Grenade, written by Alan Gratz, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: Grenade tells in the alternating voices the stories of a young U.S. Marine, Ray and an Okinawan boy, Hideki. Their paths collide during the battle of Okinawa in WW II. The Okinawan people are trapped in a hopeless situation. They are pawns in a battle that is not their own. The Japanese soldiers resent having to defend Okinawa in order to prevent the invasion of Japan. The Americans soldiers struggle to tell the difference between innocent Okinawan refugees and the Japanese soldiers who slip within their ranks. Ray worries about killing innocent civilians and becoming hardened to the mounting death toll. His fellow soldiers wish he was more concerned about his survival and by extension, theirs. Hideki wants to escape the shame of his cowardice. He believes he carries within himself the mabui or soul of his cowardly ancestor who ran rather than fight a samurai. The title refers to the fact that both characters carry grenades. Each faces the difficult choice of whether to use their grenades or to keep them in reserve. The decisions they make have serious consequences. Gratz realistically portrays the struggle within both characters. Their youth and inexperience with battle cause them to make many mistakes. The horrors of war are on full display within the novel. Both the Japanese and the American troops are equally capable of kindness and acts of brutality. Several times, Hideki refers to soldiers on both sides becoming monsters when overtaken by their fears. His survival depends on avoiding the monsters. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Grenade is an action packed book filled with both physical and emotional tension. Gratz does a fantastic job of covering the battle in a way that is both realistic and sensitive to the amount of violence a young adult can safely process. Grenade is not recommended for sensitive readers who may be adversely affected by the violence of war. Grenade contains multiple scenes of violence and death appropriate to the subject matter. Grenade also contains historically accurate language that is now considered offensive and disrespectful. Gratz explains its usage in a note at the beginning of the novel and a longer author's note at the end. The novel works well for cross-curricular units on World War II. The average reading level makes it accessible to students across a wide range of reading abilities. The Gratz has clearly done his research and Grenade is a compelling story. I highly recommend this novel for young adults who are fascinated with stories about World War II.