Shooting the Moon

Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell is one of those books that I have read many reviews about. I have owned the book for quite a while, and have looked forward to reading it, but somehow it just kept getting put away for something else that came along. I am rather famous for doing this, and it isn't because I don't want to read a certain book. I am always "saving" my books in case I run out of something good to read. (Yes, logically I know this isn't going to happen, but that doesn't seem to stop me since it is a carry over from childhood). Last night I decided that I should start on it since I have been making a conscious effort to read more of my stash of books before I purchase new ones. And, this blogging deal is making me get through things a little more quickly.

I can understand why Shooting the Moon has received so many favorable reviews. Since I love historical fiction is no surprise that I would enjoy this title. I also like books about Vietnam and that time period, which is when this book is set. The plot is not so different from other books about war. Jamie, the narrator, has an older brother who enlists and is sent to fight in Vietnam. Her father is a Colonel, so she is used to army life, and has always enjoyed playing war and all it involves. After her brother, TJ, leaves and sends her rolls of film he wants her to develop instead of the letters she desires, Jamie is able to see for herself in these pictures that war is not the fun and games she had thought. Her brother's pictures show her the sorrow of war, something she had not thought much about before. I was wondering how this book was going to end...as I was reading I was counting down the pages and just didn't feel like there was much left to read before things were resolved. I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that the ending is perfect.
I own my own copy of this book already, but will now purchase it for my school library, too.