well developed and believable. I loved the way the theme was exposed, and the improv theater stuff--so cool and original.
On a final note, I have to offer my sincere thanks to Ms Holmes for so beautifully representing her character's muddled thoughts regarding war. Long-time followers of this blog know how much it bothers me when an author uses her characters and plot as mere vehicles to forward an agenda; far to the contrary, I think Operation Yes offered a balanced, true presentation of how most kids stuck in the middle of it actually feel about war. Ms Holmes presents the facts, simple as that, followed by her character's reactions to them, and allows her readers to draw their own conclusions. So, thank you!

OPERATION YES by Sara Lewis Holmes is one of a number of new books just out that focus on issues relating to war in the Middle East. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are touching more and more lives here in the U.S., and many authors have taken on the challenge of including these current events in their new novels.

OPERATION YES takes place here in the States on an Air Force base. Bo's father is one of the commanding officers at the base, and Bo attends the base school. Not a model student, Bo is not looking forward to the new school year, but he has promised his father he will at least try to behave.

Miss Loupe is a new teacher at the school. One of the first things she shares with her students is the fact that she and her brother, Marc, once lived on the base and attended the school where she now teaches. Bo becomes fascinated with Miss Loupe's teaching strategies as he watches her actions on his very first day in her class.

All the students are surprised and puzzled as they watch her tape off a large rectangle on the floor of their classroom, and then drag in an ugly, old couch. The taped off area and the ugly couch soon become the center of their afternoon activities. Miss Loupe is a master of improv theater, and she is determined to get each of her students involved.

Something else new in Bo's life is the arrival of his cousin, Gari. Gari's mother, a nurse, has been deployed to Iraq, and Gari has come to live with Bo and his family on the base. She isn't happy about leaving her Seattle home and friends to trek across the country to the east coast, and it doesn't help that she is worried sick about her mother's safety in Iraq. Gari quickly begins hatching a plan that might either get her sent back to Seattle or bring her mother home.

Bo is also dealing with deployment issues. Just when he is starting to like school and his new teacher, it's possible that his father may be sent to Afghanistan at the end of the year, which would mean another in a long history of moves for the family. Bo doesn't want to hold back his father's career, but he would do just about anything to remain with Miss Loupe and participate in her theatrical experiments.

OPERATION YES takes readers into one teacher's unique classroom to witness students becoming excited about learning. Those same students face the emotional challenges of having direct connections with war and some of the toughest times for U.S. military personnel. This book provides needed subject matter for today's tweens and could be easily used to promote lively classroom discussion about war, service, and the relationships affected.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Operation Yes is a middle grade novel about a group of 6th graders who work together to solve a probelm. In this story, there are actually several problems that the kids end up trying to solve and they come together quite nicely. The cast of characters are a nice mix of the usual suspects: over-achievers, shy kids, popular ones. As in life, each of the kids is struggling with some sort of family issue, such as Gari's single mom who gets deployed leaving her in the care of her cousin Bo, who is worried about having to move again when his dad gets his next assignment. These two, and several others, are connected by a quirky unconventional teacher, Miss Loupe (Everyone loves a quirky unconventional teacher, right -- "Carpe Diem!"). Just as the reader would hope and expect, this teacher ends up inspiring them to action.

Set in a military town in a school that is made up of the kids who live on base and in the area, the military base is a strong setting that presents itself as a central theme throughout Operation Yes. The story couldn't be told without it. It's told in such a way that those who have been in a military family or have moved frequently will relate, and those who haven't will learn some understanding.

I enjoyed this book. The way things came together in the end helped it get closer to great, from my "pretty good" impression earlier. My 12-year-old daughter listened to this book as well, and she loved it, and since she's the target audience (and usually a harder sell on a more character driven kind of novel), she's the one you should listen to.

AUDIO NOTES:
Audiobooks are great for kids and tweens and teens. They appeal to bookworm girls (like my daughter and me) who get to enjoy a story in a different format, but I do think that a well-read audiobook would entice even the most reluctant reader into storyland. Audiobooks are also great for traveling, especially for those who get carsick when reading. The MP3 CDs from Brilliance contain the entire book on one reasonably-priced CD (just slightly more than a hardcover book), which makes it a breeze to upload to an MP3 device. Certain CD players also read this type of disc, but others don't.

It's hard for an adult to narrate a book which is supposed to be in the voice of a child or a teen. Jessica Almasy did a great job differentiating the various characters' voices, and did a fabulous job bringing personality to the adults, but I did think that the kids' voices just seemed a little slow-witted instead of just young.

This is the first children's book I've read that paints a fairly realistic picture of the life of most military kids--living on or near a base, usually around lots of other military kids, and with the next move constantly on the somewhat near horizon. For that alone I think it is a very valuable book--growing up as an army brat I never saw my experience in fiction in any way that seemed real to me. But it's also a good story. Holmes doesn't shy away from putting her characters through a lot of trouble, and the project the kids come up with to make things better is plausible yet unusual enough that the media attention they get seems possible. A good read, both relatable and inspiring.

A few nitpicks: the many sixth grade characters were sometimes confusing, and I think several of them could have been cut without affecting the story. Also, I don't think we ever learn for sure whether the school ends up being renovated, although I suppose it's implied.

Sara Lewis Holmes uses an unconventional structure to tell a bold story about self awareness AND the importance of community, about expressing emotions AND acting with bravery, about responsibility AND heart. Timely, funny, potent -- a must-read.

I received this book to review for another blog and I loved it. It is written for children who can read chapter books, but I found it to be entertaining and interesting. I am a military spouse so I could identify with much of the content, but I think non-military folks can read and understand the core concepts. My 10-year-old son has read most of it and also enjoyed reading it (he's now swept up in some other book). I bought this copy to send to my nephews who are not military kids. Waiting to hear what they think... GREAT book!

"'What happens when we place an object in the Taped Space?' she said. 'Do we see it differently than if it were in the teachers' lounge or in a living room? What happens when someone talks to it? When I insulted it with my own weak language and then the bold words of Shakespeare? How did you feel when I hit the couch? Did you feel differently when I treated it kindly?

"Of course, thought Bo. How could you not? His hand twitched as if it wanted to rise into the air.

"Wait. Maybe no one else had felt sorry for the couch. He wanted Miss Loupe to keep doing her crazy games, instead of real school, but he didn't want everyone to look at him like he was moldy shredded cheese either. He sat on his hand and glanced over at the window. It was sealed shut under rippled coats of yellowed paint. He wished Miss Loupe could push it open a tiny crack."

The school year has commenced and Miss Loupe has begun her first-ever teaching job. She is the new sixth grade teacher at Young Oaks, a school in dire need of repair that adjoins the Air Force base in Reform, North Carolina. Growing up, herself, as part of a military family, Reunion was one of the bases where Miss Loupe lived as a child. In fact, the principal at Young Oaks who hired her was Miss Loupe's own sixth grade teacher. Miss Loupe is the only member of her family not directly serving in the military and it caused a deep crack in the family when she dropped out of the Air Force Academy after one year.

"Art needs a frame"

"Theater is the art of saying yes"

Miss Loupe's student Bo Whaley is the son of Reunion's base commander. Last year Bo was Young Oaks' resident trouble-maker-in-chief, but this year's teacher seems the opposite of his fifth-grade nemesis Mr. Nix. Bo and his classmates are fascinated by this unusual young woman who sports rows of earrings, a tattoo, and a belly ring. She tells them that they are going to learn regular sixth grade material -- and that they need to cover the Handbook -- but she has also created the Taped Space, a temporary stage area at the front of the classroom. When she suddenly slips into her stealthy black dance slippers, it is time for the students to "see what happens when we say yes."

For these students, who are so frequently moved away from friends and separated from family members, there are great psychological benefits in getting the chance to say yes.

Through Bo and his schoolmates, we get a real sense of what it is to have to change homes and schools every couple of years. Author Sara Lewis Holmes -- herself, the wife of an Air Force pilot -- does a great job of showing us what this sort of childhood might be like:

"He wondered how many houses from now he would be thinking back to this room, to this house, to this town, and know that everyone here had mostly forgotten who Bo Whaley was. It was eerie, like thinking about himself in a long hall of mirrors, each one smaller than the last."

What is even worse than the moving around, of course, is the need to confront the fears and loneliness that accompany having your parent or other loved one shipped off to war. Miss Loupe has a brother serving in Special Forces in Afghanistan. And Bo's cousin Gari will arrive in Reform from Seattle -- to live with Bo's family -- when her mother is suddenly required to leave everybody and everything to go serve as a nurse in Iraq

"One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore."

The dramatic arts offer great opportunities for team building and taking chances. How might what Miss Loupe's students learn about their classroom community while in the safety of the Taped Space be of great value when terrible news about a loved one hits home?

How can cracks be both painful and good things, too?

Sara Lewis Holmes' OPERATION YES tells of three very different plans by Bo and Gari: to stage a food fight, behave for his new teacher, join a protest, and more. Can two friends work together to meld their very different objectives? A fine story evolves.