Module 7: Historical Fiction – Fallout by Todd Strasser

Module 7:  Historical Fiction – Fallout by Todd Strasser

1. Strasser, Todd. Fallout. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2013. Print.

2. Plot Summary – During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Scott’s father builds a bomb shelter in their backyard. At first, neighbors tease and ridicule his family until the unimaginable happens. The bombs go off and the neighbors make an attempt to raid the shelter. Only a few are able to fight their way in, but with food to last just a small family, how will they survive and what is really happening outside the vault?

3. Critical Analysis – Fallout is a historical fiction novel about the Cuban Missile Crisis. It takes an alternate route and asks the question, “What would happen if the missiles actually launched?” While it may not have won any big-name awards, it still received critical acclaim from readers and professional reviewers. Booklist says, “The titular fallout isn't just the environmental aftermath of the nuclear bomb but the survivors' emotional devastation, believably filtered through Scott's sensitive but well-rendered child's perspective (2013).” Strasser’s prose makes this short book an easy, but thought provoking read

Strasser’s ability to convey fear and uncertainty is impeccable. “I want to beg him to let the others in. But I don’t because this is something I’ve been scared of ever since he first told me about the shelter, since I realized we were the only family on the block who had one (Strasser 2013).” Readers will feel as if they are locked in the vault with both families. One of the largest uncertainties is if Scott’s mother will survive. She is knocked unconscious after falling off the ladder and throughout the story; both families are fighting for the quickly diminishing food. Goodreads reviewer, Ngan, commented, “I found it interesting that the children were the ones staying rational while the adults were busy bickering and going bonkers in the bomb shelter (2013)." I would agree with her. Strasser made it seem that the children were the logical ones and the parents were lost and scared. Perhaps this is because the young characters weren’t aware of what was truly happening, but they seemed to be in a much calmer place.

One of the possible difficulties of this book that young adult readers may face is that the chapters fluctuate often. At every chapter, the time setting changes from the past to the present. Although it makes for a diverse read, it can be somewhat confusing for such a short book.  Another issue, in my opinion, is that there is not much happening in the vault other than the parents’ bickering about who is better than the other or more deserving of supplies. The pacing in the vault seemed very slow compared Scott’s past events.

Since this a historical fiction novel, Nilsen, Blasingame, Donelson, and Nilsen state that, “Historical novels should tell a lively story with a sense of impending danger, mystery, suspense, or romance (2013 p.258).” This holds true for Fallout. Readers will be able to experience all those emotions and then some. Also, due to its historical background, this becomes an excellent opportunity for librarians and educators to teach about the Cuban Missile Crisis and help young readers discern what is fact and fiction in this book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and offered great insight in the time period. Todd Strasser ends the book with a personal family photo in which his father built an actual bomb shelter. This allows readers to see the reality of the crisis and how families were concerned and preparing for a possible apocalypse. Although this book is historical fiction, the photo is set to remind readers that it is based on some facts and truth.