HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW
Book: Heroes at Home: Help and Hope for America’s Military Families
Author: Ellie Kay
Cover Illustrator: Bill Chiaravalle
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers, 3rd edition 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0739429822 Hardcover
ISBN-10: 0739429822 Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0764209819 Paperback
ISBN-10: 0764209817 Paperback
Related website(s): http://www.elliekay.com (author), http://www.officeofbc.com (illustrator), http://www.bethanyhouse.com (publisher)
Language level: 2
(1=nothing objectionable; 2=common euphemisms and/or childish slang terms; 3=some cursing and/or profanity; 4=a lot of cursing and/or profanity; 5=obscenity and/or vulgarity)
Recommended reading level: Of interest primarily to spouses and families of military personel
Rating: **** 4 stars
(5 stars=EXCELLENT; 4 stars=GOOD; 3 stars=FAIR; 2 stars=POOR; 1 star=VERY POOR; no stars=NOT RECOMMENDED)
Category: Non-fiction
Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker
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Kay, Ellie. Heroes at Home: Help and Hope for America’s Military Families (Published in 2002 by Bethany House Publishers, 11400 Hampshire Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55438; a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI). The purpose of this book is to provide practical and inspiring help for every family facing the challenges of military life. Off hand, I do not recall exactly why and how I ended up having this book. It probably came as a free gift with another order. Author and popular speaker Ellie Kay, a veteran military wife of Bob Kay, a former Stealth fighter pilot, and proud mother of seven, of whom one graduated from the United States Naval Academy and another is attending the United States Air Force Academy, addresses concerns about preparing for and enduring separations, making family moves, stretching a dollar, communicating long distance, and so much more, including today’s reality of dangerous missions, deployments, reentry into family life, and long work hours–whether active duty, reserve, or National Guard.
I am not really qualified to assess the value of this book because I have never been in the military nor do I have family who are in the military. One person definitely didn’t like it and wrote, “I am a Navy Wife of four years facing my first deployment as a wife and I found this book to be the corniest thing I’ve ever read. EVER….I didn’t find the book to be informative and I found the definition section of the book to be incredibly trite and boring….I didn’t learn ANYTHING from this book and would NOT recommend this to anyone SERIOUSLY looking for information or advice about military life or deployments.” However, another said, “I have been ‘married to the Marine Corps’ for 12 years and still found this book to be helpful.” And Command Chief Master Sergeant Vance M. Clarke, U.S.A.F., noted, “This encouraging book is more than just a helpful guide for families on active duty. Ellie offers today’s generation of families the encouragement they need as they encounter the challenges military families face, whether they’re Reserves, National Guard, or full-time active duty….Her sage advice and witty humor give families some sense of comfort when military life seems chaotic.”
