Minesweeper (Special Forces, Book 2)

by Chris Lynch

Overview

"All the sizzle, chaos, noise and scariness of war is clay in the hands of ace storyteller Lynch." — Kirkus Reviews for the World War II series

Discover the secret missions behind America's greatest conflicts.Fergus Frew thought he knew what to expect when he signed up with the Navy's demolitions team. But as the Korean War rages on, Fergus and his fellow divers — a.k.a. "frogmen" — are tasked with more than just scouting mudflats. Soon they're planting mines. And sabotaging tunnels, bridges... and even fishing nets. Scariest of all, it falls to Fergus to discover where the enemy has placed their mines, a job as painstaking as it is dangerous.But frogmen are amphibious. And Fergus may not realize it, but he's in a position to change the way the whole world thinks about combat.National Book Award finalist Chris Lynch continues his explosive fiction series based on the real-life, top-secret history of US black ops and today's heroic Navy SEALs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545861656
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	12/03/2019
Series:	Special Forces , #2
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	1,071,847
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Chris Lynch is the author of numerous acclaimed books for middle-grade and teen readers, including the Vietnam and World War II series and the National Book Award finalist Inexcusable. He teaches in the Lesley University creative writing MFA program, and divides his time between Massachusetts and Scotland.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Chris Lynch's World War II series:* "A expertly crafted war story with fluid prose, bleak humor, careful attention to historic detail, and a view of 'The Good War' worth pondering." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review"All the sizzle, chaos, noise and scariness of war is clay in the hands of ace storyteller Lynch." — Kirkus Reviews"Though aimed at younger readers, Lynch doesn't write down, instead offering a powerful taste of war on a personal level." — Publishers WeeklyPraise for Chris Lynch's Vietnam series:"The best Vietnam War novels yet for this age range." — Kirkus Reviews"Lynch brilliantly captures the war in small details." — Booklist"A fine balance of thoughtfulness and gritty action." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

2019-09-29
A surfer joins the U.S. Navy and fights in the Korean War.

Fergus Frew Junior loves the ocean despite its being the reason his father, Fergus Senior, died. It's June 1949: Fergus has just graduated high school and has no plans except for catching sweet waves on the beach. On one such day, Fergus meets Duke, a U.S. Marine who borrows his surfboard without asking. Despite Fergus' being hotheaded and having no interest in making friends, the two form a bond over their love of the sea. All the while, Duke—embittered by his experience with other Marines—encourages Fergus to join the Navy, selling it as an opportunity for a comfortable life living in pleasant locations. A tragic accident prompts Fergus to listen to his friend's advice, and he joins the Navy with perilous consequences, as he is drawn into the Korean War. Tender moments between Fergus and his mother and the odd but interesting friendship between Fergus and Duke are unfortunately not enough to offset the dry writing and underdeveloped plot. The too-fast pacing leaves little room to form attachments to any of the characters or provide enough historical context for the events at hand. While promising at first, this quick read results in little enjoyment, much like one of Fergus' listless, aimless summers. All American characters seem to be white.

A lackluster story with forgettable characters. (Historical fiction. 12-14)

Kirkus Reviews