A Season of War [Paperback]

Clay Noia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2003

A Season of War is a literary novel set in southwestern Connecticut during World War Two. Jacky Barnes, the fourteen-year-old teenager who, with his best friend, witnesses the setting of a fire that destroys the local high school, narrates it in an enchanting voice. When their friend Tom Mack, an outcast Indian living in a chicken coop, is charged with arson, both Jacky and Butch are faced with the dilemma of saving Tom from jail by risking the retaliation of Cottonmouth, the vicious gang leader who set the fire.After Cottonmouth breaks Butch's spirit, Jacky finds himself alone, unable to confide in the older, beautiful Lacey, who is his conscience, or in Cootie, his friend who discerns the key to the menacing Cottonmouth.The events in the novel mirror the rites of passage that World War Two was for our society and is rich in details about life on the Home Front, from the Memorial Day parades that honored the dead veterans to the major events that encompassed the War which ended the time of innocence that once permeated American life.If you yearn for an America now gone, this novel will gladden and sadden your heart.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Clay Noia grew up in the southwestern Connecticut city of Ansonia, a city like Phelpsville in A Season of War. After high school, he attended Colgate University. Upon completing two years as a 1st lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, Mr. Noia returned to Colgate to obtain his Master's degree. He has taught English in college preparatory schools in California and Ohio, and currently teaches English at M.P.H. Intermediate School in Lake Arrowhead, California. He and his wife Pegi live in Crestline, California.Mr. Noia loves both teaching and writing. To date he has written two novels, A Season of War and A Dream Dying, as well as a naval memoir called Blue-Water Sailor.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (January 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403368929
• ISBN-13: 978-1403368928
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,488,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Season of War, November 18, 2003

By 

MBA (Crestline, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Season of War (Paperback)

When I added A Season of War to my summer reading list, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it was fiction set during World War II. I also knew that that wasn't the usual choice for my list. Yet as I started to read, I realized that I couldn't put this book down. It appealed to me in many ways.

My family had always told stories of life during the war. But reading about Jackie's friends and family made me feel like I actually experienced being a teen during the 1940's. I loved the way historical fact was woven into the fictional story.

As Jackie was hanging around with his friends and dealing with his moral predicament, I was completely engrossed with every chapter to see what they were going to do next and how Jackie would resolve his dilemma. I loved the twists and turns to Jackie's resolution.

I can truly say that A Season of War was a wonderful read! Clay Noia's descriptions of events and characters made me feel like I was there too! I read this book from cover to cover in three sittings because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen to Jackie next.

A Season of War should be on your must read list!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jackie and the War, September 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Season of War (Paperback)

A SEASON OF WAR
By Clay Noia
I donšt really know just exactly what a critique is or what
form it should take so bear with me.

I must admit that I reluctantly started the book assuming that it would be a
story of war, which would probably not appeal to me. I was pleasantly
surprised to find that it was the story of a young boy on the threshold of
manhood. The story had as an important background the war as it was being
fought in Europe and its effect on lives here in the states.

I felt that the friendships with his buddies were well developed and
interesting. I knew as I read it, that Hank would also enjoy this book. He
read it after I had finished and thoroughly enjoyed it.

His friendship with the old Indian, Tom Mack, was both believable and
interesting. Every boy needs a Tom Mack in his life to tell him tales of
the origins of the myths in his area. To relate also, some of the tales in
the lives of his as well as other Indian tribes in that part of New England.
Learning about Charter Oak and the Council Rock and other pertinent tales
made a good background. You could immediately sense that he would play a
pivotal role in young Jackiešs life, and in turn Jackie would also play an
important part in Tom Mackšs life.

When trouble developed with the school fire, I kept waiting for Jackie to
find the courage to step forward and clear Tom. But it was a tough decision
for a young lad and one that he put off for some time, until his conscience
made the telling necessary.

I hated to put the book down that Jackie would do as we all hoped he would. I knew that he would find a
way to clear his friend Tom.

He had his own demons to confront, which he did in a face-to-face
confrontation with Cottonmouth. Cottonmouth knew that all his threats, his
blustering and his lies would not stop Jackie. Like most bullies, when push
came to shove, he just didnšt have it. Jackie had picked a good arena and
Cottonmouth nearly fell to his death. With Jackiešs help, Cottonmouth was
able to save himself. But after admitting his culpability, Cottonmouth was
no longer a player or a boy to be afraid of. At least Jackie would no
longer be afraid of him, although others in his own gang might still fear
him

The story concluded as the New England area continues to support the boys in
Uniform even as the deaths pile up. I liked Jackiešs developing
relationship with Lacey, even though he knew she had a boyfriend, and no
doubt loved him. Yet Jackie, fueled by his preadolescent feelings, hoped
Lacey would consider him an equal rather than the child she babysat with.
As Hawkeye Crane went to war, Laceyšs heart went with him, and when Jim
(Hawkeye) lost his life, I think that Jackie realized Lacey would never be
his. I enjoyed the book. You should read it too.
Katie Claypool