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Choosing Up Sides
First published 2000 · 166 pages
A tense but tender historical journey through the heavy expectations of a strict father and the quiet rebellion of accepting oneself.
What it feels like
Set against the backdrop of the early 1920s, this steady, introspective middle-grade novel immerses the reader in the heavy, tense atmosphere of a strict religious household. The narrative feels earnest and deeply empathetic, capturing the suffocating weight of a father's rigid expectations and the profound internal conflict of a boy told his very nature is wrong. As the story unfolds, the oppressive mood gradually gives way to a quiet, hard-won sense of hope. The prose is accessible yet emotionally resonant, perfectly calibrated for young readers navigating their own journeys of self-discovery. It is a deeply felt exploration of family friction and personal integrity, rewarding anyone who appreciates a thoughtful, character-driven story about the courage it takes to finally choose oneself.
- Mood
- tense
- oppressive
- introspective
- hopeful
- Tone
- earnest
- reflective
- serious
- empathetic
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- self-acceptance · father-son conflict · religious rigidity · coming-of-age · defying expectations
- The writing
- Clear, grounded, and accessible for middle-grade readers, focusing on internal emotional turmoil and historical atmosphere.
- The arc
- Begins under the crushing weight of religious and parental shame, slowly building toward the quiet triumph of self-acceptance.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers drawn to historical fiction about family conflict, personal integrity, and finding the courage to be different.
Content notes
- religious guilt
- strict parenting
- emotional distress
About the book
In 1921 thirteen-year-old Luke finds himself torn between accepting his left-handedness or conforming to the belief of his preacher-father that such a condition is evil and must be overcome.
Description from Open Library.
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