The Art of Keeping Cool, by Janet Taylor Lisle

Bibliographic Data
Lisle, Janet Taylor. 2000. The Art of Keeping Cool. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-689-83787-9

Summary
Thirteen year old Robert moves to Rhode Island with his mother and sister when his father goes to fight in World War I. He and his cousin forge a friendship with each other, as well as with the mysterious German man who lives in the woods.

Critical Analysis
Lisle’s novel about young boys in the midst of WWII is hard to put down. Though we know how the war ends, what we don’t know is how the boys’ lives will be affected. Will Robert’s father come home? Is Abel Hoffman really a spy? Why does Robert’s father not keep in touch with his parents?

The author chooses to skip over minor details about daily life in the 1940’s, so while the setting is in another era, the reader isn’t confronted with this fact in any way other than the theme of war. This is less jarring to the reader, and along with the first person narrative, helps him feel as if the action could be happening right now. Though there are several facts sprinkled throughout the novel, it never feels as if the author is trying to force feed information. Instead, we are just as interested as the main character.

Abel Hoffman, a German painter who has escaped persecution and certain death in his homeland, is living quietly in the woods. The townspeople and local military, fueled by their fears, cannot help but suspect him of spying, and so once again, Abel is victimized. His story unfolds gradually, just as it might in real life, as Robert meets Abel in town, or hears about him from his cousin. By the end of the novel, we know more about Able, though not all, and we are touched by his tragic story. It is a reminder that one of the many horrors of that war was the deliberate loss of so many creative souls.

Reviews
From School Library Journal:
“… this is a heartfelt story about family dynamics and the harmful power of prejudice and hatred.”- Cyrisse Jaffee, formerly Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:
“As apt at writing historical fiction as she is at penning fantasy, Lisle weaves together an intriguing web of family secrets and wartime fears while encapsulating the wave of patriotism sweeping the nation in the 1940s. The intimate first-person narrative brings universal themes of prejudice and loss to a personal level as the boys and their artist friend discover the destructive power of war on the home front.” Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Connections
This is an engaging book that will help readers understand more about the feelings of Americans during WWII, and a great introduction to discussions about prejudices that stem from fear, especially in light of current events.

*****
Reviews found at the Carrollton Public Library website, http://cityofcarrollton.com/library/