The Proving Ground [Hardcover]

Elaine Marie Alphin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1992

Adjusting to life at a Proving Ground (a military base that proof tests ammunition) in a Midwestern town where the residents hate the Army turns out to be harder than Kevin, the fourteen-year-old son of a Lieutenant Colonel, ever expected. While struggling to find a way to change one girl's mind about him, Kevin uncovers a plot to destroy the base. For Kevin, the Proving Ground is no longer only the base where he lives and his father works - it becomes the place where he must decide what he believes in, and whether or not he has the courage to stand up for it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ninth-grader Kevin Spencer is used to making new friends every few years as his father, a career Army officer, moves from post to post. But things in Hadley, Kan., site of an ammunition proving ground and Lt. Col. Spencer's new assignment, are different. Generations-old hostilities between town and army stemming from government land seizures have reached a boiling point, and Kevin is caught in the middle. In the novel's finale, Kevin must defuse a terrorist bomb before both the proving ground and Hadley are destroyed. Alphin sets the stage well for the final showdown, and adroitly handles the climactic scene. The novel's most interesting conflict, however--between Kevin and an Army-hating girl he has fallen for--is glibly resolved, marring what is otherwise a suspenseful, true-to-life coming-of-age story. Ages 9-12.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9-- Lieutenant-Commander Spencer, his wife, and son, Kevin--a ninth-grader--have moved to Hadley Proving Ground, where the commander has been assigned to direct the operations of this facility for testing ammunition and equipment. The Spencers, however, soon learn that the townspeople deeply resent the Army's presence. During World War II, the federal government had unfairly confiscated property owned by families who had lived in the town for generations, and the bitterness has remained and festered. When Kevin tries to make friends with his new fellow students, he is singled out as an "Army Brat." He is treated especially roughly by an outspoken girl named Charley Hanson. As Kevin discovers the tragic story of why she has so much animosity, he uncovers a related plot to sabotage the base. Not a confrontational person, he finds that Hadley is his own proving ground. The metaphor is stretched a bit thin, and the happy ending is predictable long before the ending of the novel. However, the deft mixture of adventure, a romantic undercurrent, local politics, and development of character adds breadth and depth to this briskly paced, involving story. --Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 177 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Company; 1st edition (October 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080502140X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805021400
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,337,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elaine Marie Alphin knew she was going to be a writer before she could even read or write. On early morning walks with her father in San Francisco, she listened to the stories he told, and made up stories to tell him, and she realized then that she wanted to spend her life making up stories. Winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Young Adult Mystery (Counterfeit Son), the ForeWard Book of the Year Award for Young Adult Fiction (The Perfect Shot), the Society of Midland Authors Children's Fiction Award and Young Hoosier Book Award (Ghost Soldier, also an Edgar Award nominee), the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award (Dinosaur Hunter), two Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators Magazine Merit Awards, and the Virginia State Reading Association Award (The Ghost Cadet), Mrs. Alphin has made writing for children and young adults, and speaking to them at schools and conferences, her dream career. Although she started out as a journalist in Houston, a tip from her husband, Art, drew her to writing for children. Her fiction and nonfiction books for youngsters from beginning readers through teenagers have been selected for Bank Street College lists, TAYSHAS lists, VOYA Top Shelf lists, and 20 Children's Choice state award lists. Although adults occasionally ask when she's going to grow up enough to write for them, Elaine Marie Alphin explains why she loves writing for young readers instead: "I always wanted my writing to challenge readers to question their assumptions, and I discovered that a lot of grown-ups don't really want to question their assumptions. They've made choices and compromises in their lives, and they want to feel comfortable about them. But young readers are still finding out who they are, like I am, I guess. They're the perfect audience for me because they want to consider new ideas in order to decide for themselves which ideas they agree with and which they don't, and work out how they want to live their lives." Elaine Marie Alphin has written one book for adults: Creating Characters Kids Will Love. It's about writing for young readers. Get to know Elaine Marie Alphin better at her website: www.elainemariealphin.com. The Alphins live in Bozeman, Montana, and spend time in South Dakota and Wyoming.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Different Twist on Terrorism?, October 7, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Proving Ground (Hardcover)

I got hooked on this author by reading some of her other books, like Counterfeit Son (wow!) and Simon Says (a must read!). But The Proving Ground really blew me away because we've got all this terrorist scare going on right now, and this book was written ten years ago and it reminds you that terrorism isn't all outside. Sometimes it's a lot closer to home. People get scared for a lot of reasons and do violent things, and you've got to decide if you're going to stand up to them or turn away like it's not your responsibility. What could be more timely?

I liked the message that facing up to the fact that you've got to stand up for what you believe is as hard as actually doing it, and there may be repercussions, but you have to do it anyway. I think kids should read this book and try to figure out what they would do, whether they face terrorists from another country, or people who act like terrorists a lot closer to home.