Under the Apple Tree — Dan Wakefield

A moving tale of young love, family values, and growing up during wartime from bestselling author Dan Wakefield

At the height of World War II, Artie Garber turns eleven years old in his hometown of Birney, Illinois. When his older brother, Roy, joins the US Marines, Artie is left to defend the home front -- as well as Roy's high school sweetheart, Shirley. Without the guidance of his beloved big brother, Artie resorts to reading advice in Collier's on how to identify spies and search for German aircraft over the lush fields of Illinois. As Artie works to protect Shirley -- a lost cause, despite the cheerleader's best efforts -- he must come to grips with his own burgeoning sexuality as he steps cautiously toward adulthood.
 
Rendered in stunning, peeled-back prose, Under the Apple Tree realistically depicts one boy's loss of innocence and the devastating effects of war felt far beyond the battlefield.