The Things a Brother Knows

This young adult book is the very timely story of two brothers, Boaz and Levi. The story is told from Levi's point of view. Boaz seemed to have it all as a high school senior. And then he stunned his family and friends by choosing to join the Marines and go to Iraq rather than go to college. He has come back a different person and Levi, a high school junior, is trying to understand this new person who won't even come out of his bedroom to talk with family members. The bulk of the book is a journey both literal (a walk from their home in New England to D.C.) and figurative (regaining their relationship and beginning to really be there for each other). The author writes a poignant, sometimes funny novel that will surely appeal to high show more school students. show less

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Boaz is coming home. That's what the reader learns early on. Boaz is everything that the narrator, Levi, is not. Boaz was the star athlete at school. He could have his pick of colleges and scholarships. And (at least according to Levi), he had the most gorgeous girlfriend in the world. But against everyone's wishes, especially their parents', Boaz enlists in the Marines.

The Katznelsons had relocated to the United States from Israel. Boaz's parents can't understand his need to join the military. After all, they are not in Israel anymore, and in the United States, it's not mandatory to enlist. But Boaz has a need inside that he can't convey to his family.

Now, it is three years later, and Boaz is show more home.

THE THINGS A BROTHER KNOWS is told through the eyes of Boaz's high school brother, Levi. The two used to be close before Boaz started driving in high school. Now, Levi just wants to know what makes Boaz tick. Since Boaz arrived home, he's been locked in his room. Levi knows that something is wrong with his brother, but the rest of the family won't admit that Boaz has changed.

When Boaz asks to borrow Levi's computer, Levi begins to snoop at the web sites Boaz is visiting. Levi discovers that Boaz is planning a trip to various locations down the East Coast. But he can't figure out the final destination, nor what Boaz wants to do on the trip. Boaz tells their parents that he wants to travel the Appalachian Trail. Levi knows it's a big lie, but he's consumed with the "why" of the trip rather than anything else. Levi manages to catch up with Boaz on his walk, and the two brothers work their way to Boaz's final destination.

I have to admit that this is the first book by Dana Reinhardt I truly loved. I enjoyed HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE quite a bit, but THE THINGS A BROTHER KNOWS, I loved. Levi Katznelson (what a great last name!) was a spirited, sarcastic (at times) character that you just had to love. He reminded me a lot of the characters that John Green creates. The story is definitely not an easy topic and very relevant in today's climate, but it was one that needed to be told. And is told well.

Levi's persistence slowly works its magic on his brother, and by the end of the story, all is revealed, though the ending may not be what the reader is expecting. There are highs and lows in the story that work beautifully together to tell the turmoil of one returning soldier, and the brother who loves him and wants to understand what happened to change him so much. show less

I am generally skeptical when reading books that have to do with the military and the current on-going conflicts. As an Army wife, I'm usually appalled by the lack of understanding that seems to be rampant in many of the books or I'm put off by the fact the many of the books on this theme seem to be written for the single purpose of protesting the war without any thought to actually writing a good story. So, I was a little wary of reading The Things A Brother Knows.



I'm happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Reinhardt tells a compelling story that highlights the impact of military service on the family as well as the soldier. While Boaz' military service sets the background for this story, it's also very much about the show more relationship between a younger brother and his older brother. It is also about a journey: Levi's journey to understand his brother. Boaz's journey to find himself - though in truth Boaz's journey does not truly begin until the book ends.



Reinhardt has created well developed characters with a great deal of depth. You can't help but feel for each of them as they struggle with trying to return to the way things were, finally realizing that will never happen. This was an engaging read that I did not want to put down. It was not a statement about the war, but a wonderfully painted picture about how experiences change not only the person who has those experiences, but also changes those around them.



I consider this one of my best reads in 2011 so far. show less

I listened to this on audiobook. It was FANTASTIC! A great Young Adult read but interesting enough to hold an adult's attention.
It is the story of a young Marine's reintroduction to his family and life after fighting in the Middle East. It is told from the perspective of his younger brother. The character development is great! You really come to care about these people. I highly recommend this book

This week, a former student finished a tour in Afghanistan. His family and our local community have all breathed a collective sigh of relief. He is such a good person and I cannot wait to see him when he returns. It is with this young man in mind that I picked up Dana Reinhardt's The Things a Brother Knows.

Though there are few connections between this fictional story and the teen I know, there is no doubt that each have seen and done things during their service that they will never forget. Some experiences might have been wonderful, but I bet there will be troubling thoughts and adjustments to be made when returning to their former lives.

This book is told from the perspective of a teen boy, Levi, the younger brother of Boaz, who joined show more the Marines rather than go to any of the Ivy League colleges he'd applied to. The relationship between Levi and Boaz wasn't exactly tight before Bo left and went to war. But, when he returns and doesn't talk or leave his room, Levi is stunned. Gone is the golden child, the overachiever who Levi has always looked up to.

When Bo's computer breaks and Levi offers up his laptop as a replacement, Levi gets an insight into Bo's world. What he finds is confusing and scary. It seems that his brother is obsessed with military sites, with blogs maintained by Marines, and is planning some sort of trip to Washington DC. Levi doesn't know exactly what's going on, but he knows it can't be good.

And then Bo leaves, supposedly for a trek on the Appalachian Trail. Levi knows better. He knows that his brother isn't looking to find nature. So, Levi does what any loving, concerned brother would do: He follows Bo.

* * *
I can't stress how very real and gripping this novel is. I read it in about three hours. I just could not put it down. Every character rings true, every bit of dialogue and situation seems like it was drawn from real life. I loved the main character, Levi, and his family and friends. His brother was a little harder to understand and to get to know, but that's the whole point. He's unavailable.

Unfortunately, this story is going to feel far too real for some of the people who read it in the next few years. We have lots and lots of young men and women who are returning from places that their families and friends will just never understand. No matter how well-meaning and loving we all are, there are going to be rough spots. Some will emerge more able to cope than others. Some will be distant. All will need us to be as patient and willing to reconnect with their loved ones as Levi and his family are in this book. show less

Three years ago, Boaz Katznelson stunned his family when he told them he was enlisting in the Marines after high school graduation, insuring he will be sent to a war zone. His younger brother, Levi, always looked up to his older brother and couldn’t understand the decision. Nor could Bo’s parents or girlfriend Christina.

Three years have passed and Bo has come home. But, he’s not the same Bo who enlisted. He’s uncommunicative. He holes up in his room for days, barely eating. He doesn’t let anyone in his room. Once Levi was able to peek in and saw a mini-disaster area; mattress on the floor, clothes strewn all over, piles of papers and maps.

Bo stuns his family again by saying he’s going to hike the Appalachian Trail, a show more decision that no one understands, once again. Levi knows differently, as he’s been able to uncover Bo’s computer IDs and Passwords and has seen what websites Bo has been accessing. He knows Bo is heading towards Washington, D.C. Unable to determine what to do to help his brother, Levi ultimately decides to meet his brother midway on his journey and enlists his best friends, Pearl and Zim, to drive him from Massachusetts to New Jersey.

As the duo walks, sometimes with long periods of silence, they begin to understand each other a little better.

The Things a Brother Knows, in my mind, is a departure from Reinhardt’s other books, A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life and How to Build a House. And I’m grateful that she’s made this departure. It’s a story of confusion (why would someone who has everything enlist in the Marines). It’s a story of change (the new Bo is so different than the old one). It’s a story of understanding (while Levi can’t really imagine what Bo went through, he tries). It’s a story of maturity (Levi grows up in so many ways during his journey). Reinhardt has filled The Things a Brother Knows with great characters, a great story and a lot of hope. I’ve come to regard Dana Reinhardt as a must-read author. I’m betting you will as well. show less

I think it was meant to be that I read this book on a Veteran's Day Weekend. I was in tears half of the time, and this book made me think about the people who I know personally who make this sacrifice because that is just who they are. It makes me wonder what they hide from us and how we could help them more. I really enjoyed this book overall and will probably read it again on another Veteran's Day Weekend to remind me of the things our soldiers do for us without hesitating.