Countdown

Countdown, by Deborah Wiles. Scholastic, 2010.


This documentary style novel follows the life of Franny, an eleven year old girl during the weeks of the Cuban missile crisis in October of 1962. Throughout the novel Franny deals with many issues common among preteen girls, but all of these events, so important in her life, are overshadowed by the nationwide panic that is brought about by the political conflict of the time. In addition to having a father in the air force, and a mother that is overly concerned with appearances, an older sister that is mysteriously absent, Franny and her family must also cope with her Uncle, a war veteran who is often thrown into flashbacks as the events of Cuban Missile crisis unfold.
The unusual layout of this novel immerses the reader in the emotional turmoil of these two weeks in October of 1962. Images of political leaders engaged in discussion, transcripts of national addresses as well as propaganda designed to help citizens stay safe in the event of a nuclear attack allow the reader to see the widespread panic of these times. The unique format invites the reader to see beyond the fictional story that is presented here and see the reality of the Cuban missile crisis calling attention to the fictional nature of the story. In addition, brief biographies of important figures such as Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy are written in such a style as to lead the reader to assume that these pieces are written by Franny herself, leading again to the metafction classification of this novel.