Countdown | by Deborah Wiles
Franny is an 11-year girl who’s worried she might die. It’s the summer of 1962. John F. Kennedy is President. Kennedy is worried about the island nation of Cuba building missile silos aimed at the United States. With this historical event as a backdrop, our young protagonist has even bigger problems. Her older sister has left her for college and made some new, politically-minded friends. Franny is more worried still about a major fight with her best friend and her gigantic crush on the boy who lives down the road. Her uncle, a World War II veteran, is taking the missile crises particularly hard; Franny worries he might eventually go off the deep end. Thoughtful and fun, this first in a series is one you won’t be able to put down.