Not quite ten years ago, Deborah Wiles promoted Countdown and Revolution, the first two books of her historical trilogy, at the Fay B. Kaigler Book Festival at the University of Southern Mississippi. Countdown is set in 1962 when school students often do bomb training in class during the Cold War, and Revolution is set in 1964 at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Deborah alluded to her not-yet-written third and final book of the series to take place during the Viet Nam Conflict.
Mama had saved my detailed scribblings about our life as a military family from many locations over the years. After her death, I typed them into the computer, called the document “Letters to the Folks,” and produced copies for each of our children. One year of those letters came to mind as Deborah described her goal for the final book of the trilogy. My husband finished his year-long tour of duty in Vietnam simultaneously with the US withdrawal. I had a year’s worth of letters I had written home to my mother during this time while I took care of things on the home front with three young children. I asked Deborah if she would like to have a copy of them for first hand research. When she assured me that she would like them, I pulled that section from “Letters to the Folks” and emailed her a copy.
Anthem came out in 2019, and I truthfully felt like it was about time! Like the other two books, it contains a story line of interest to upper middle grade and young adults, but also to adults who view those eras with nostalgia. The tale begins with the arrival of a draft notice for Molly’s brother Barry. The trouble is that Barry left home after a fight with his father over the war. His father, staunchly patriotic, defends the war while Barry holds that it is unjust. Barry leaves in anger, communicating only with his nearby cousin Norman. Molly and Norman are assigned by their mothers to go find Barry before he gets in trouble for evading the draft notice. The literal and figurative vehicle for the plot is an old school bus. Since Norman is a would-be drummer, their stops along the way from their home in Charleston to Barry’s last known location in San Francisco involve the musicians and concerts of the day. The two cousins run into a balanced view of the people who signify the attitudes of the era ranging between the ones held by the father and those of the son.
Additionally, all three books have abundant sections with historical quotes, pictures, and poignant reminders of the people of the era from the famous to the unknown. As for my letters, they are among the many acknowledgments in the back matter.
