Army Brats

Gr 3–6—Tom, Charlotte, and Rosie Bailey are looking forward to living on an army base for the first time. With their mother's new assignment, Fort Patrick becomes the siblings' home. But bullies, missing dogs, and gossipy new friends all rear their head shortly after the Baileys arrive. Tom struggles to develop a plan to deal with an embarrassing photograph that's been passed around the whole school. Charlotte is thrilled when two popular girls invite her into their group, but struggles with the guilt she feels about all the mean things being said. And fiery Rosie is determined to prove to her parents that she doesn't need friends, who will just interfere with her plans. When the three kids pool their talents to address Tom's crisis, a supposedly haunted old building on base draws their attention, leading them to come up with a plan to prove Tom's bravery and rescue the missing dogs at the same time. Books about children growing up in military families are far fewer than they should be, and this one makes for both an entertaining and informative read. While some of the obstacles the characters confront are similar to ones children face anywhere, there are other aspects that are unique to life in a military family. It's refreshing to see caring parents who support their children but don't solve their problems for them.