Thirteen year old Danny is the story teller in this World War 2 story. He lives with his mom in Foggy Gap, NC, a small mountain town. Danny is struggling with bullies in his community and his hero comes in an unlikely form-a boy who is being abused by his dad, who is struggling with PTSD from WW 1. This is a story with big themes of heroism, bravery, friendship and obligation. Readers are going to love this one.

This book interested me as a 5th grade teacher looking for well-written historical fiction books for one of our book club units. I was drawn to the narrative being told from a first-person perspective of a boy about the age of my students. Many of my students are drawn to the historical fiction set in the middle of war or conflict, but this felt so much more important to learn about the struggles of those feeling the effects of war versus those fighting in the war. The overall theme of finding the courage to make the right choices in the little moments in life is such a beautiful lesson for students to reflect upon as they consider what it means to be a bystander or an ally. I’ll definitely be adding this book to my book club collections when it is published.

An instant classic for middle school or teen readers!

This coming of age story highlights family, heroism, friendship, and discrimination. Danny's experiences in a small North Carolina town during World War II can resonate with today's young teens.

I received a copy of Yonder by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

I loved this book. I'm a fan of novels set on the home front during wartime. Stories that show the families back home and the things people did to help such as the kids like Danny collecting scrap metal pieces for the war effort.

I really loved that this story was told from Danny's POV. I enjoyed how the friendship between Jack and Danny was written out in memories as Danny tried to find out what happened to his friend. The author did a great job of describing the injustices of the time with race, social and economic class as well as how people were perceived as cowards with the war all through a young teen's eyes. It was interesting to read how Danny was forced to realize that the perfect small town he had grown up in could have some awful things happening.

This was a great story that I definitely recommend.

Another amazing novel by Ali Standish. She wove a story about a small, mountain town experiencing the effects of World War II and what it means to be a hero on the battlefield and everyday life. Thank you, Edelweiss and NetGalley for an ARC.

Yonder by Ali Standish is a middle-grade historical novel that shows the power of courage, the resilience of children, and the call for all people to do their part against evil. Danny Timmons is the protagonist of Yonder, and an unlikely one, to be honest. He is frightened, bullied, and willing to sacrifice others to save his own safety and comfort. His age ranges from ten to thirteen in the dual-timeline story, and those years have taught him that bullies can hurt. That's why he spilled the truth he was supposed to protect: his best friend's brother enlisted in the army, but deserted. The town turns against the Maguire family, and Danny loses his best friend, Lou Maguire. When he is befriended by the town hero, sixteen-year-old Jack Bailey, he begins to feel like someone is looking out for him, and he realizes that courage matters more than comfort.

As their friendship grows, Danny learns that Jack is abused by his father, who suffers from PTSD from the first World War. Unable to help, Danny tries to ignore Jack's pain, until one day Jack goes missing. Danny recruits his lost friend Lou to help him solve the mystery of Jack's disappearance, but when Danny learns the truth, he has to accept more than he was prepared to know. Following Jack's example, he also has to shoulder the burden of standing up for himself and the people he loves, no matter the consequence.

I have never read Ali Standish's works before, and I was struck immediately with her genuine voice. She narrates this story from Danny's point of view, and she captures his struggle to step out of childhood and into integrity in such a convincing tone and voice. The main characters are people of honor whom readers would do well to emulate. Danny wants to do the right thing, but his fear holds him back until he realizes how much each person's courage matters. Jack is strong and incredibly resilient, fighting his own fears in silence. Mama shows how gentle strength can change the world, at least in small ways, and Lou teaches us the grace of forgiveness. This tale will appeal to upper middle-grade readers and younger young adults, and it would be a powerful addition to classroom libraries or to homeschool curricula during a study of World War II or segregation. Yonder is exactly the kind of story middle graders can climb into and never want to leave.

Yonder tells the story of Danny and his small mountain town during WWII. A lovely story of friendship and understanding.

Yonder is about a book named Danny who greatly admires Jack, an older boy he is friends with. When Jack disappears one day Danny begins to investigate. As he learns more about the circumstances surrounding Jack's disappearance Danny must examine what it means to have courage and be a considered a hero. This is a great option for middle grade readers with an interest in historical fiction, particularly World War II.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel.

I truly loved this book. So much historical fiction is set during World War Ii, that it's sometimes a challenge to find a story that breaks through in a new and different way. This book did that and more. This book does an amazing job dealing with bravery. Too often students see themselves characteristics like courage and bravery as things you either have or don't have, but Standish's assertion that courage is something that needs to be practiced over and over again, is exactly what we all need to hear. Standing up for someone or somethings isn't a one-time affair. It's something we are challenged to do often. Each incident is a new opportunity to be who we want to be. Though the characters in this book are older than the average middle grade reader, this book still is a wonderful middle grade read. I look forward to seeing this in classroom libraries, and look forward to reading more of Ali Standish's books.

Yonder tells the story of two boys in a small US town during WWII. While many middle grade historical fiction books focus on the European front, this story stays at home and shows the impact of the war in the US. Jack gives us the opportunity to think about what makes a hero, and there is delicate handling of an abusive home situation. There is a lot that middle grade readers will enjoy about this title. I will purchase for my library.

Yonder takes place in a small Appalachian town during WWII. The story follows young Danny and his relationship with his fellow town members, namely his best friend, 16 year old Jack Bailey. Every morning they meet at the town hall to take their paper routes together….. only one morning, Jack doesn’t show up. Danny is determined to find out what has happened to his friend and his searching leads him to a place he least expected.

Full of loyalty, determination and heart. I was completely swept up in Standish’s descriptive storytelling and the tenderness with which she writes from the perspective of young Danny. I’ve read many WWII novels, but this one brought me closer to home, with battles that go on long after the great wars have ended. I struggled a bit with the way the narration jumped between Danny’s past and present, since there were only a couple years between, but over all it flowed well and was a beautiful story of friendship and redemption.

Wow I couldn't put this one down! I was hooked at first with trying to find Jack. But then as the story progressed I liked Danny and how he was learning some big things about friendship and loyalty.
WWII is going on throughout, but it isn't the main focus of the story. It affects all the characters in some ways. And I liked how we saw it from the American perspective.
This such a good book for middle schoolers who might be being bullied and aren't sure where their loyalties lie.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Ali Standish has done it again. She has written another book with heart that draws the reader in, but also addresses difficult subject matter and doesn’t flinch at the tough stuff. Her writing is beautifully descriptive, painting a world in which you feel like you’re a part of it. As a parent and a school librarian, I am so appreciative of the way that she confronts ideas about heroism and bravery and gives the readers a unique perspective. I am a huge historical fiction nerd, particularly when it comes to WWII/Holocaust stories, but this one is truly unlike any of the ones I’ve read before. I will enthusiastically recommend this book to my students and I look forward to getting a copy for my library!