"The Art of Keeping Cool" by Janet Taylor Lisle is a historical fiction novel set during World War II. The story follows a young boy named Robert who lives in a small coastal town in Rhode Island. As the war rages overseas, Robert's life is turned upside down when his father is deployed to fight and his older brother, Elliot, becomes distant and changes after enlisting. Robert finds solace in a friendship with a Japanese-American girl named Callie, whose family has been sent to an internment camp due to anti-Japanese sentiment in the United States. Together, Robert and Callie navigate the challenges of wartime prejudice and discrimination, while also trying to uncover a family secret that could explain Elliot's behavior. Through vivid prose and emotional storytelling, "The Art of Keeping Cool" explores themes of resilience, friendship, prejudice, and family bonds during a tumultuous period in American history.
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