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Asher McCovey just lost his grandpa to Leukemia. For some reason, his dad blames the government, and his obsession over it is tearing the family apart.
When they're uprooted and forced to move to Grandpa's old farm, Asher, and his little sister Rory, take it upon themselves to figure out what's going on. They discover a chest full of articles and images containing outrageous, jaw-dropping details. What's the Manhattan Project and why is there so much information about bombs? How could these things be connected to their grandpa’s death and do they have anything to do with why their father hates the government?
Meanwhile, complications on the farm make the family's attempt at a fresh start nearly impossible. Grandpa's farmhand, Manny, has lived on the farm for years, but he can only do so much. His daughters, Mari and Julia, join Asher and Rory in their efforts to fix what they can, but can four kids really do anything to combat such gigantic problems?
In addition to the many challenges surrounding him, Asher is forced to battle his deepest fears. It all comes down to two questions: Is there any chance his dad will ever be the same again and how can he stop himself from becoming just like him?
Reviews
A Kirkus review is on its way. For now, enjoy these reviews from The Historical Fiction Company and others.
Michael Hertzog’s moving debut “Yelling at the Stars” is a tale of an American family still reeling from the devastating effects of The Manhattan Project of WWII. It’s a story of a boy's strength, as he attempts to stop his world from crumbling around him. It's of friendship through the darkest days, of deep wisdom born from deep pain. And it’s a reminder to all of us that we can't fix others, even with the best of intentions.
"I loved it start to finish. The four young characters, particularly Asher and Rory, are GEMS!"
"Yelling at the Stars was a powerful, heartfelt read, and I enjoyed the time I spent with Asher."
Who am I? I'm the one on the left.
Hey there! My name is Michael Hertzog and I'm an author, but you probably already knew that. I should tell you some other stuff.
That's my dog, Poppy. I also have a wife, Lani, and two kids, Gideon and Lilly.
I teach 5th grade near Seattle, WA. Working with kids is the best! After 13 years of teaching reading and writing, I was inspired to write this book!
Wanna know a secret? I didn't like to read when I was a kid. I only read because the library gave me free pizza if I did. I love pizza.
I didn't even like reading until a few years ago, but once I found my favorite genre, which turned out to be historical fiction, I realized I I actually love it! Enough to write it, even!
I hope this book will help you love reading if you don't already. I can't send you pizza for reading it, but I'll send you a thank-you email if you feel like reaching out!
All the best,
Michael
