Young, Karen Romano. Outside In.

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It is the summer of 1968, and twelve-year-old Cherie is struggling with how to be supportive of her soldier brother without being supportive of a war she doesn’t agree in. When a peer several towns over is abducted, she becomes terrified at the sudden knowledge that her loss of innocence brings–the world can be a scary dangerous place.

As if just growing up wasn’t enough, she is also coping with a pregnant mother, annoying little sister with strange phobias, and the neighbor boys, who are friends one day and foes the next. This anti-war book with a crafty subplot may have some appeal to middle school students; check out The Beetle and Me, which is a stronger title along the same themes and setting.