Deployments. Moves. Ever-changing social circles. Military children know life in the service is often anything but ordinary. Here are seven children’s books that reflect some of the unique feelings and scenarios these children face.
“The Military Child Chronicles” by Athens E. Pellegrino
In “Mission: My First PCS,” the inaugural installment in author Athens E. Pellegrino’s series for military families, young Atticus fields the wide range of emotions that accompany a PCS. Atticus’s story continues in “Mission: Mistletoe,” which finds him celebrating the holidays away from his grandparents.
Pellegrino, an Air Force spouse and mother who has completed eight PCS moves, said she wanted to provide a guide for military families on the move.
“I created ‘The Military Child Chronicles’ to serve as a resource for military families while they navigate through the many difficulties associated with our lifestyle,” she said. “My goal is to have families work together to overcome obstacles and ultimately become more resilient.”
“The Peppered Sky” by Sarah Doran
An Army veteran, former military spouse and former military child, author Sarah Doran grew up watching her father perform airborne training operations. “The Peppered Sky” draws on her memories as it dives into the life of Haleigh and Mason, who find themselves in a world of aircraft, airborne drop zones and paratroopers.
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“I knew I wanted to not only authentically represent highly under-represented military children in literature, but I also wanted to shed light on some of the exciting and positive experiences that military children may have,” Doran said.
“Dear Military Teen: Moving, Deployments and Winning the Game of High School” by Shanon Hyde
A self-described Marine Corps brat now in college, Shanon Hyde wanted to write about his experience as a military teenager. He offers advice on everything from moving to the life lessons he gained from his teen years.
“When I released the book, I was only two years removed from my childhood as a military brat,” Hyde said. “This allowed me to be a voice that today’s military teens can relate to, as well as accurately reflect on my emotions from every move and deployment that my family endured not so long ago. This book extracts important lessons from military upbringings and shows the reader how they can use those lessons to propel themselves into adulthood.”
Hyde also hosts a podcast for military teens, which can be found at theshanonshow.com.
“When We Are Apart” by Rebecca Johnsey
Engineer, project manager, and mother Becca Johnsey was searching for a way to help her children cope with the rollercoaster of emotions they experience when their father, an Army Reserve officer, is away. “When We Are Apart” features a young boy going through his daily routine while acutely feeling the absence of his father.
The book helps children “name their feelings, cope with their emotions and navigate through them while reminding them they are loved unconditionally,” said Johnsey, who hopes “When We Are Apart” can be as helpful to other military children as it was for hers.
“Brave Like Me” by Barbara Kerley
Based on conversations with military children and her own experience as the best friend of a military child, children’s author Barbara Kerley’s “Brave Like Me” tells the story, through photographs and poignant text, of what it’s like to serve at home while a beloved parent is deployed.
“One of the best things about writing this book is that I got to interview military families (parents and kids) and their quotes are featured in the back of the book,” the author said. “I loved hearing what the kids had to say.”
“Our Military Family” by Suzan Johnson
In this touching children’s book, Harmony, Dominic and their father are at home while mom, who’s in the Army, serves abroad. “Our Military Family” speaks to the sacrifices that are made both by service members and their families on the homefront.
“Throughout my years as an educator, I met students who have had one or both parents in the military,” Johnson said. “I really felt the sacrifice of the family that stays home. I hope this book is a testament to those families who make many sacrifices at home and abroad so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have.”