The War on All Fronts

by Kim Oclon

Overview

An LGBTQ coming of age story about fighting for someone you love, brought to life in this Vietnam War era historical fiction.

It seemed as though Anthony and Sam had just found each other, and now they were already being torn apart. Sam to college in Wisconsin; Anthony across the world fighting in the Vietnam War. Through their separate journeys, they discover themselves, and rely on the one way to share their secret together. Corresponding with secret messages, scary truths, and fears about the war, readers will follow Anthony and Sam’s path to friendship, love, and survival.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781736347409
Publisher:	Trism Books
Publication date:	05/07/2022
Pages:	318
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

With a BA in screenwriting and MFA in Fiction, Kim taught high school creative writing and film classes in addition to trudging through the classics. She also co-founded the school's first gay-straight alliance. Kim lives in East Dundee, IL with her husband and two kids. MAN UP is her first novel. Her second novel, THE WAR ON ALL FRONTS, will be published in May 2022.

Editorial Reviews

"Interspersed with interstitials by Tyler, David’s narrations is down-to-earth and relatable, particularly for teens who live in places without large LGBTQ communities. Students preparing for the leap from high school to college in particular will find plenty to identify with." —Publishers Weekly
 

"Oclon thoughtfully develops David’s and Tyler’s inner transformations when it comes to self-acceptance, noting how others in their community need to grow with them. An engaging and enlightening coming-out tale for teens of all sexual persuasions." —Kirkus Reviews

 

"Man Up is an important and realistic young adult novel that deals with bullying, homophobia, and physical violence against the backdrop of varsity sports." —Foreword Reviews

"Two men strengthen their senses of identity against daunting historical forces in the sobering novel The War on All Fronts."—Karen Rigby, Foreword Reviews

From the Publisher

2022-03-02
High school graduates with a secret follow divergent paths.

A hidden love connects two young White men from Chicago in Oclon’s Vietnam War–era novel. Their relationship is put to the test by time, distance, and circumstance, as Anthony, an Italian American mechanic, enlists in the Army to serve in Vietnam and Sam leaves for college to work toward his dream of becoming a professor. Sam, who reads as White, edges into campus activism at the urging of a friend, while Anthony experiences the unpredictable, dangerous life of a soldier. With separation defining their romantic relationship, the young men see little of each other; cryptic letters and careful visits result in most of their time being spent hiding their innermost feelings from other people—and sometimes each other. After Anthony’s return, they struggle to communicate across the distance of postwar trauma. The historical elements, while accurate, don’t always convey the urgency of being embroiled in this turbulent era as closeted gay men, instead creating a backdrop for complex social themes without strong emotional resonance. Though the novel relies heavily on the inner lives of these young men, the details they share don’t always advance the plot. As a result, scenes sometimes feel observational rather than organically driven by the characters’ identities. Nevertheless, this may appeal as a less intense read for fans of historical fiction.

A sanitized snapshot of a tumultuous time. (author's note, sources) (Historical fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews