Talk with kids today about the “red-scare”, Russian spies, black-listing of actors and actresses and see what kind of reaction you get. We had a conversation regarding the red scare a few weeks ago and my students looked at me with blank faces. They had never heard of such a thing. The characters in this book have grown up with the “red-scare, bomb shelters and horror movies. They believe these things are all made up until…. This is one of those books you need to read. I really like it. Maybe it is because I grew up during the red scare and horror movies like “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. I remember where I was the first time I saw it. I don’t think I would go to the extremes the kids in this book went. They had quite the adventure. I am hoping my enthusiasm for this book will carry over to some of my students and that they will like it as much as I did.
This is one of those books you need to read. I really like it. Maybe it is because I grew up during the red scare and horror movies like “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. I remember where I was the first time I saw it. I don’t think I would go to the extremes the kids in this book went. They had quite the adventure. I am hoping my enthusiasm for this book will carry over to some of my students and that they will like it as much as I did.
This is one of those books you need to read. I really like it. Maybe it is because I grew up during the red scare and horror movies like “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. I remember where I was the first time I saw it. I don’t think I would go to the extremes the kids in this book went. They had quite the adventure. I am hoping my enthusiasm for this book will carry over to some of my students and that they will like it as much as I did. ( )

Paul and his friends love to go to horror movies on the weekends, so they're really excited when they learn that actors will be filming in their hometown! It's a horror film called Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the boys can't get enough. They show up every day to watch the filming. It's a crazy time for them with fear of The Bomb constantly hung over their heads and McCarthy's endless search to persecute Communists creating paranoia everywhere.

I loved this book for its rich historical detail and I think my seventh-grade self would have loved this book, too. It inspired my curiosity about the events and people in the book, not in a I-wish-there-had-been-more-detail way, but in a this-is-totally-fascinating way. I'd pair it with The Green Glass Sea and White Sands, Red Menace for sure.

Read my full review on my blog: http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-review-year-of-bomb.html ( )

Having grown up in the Fifties, this book was fascinating. This was an entirely different world than the one I remember. It was not until I was in college that I knew how paranoid this country was back then.

To see it through the eyes of these four kids is mind boggling. It was a harsh reality that I am glad I did not experience.

Paul, Arnie, Oz and Crank are friends and absolutely love horror movies. They LOVE being scared. They think they are so very fortunate to have Invasion of the Body Snatchers being filmed in their very own town. They aren't so different from other kids their age. They argue amongst themselves, like burgers and ice cream. It isn't until they get involved with the filming that their differences come to the forefront. It is very interesting to see the changes in the characters as they meet the outsiders who come in to work on the film.

What is happening in the background is far more scary the plot of the movie. FBI undercover agents are on the scene and Paul is having to play peacemaker with both his friends, while dealing with the horrible tension at home. The layers starting coming apart as the story unfolds.

Some people never recovered from the terror of those times. It is horrifying to know that once again the United States could turn against its own citizens. I also found it fascinating that we could draw parallels with today's society.

This is a novel that cannot be readily categorized. It is a portrait of America based on truth and is a chilling one. Even though the ending is bittersweet, it is a realistic one. I would definitely recommend this book as a candidate for YA book discussion groups. I wonder what kind of movie could be made from this book. I found this novel thought provoking and it is one that is a GOOD, solid read. If you can find the time to read it, I don't think you'll regret taking the time. ( )