The Art of Keeping CoolThe War At Home Fear permeates the Rhode Island coastal town where Robert, his mother, and sister are living out the war with his paternal grandparents: Fear of Nazi submarines offshore. Fear of Abel Hoffman, a German artist living reclusively outside of town. And for Robert, a more personal fear, of his hot-tempered, controlling grandfather. As Robert watches the townspeople's hostility toward Hoffman build, he worries about his sensitive cousin Elliot's friendship with the artist. And he wonders more and more about the family secret everyone seems to be keeping from him—a secret involving Robert's father, a bomber pilot in Europe. Will Elliot's ability to detach himself from the turmoil around him be enough to sustain him when prejudice and suspicions erupt into violence? And can Robert find his own way to deal with the shocking truth about his family's past? |
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Abel Hoffman Abel's afraid afternoon anymore arrested artists Aunt Nan beach began better big guns binoculars boat boat-studio bomb brush Carolyn coast coming cottage door drawing eggs Elliot asked Elliot looked embankment everything eyes face farm fast father field fight fire flying Fort Brooks front German subs Gestapo getting gone Grandpa Saunders guess hand happened he'd hear heard interro keep kids kind kitchen knew later laughed live minute morning mother Nazi never Newport night nodded ocean okay paint painter Pearl Harbor pilot plane police pretty Rhode Island road Sachem's Head scared service star shook side staring stay stopped stuff supper talk tell There's things thought told Elliot took torpedoed town trying turned Uncle Jake waiting walked watch whispered wild turkey woods worried yelled