Bauer, Joan. Stand tall

Bauer, Joan. Stand tall. Penguin, 2002 [0-14-240148-x]
A Twelve-year-old, six foot, three tall boy is nicknamed tree. He is having a difficult time dealing with his parents divorce. Meanwhile his grandfather has his leg amputated after a complication of a war injury from the Vietnam War many years ago. Tree helps he grandfather as a way to help himself deal with the divorce. Meanwhile a new girl arrives at school and becomes an outcast except that she becomes friends with Tree. This 182 page book is full of wonderful subplots (an ailing dog, and a major flood in town) and interesting characters. I was especially drawn to the grandfather who is constantly making comparisons with dealing with daily trauma (such as divorce) to being a soldier. Not only is it a great read, it would be a wonderful discussion starter.