On the Wings of Heroes (by Richard Peck)

Then WWII intervenes, and Davy's older brother, Bill, joins the Air Force to be a bomber pilot. Now life includes air raid drills, scrap drives, ration cards, postcards from Bill overseas, and stars in the windows of servicemen's families. But even with all that, the war seems pretty far away -- until Bill's plane is shot down and he is missing in action.

This slice of Americana has all the elements that Richard Peck does better than anyone else. Start with a historical setting that opens up a new world to young readers, and tell the story in the voice of someone who lived it. Add intact families with strong, loving parents and wise, cantankerous elders, infuse it with incisive wit and humor, and spread it all out in some of the sharpest prose available in print today.

This is Mark Twain crossed with Dylan Thomas, and Peck is one of very few authors who could bear that comparison. This delightful little book is not for kids who need lots of action and adventure to keep them reading. But for those who can enjoy a warm and witty portrait of a time and place long gone but not yet forgotten, it's a true gem. And it might just send young readers scurrying for their own grandparents to hear more stories about their childhoods.