White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages

I'll be honest, we basset hounds don't know a lot about history. I don't think about the past much farther back than breakfast. So to get me engaged in a story, it has to feel like a story about real people, not about dates or historical figures or any of those things you humans are so preoccupied with. However, I was intrigued by the title White Sands, Red Menace, so I decided to give it a try.

Following the death of her father, young Dewey is taken under the protective wing of her father's friend and colleague Dr. Gordon, and she moves in with the family, including a daughter named Suze, who is about Dewey's age, and her mother Terry. Much of the story focuses on Dewey's relationships as she finds her place, both in larger social circles and within the family. Things only get more complicated when a mysterious stranger from Dewey's childhood appears and threatens to shatter the family she has built. Though a little slow to start, the story starts to pick up steam about halfway through the novel, finishing with a resolution that is both satisfying and heartwarming.

Klages' writing style is precise and inventive, much like the scientists about whom she writes. Each chapter alternates perspectives, sharing insights from Dewey, then from Suze. This could be confusing for readers on its own, but then Klages also tells the tale from a third person point of view. This unconventional perspective works perfectly for the story, allowing readers to see both girls' perspectives without losing the continuity of the story. Furthermore, the story encapsulates life in post-World-War-II America without turning the time period into the central plot. Kirkus Review explains her style well: “Told in the third person, the point-of-view subtly switches by chapter between the two girls. Although alluding to issues of the atomic age, that is not a focus of this story, which sensitively portrays the early coming-of-age of two likable characters in a unique setting” (Kirkus Review 2010).

I particularly enjoyed the characters in this story. Klages took care to create two independent and intelligent young women, and through their encounters with the people of Alamogordo, New Mexico, she exposes the racial and gender inequalities of the times. However, the author approaches these subjects in a subtle and nuanced way, thus avoiding a feeling that Klages is trying to overemphasize the inequalities of the times. Instead, it's presented as simply a part of the setting, which lends authenticity to the story (though both heroines question the unfairness of these injustices, and Suze even confronts the topic through her artwork).

The spotlight remains squarely on the characters and their interactions, with the issues and complexities of the late 1940s serving to provide a rich backdrop for a story about Dewey and Suze's struggle with the insecurities and challenges of teenage life. Klages does an amazing job of focusing on the timeless themes of sisterhood, friendships, and families, which makes the story truly come alive. School Library Journal”s Elizabeth Bird notes that “[w]hen a historical novel feels contemporary because the emotions and characters feel like they exist in the here and now, that’s the mark of a great book, my friend. One of Klages’ real talents is the balance of the past and the present. She takes great pains to remain historically accurate” (Bird 2008). And historically accurate it is: no matter how much I tried to immerse myself in the historical context, I couldn't help but wince every time a pregnant Mrs. Gordon lit a cigarette.

Because this novel falls between two great eras in American history, there are a plethora of options for extension activities. Having students collect and compare ads from today's magazines with a book or digital resource of ads from the 1940's and 1950's would give students perspective into what has changed in American culture - and what hasn't. Seventeen magazine in particular would be an interesting comparative study, as it is still in publication and was mentioned several times throughout the book. White Sands, Red Menace is actually the sequel to its sister novel, The Green Glass Sea, which would be a great companion book for any student wanting more of the Dewey and Suze duo. 

If you are looking for an interesting read that touches on all the feelings of "teenagerhood" through relatable and intelligent characters, you'll definitely enjoy White Sands, Red Menace. This story does things a little differently, and it works beautifully.

Wags & Woofs,

Charlie Brown

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References

Bird, Elizabeth. 2008. “Review of the Day: White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages.” A Fuse 8 Production. Posted September 6, 2008. http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/09/06/review-of-the-day-white-sands-red-menace-by-ellen-klages/.

Kirkus Review. “White Sands, Red Menace.” Kirkus Reviews. Posted May 20, 2010. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-klages/white-sands-red-menace/.

Klages, Ellen. 2008. White Sands, Red Menace. New York: Viking. ISBN: 978-0-670-06235-5