56. Home of the Brave. Katherine Applegate. 2007. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, mg verse novel, 4 stars]
First sentence: When the flying boat
returns to earth at last,
I open my eyes
and gaze out the window.
What is all the white? I whisper.
Where is all the world?
Premise/plot: Kek is newly arrived in America after spending time in a refugee camp. He's been separated from his family. Some he knows are gone forever, but, he holds out home that his mother is alive somewhere and that someday the two will be reunited. He is staying with his aunt and older cousin. He's coming of age in a strange-to-him country unsure of his future and mourning his past. He takes comfort where he can. One of his great comforts is working on a farm part time and befriending the cow, Gol.
My thoughts: Home of the Brave is a verse novel, a coming of age novel, a refugee story. It was a quick read, a mostly compelling read. The narrative captures his awe, his confusion, his frustration, his aching heart. In some ways it's a heavy read. I'm not sure how realistic the ending is.
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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