Title: Rumors of War
Author: Dean Hughes
First published June 14, 1997
500 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781573451994 (ISBN10: 1573451991)
Rating: 4.26
Overview
Dean Hughes takes readers back in time to the eve of World War II in his captivating historical fiction series, Children of the Promise. In the first book, Rumors of War, readers follow the journey of Elder Alex Thomas and his companion in Germany as they face the impending war.
As the Thomas family back home in Salt Lake City anxiously awaits news of their loved ones, they too are tested to their limit in this tumultuous era. With charm and nostalgia woven into the conflict, Hughes paints a vivid picture of a fascinating time in world and American history.
About the Author
Dean Hughes has written over 80 books for young readers, which include the Angel Park All-Stars sports series, the Scrappers series, the Nutty series, the highly praised companion novels Family Pose and Team Picture, and Search and Destroy. His book Soldier Boys was chosen for the 2001 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list.
Dean Hughes and Kathleen, his wife, have six grandchildren and three children. They reside in Midway, Utah.
Editoral Review
In his novel Rumors of War, Dean Hughes intricately weaves a story that explores the themes of war, faith, and struggle. First published on June 14, 1997, Hughes delves into the realities of war and its effects on soldiers and their families.
Set during the Vietnam War, Rumors of War follows the lives of three young men from Utah who all sign up to fight in the war. Matt, the protagonist of the story, is a devout Mormon who struggles to reconcile his faith with the realities of war.
His two friends, Danny and Bryce, find their own ways of dealing with the challenges they are faced with. Hughes does an excellent job of creating fully realized characters with complex motivations and backstories.
The novel is character-driven, and the three protagonists are well-developed and believable. The author also introduces several other characters who serve as foils to the main protagonists, providing a contrast to their beliefs and actions.
The novel is set in Utah, and Hughes does an excellent job of evoking the landscape and culture of the area. The setting serves as a backdrop to the story, providing context and grounding the events of the novel in a specific time and place.
One of the strengths of this novel is how Hughes explores the moral and ethical complexities of war. The central conflict of the story is whether or not the war is justifiable, and the novel does an excellent job of exploring this issue from multiple perspectives.
While the novel does not take a definitive stance, it raises important questions about the nature of war and the cost of human life. However, the pacing of the novel can be slow at times, particularly in the middle section of the book.
Some readers may also find the religious themes present in the novel to be heavy-handed or distracting. Overall, Rumors of War is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that offers a nuanced exploration of the complexities of war.
It will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven stories and are interested in exploring the moral and ethical questions surrounding war. Rating: 4/5 stars.
