Mark is an eight-year-old boy, and yesterday was the last day of school. Mark is very excited about this summer vacation. This summer vacation is a special one for Mark because his older brother who has been off fighting in the Vietnam War is scheduled to come home this summer, sometime around July. Mark is very anxious to see his big brother, and it being during the summer vacation time makes it even better. Summer vacation for an eight-year-old seems like it will last forever when in fact it only lasts two months. But to an eight-year-old boy, these are days of playing football and basketball and swimming all day long—and not having any homework. This is the first day of summer vacation, and it starts out just like any other sunny day.

本作の真髄は、八歳の少年が抱く無垢な高揚感と、ベトナム戦争という重い時代背景が織りなす極限のコントラストにあります。著者マイケル・ホワイトは、夏休みという「永遠の自由」を謳歌する子供の視点を借りて、戦地から戻る兄を待つ家族の切実な祈りを鮮やかに描きました。 見どころは、無邪気な日常のすぐ隣に戦場の影が潜むという静かな緊張感です。兄の帰還を待つ純粋な期待が読者の胸を締め付けます。日常の輝きが戦争によって逆説的に強調される構成は見事で、失われゆく無垢な時代への惜別を込めた、魂を揺さぶる傑作です。