Countdown is the first of a trilogy based on the 1960's. This documentary novel, features what people of the 1960's dealt with and their feelings during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The main character, Franny is 11 years old and lives with her parents, older sister, younger brother, and her Uncle Otts. The book begins with Franny's class being at recess and hearing sirens for an air-raid. All of the children have to duck and cover. The feelings and fear of the students and teachers can be easily felt. Franny just wants to be a normal 11 year old, but lives in constant fear that she is going to die and the world is going to end. Her Uncle Otts, is a war veteran, and continues to deal with the stress of having been at war. He tries to dig a bomb shelter in their front yard and then collapses suddenly. Franny has to find her way through issues with her old best friend, Margie and attempt to live a normal life with her family when the world is full of chaos.
Metafiction is present in the book by the way the author brings in real life photos from the 1960's, advertisements, songs, and speeches. These things are woven through the book and help better explain what Franny and her family are experiencing. This novel will give students a real glance into what life was like in the 1960's.
Here is a book trailer that I found on Book Trailers For All (http://booktrailersforall.com/) made by Sandy Noles.
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