Dealing with a sister hospitalized by an event you could have prevented and mother whose temper is unpredictable and unwieldy is hard.

But it’s 1953 in Downers Grove and, on top of everything else, the Cold War is heating up. After finding a communist newspaper in the trash, Tommy is determined to prove that his neighbor is involved in communist activity using the paper route he works in his sister’s stead. Finding the truth might be harder to handle than Tommy ever realized.

Readers in grades 4 through 6 who enjoy mystery, history, and a little bit of sweet home Chicago pride will enjoy this saga by the notable author of Lions of Little Rock and The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had.