Set in Newcastle in 1969, 13 year old Davey's diary begins with his older brother Tom being called up to fight in the Vietnam war. It then chronicles his brother's change in personality throughout the war via his letters home, his father's denial of the brutality of the second world war in which he fought and subsequent outbursts and alcoholism, his mother's change from doting housewife to anti-war protester and world events such as the moon landing. But Davey is a typical kid and loves surfing and hanging with his mates at school and afterwards.
Then SPOILER ALERT a wayward car driver hits Davey and his best two mates when they are on their bikes on the way to the beach and Davey's whole world changes due to the terrible injury sustained by his friend Pete. Then, to make matters worse, Tom stands on a landmine and loses a leg in Vietnam.
Davey has to grow up quickly.
Well-written with a twist on home soil I did not see coming. ( )