The Things a Brother Knows

The Things a Brother Knows
By Dana Reinhardt
Wendy Lamb Books, 2010. 245 pgs. Young Adult

Levi’s brother Boaz has returned home from fighting in Iraq as a Marine. While all the townspeople and Levi’s schoolmates laud Boaz as a hero, Levi just sees an older brother who has locked himself in his room and is completely different from before he left. Levi struggles with his feelings towards Boaz and his behavior and begins snooping on him. When Boaz announces that he plans on hiking the Appalachian Trail, Levi knows this is a lie. A few days into Boaz’s trip, Levi decides to join Boaz and reach some understanding of who Boaz is now and if their family will ever be normal, whatever normal might be, again.

A touching and realistic look at sibling relationships and if one ever truly understands or knows a brother or sister. This book is also haunting in its portrayal of a returned soldier who obviously needs some help, but doesn’t quite realize it. Levi is a great character who feels real in his struggles to help his brother; I would love to spend more time with him.

MN