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    The Things a Brother Knows
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    The Things a Brother Knows
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    The Things a Brother Knows
    Audiobook6 hours

    The Things a Brother Knows

    Written by Dana Reinhardt

    Narrated by Joshua Swanson

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The story of a young marine's return from war in the Middle East and the psychological effects it has on his family.

    Finally, Levi Katznelson's older brother, Boaz, has returned. Boaz was a high school star who had it all and gave it up to serve in a war Levi can't understand. Things have been on hold since Boaz left. With the help of his two best friends Levi has fumbled his way through high school, weary of his role as little brother to the hero.

    But when Boaz walks through the front door after his tour of duty is over, Levi knows there's something wrong. Boaz is home, safe. But Levi knows that his brother is not the same.

    Maybe things will never return to normal. Then Boaz leaves again, and this time Levi follows him, determined to understand who his brother was, who he has become, and how to bring him home again.

    Award-winning author Dana Reinhardt introduces readers to Levi, who has never known what he believes, and whose journey reveals truths only a brother knows.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateSep 14, 2010
    ISBN9780307738356
    Unavailable
    The Things a Brother Knows
    Author

    Dana Reinhardt

    Dana Reinhardt lives in San Francisco with her husband and their two daughters. She is the award-winning author of the young adult novels A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life, Harmless, How to Build a House, The Things a Brother Knows, and The Summer I Learned to Fly and the middle-grade novel Odessa Again. Her books have been named to many best of the year lists, and reviewers have praised her work as “exceptional,” and “funny and unforgettable.” Visit her at danareinhardt.net.

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    Reviews for The Things a Brother Knows

    4/5

    104 ratings17 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Realistic, emotionally honest, and timely story.
    • 4/5
      Three years ago, Levi's brother shocked everyone by enlisting in the Marines. Now Bo's back, but he's not the Boaz who left. This one is withdrawn, never coming out of his room, barely speaking to anyone. He hasn't been back long when he takes off again, to hike the Appalachian Trail, but Levi knows that's not true. Just finding him is hard enough. Unraveling who Boaz has become is even harder.

      Aftermath of war, sibling relationships, the effects on those left behind.
    • 4/5
      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 school students.
    • 4/5
      Levi's brother Bo is a Marine fighting in a war halfway around the world, in a desert Levi can only imagine. Getting through high school is tough enough for him, especially because he is always in the shadow of his brother the hero. His best friends Pearl and Zim are always there for him, but when Bo comes home to the Boston area, even they can't help Levi understand what's wrong. Bo sleeps more than he's awake, screams in the night, rarely talks, won't ride in cars, and dives for cover at inexplicable times. He's also using Levi's laptop to map out a route south -- and he plans to walk, telling their parents that he intends to hike the Appalachian trail. Levi knows he's not headed that way, and decides to join him. Pearl and Zim drive him to catch up, and Levi joins Bo on his walk south. Bo isn't the brother he remembers, and Levi tries over and over to get him to talk, to find out what happened to him, and why he does the things he does -- and where they are really going. The consequences of war aren't just physical destruction and chaos where battles happen, but the mental and emotional effects on the soldiers who must do and see terrible things. 8th grade and up for mature content and language, this is a moving story about family, courage, and what being a hero means.
    • 5/5
      Levi's brother has just gotten home from a tour of duty in Iraq. Although everyone celebrates the return of the war hero, Levi doesn't think his brother has made it all the way back yet. Bo won't leave his room, listens to static on the radio and seems obsessed with maps. When Bo decides he is going to hike the "Appalachian Trial", Levi follows to try to figure out how to help his brother. Levi has an interesting duo of friends who are determined to help him help his brother and a supportive family. The book was insightful, well written, and moving.
    • 4/5
      From the perspective of a younger (17-year-old) brother, this is a somewhat subtle story of the emotional changes that take place within the family of a young marine back home from war in the present-day Middle East. Not only is the Marine affected from his experiences, but so are those around him who can't quite break down the barrier that he's enveloped himself behind.While I enjoyed this novel, I found it not quite as profound as I'd somehow expected. While the ending was satisfying, it wasn't quite the build-up that I was led to believe was coming. Additionally, I read this on audio, & found the reader to be a bit mechanical in spots, and I couldn't decide whether or not it was intentional.
    • 3/5
      When Levi's brother Boaz decided to join the Marines, the family was shocked. Now that he has returned from serving in Iraq, he is different, and won't talk to them. He decides to take a trip, telling his family that he is going to walk the Appalachian Trail. His brother doesn't believe him, and tracks him down to accompany him on a journey that changes them both.
    • 4/5
      Tender, modern tale of two brothers trying to find out who they are.Boaz has recently returned from the war, deemed "healthy" and sent home. However, his family quickly discovers that there is nothing healthy about him. He sleepwalks through the day, thrashes and screams at night and refuses to travel in cars.When his younger brother Levi finds out Boaz is planning on walking from Boston to D.C., he drops his summer job and joins him without permission.Crisp dialogue and believable characters make this tale of families and friends reacting to a loved one suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder a great book.
    • 5/5
      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
    • 5/5
      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 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.
    • 5/5
      Rarely do I give a book more than 4 stars, but this one deserves 5. Excellent portrayal of friendship, the love between brothers, and the struggle of a soldier to return to "normal" life after a tour of war duty. Also, it's a great walking road trip story. This one is going to win awards.
    • 5/5
      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 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.
    • 4/5
      Levi's brother Boaz joined the Marines after high school and spent three years fighting overseas. Now he's home, but everything has changed. Levi has become a mini-celebrity because of his brother's return - girls notice him at school, he gets the job at the video store that everybody wants. But inside, Levi wonders... if people knew how it really was at the Katznelson house now, would they still be so excited? Because Boaz went straight to his room and didn't come out for three days. Even now, he won't talk to anyone, and he's told their parents he's going to hike the Appalachian Trail, but Levi knows that Boaz is planning a much different trip. This is an important story and one that will resonate with teens who know someone who's served overseas. I didn't quite buy Levi's voice as a guy, and I thought the pacing was maybe a little off, but I loved the relationship between Levi and Boaz. It's not easy and it's not straightforward and in that, it felt very realistic.
    • 3/5
      A good book illustrating the point that it's important to offer those you love the healing they need rather than the healing you want them to have.
    • 3/5
      When Levi's brother Boaz decided to join the Marines, the family was shocked. Now that he has returned from serving in Iraq, he is different, and won't talk to them. He decides to take a trip, telling his family that he is going to walk the Appalachian Trail. His brother doesn't believe him, and tracks him down to accompany him on a journey that changes them both.
    • 4/5
      Finally, Boaz, Levi Katznelson’s older brother, has returned home from the war. But when Boaz walks back into the family, after his tour of duty is over, Levi knows there’s something wrong. Boaz is h safe, he is home, but Levi knows that his brother is not the same.Maybe things will never return to normal. Then Boaz leaves again, and this time Levi follows him, determined to understand who his brother was, who he has become, and how to bring him home again.A heart-wrenching story that shows you the lengths that some people will go for to help a brother find himself. Superbly written, taking you on the journey of Levi’s quest to find his brother of old. Although a little slow to start, you will soon find yourself engrossed, and wanting to find out what happens next. Suit teens 14 years and over.
    • 4/5
      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 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.