In this poetic, poignant coming-of-age story, one young man grows up along with his country.
Mike Wapnewski is preparing for graduation from St. Francis High, a Catholic boys prep school. Growing up in post-World War II America, Mike is acutely aware of the Cold War and the nuclear threat the Soviets pose to the world. He also feels the burden of the universal military draft requirement. Mike submits to the draft despite advice to avoid it by attending college. In the army he finds new confidence, new purpose, and new friends.
As Mike begins his adventures in the military, he reflects back on his family and religious identity. He has always been a committed Catholic, but as he grows into adulthood in a new environment, he encounters tests of his faith from many different quarters. From the temptation of a beautiful girl to the morality of going to war, Mike must realize his priorities and forge his own identity.
His journey becomes even more perilous when internal politics lead to a perilous assignment in the Vietnam war zone. Meanwhile, Mike's lover, Annie, faces her own challenges back home.
From the mind of author James Stark comes a detailed, sophisticated novel about the pains of growing up and the search for maturity in the unstable world of the sixties.
About the Author: James Stark came of age at the same time as his main character, Mike Wapnewski. He, like his protagonist, is a veteran of the Vietnam War.
Stark has written three previous short-story collections. Many of them center on coming-of-age moments. He spent his career as a university professor and traveled throughout the Eastern Bloc countries during the Cold War.
