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Terry Wilson has done a fantastic job capturing the cultural shift of young adults who lived during the Vietnam era. He describes the juxtaposition of a God fearing, rule-following, typical Midwestern college student, within the context of society’s rapid shift to the anti-war movement in the late 60’s. There is a slow, relentless buildup of tension as the book marches towards the Kent State tragedy, as well as to tragedies in Vietnam.
I found many of the situations in this book hauntingly similar to some of the stories my parents told as I grew up, such as the cold terror they felt when my father’s birthday, September 14th, was the first birthday chosen. Terry Wilson’s book truly captures the sacrifices made by a generation of American soldiers as well as their families. Any young adult seeking a better understanding of the political and societal changes happening in the 60’s would do well to read this book.