Play Audiobook Sample
The Art of Keeping Cool Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.04) - 312 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
It's World War II, and fear permeates the Rhode Island coastal town where Robert, his mother, and sister are living out the war with his paternal grandparents. It is fear of Nazi submarines offshore; fear of Abel Hoffman, a German artist living reclusively outside of town; and for Robert, a more personal fear, of his hot-tempered, controlling grandfather.
As Robert watches the townspeople's hostility toward Hoffman build, he worries about the friendship that his sensitive cousin Elliot has with the artist. And he wonders more and more about the family secret everyone seems to be keeping from him—a secret involving Robert's father, a bomber pilot in Europe. Will Elliot's ability to detach himself from the turmoil around him be enough to sustain him when prejudice and suspicions erupt into violence? And can Robert find his own way to deal with the shocking truth about his family's past?
Download and start listening now!
"I LOVED this book!!! Read it my Junior year of high school for my own pleasure and found it really enjoyable. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and young adult coming-of-age stories and this one was one of the best I ever read. I admire one of the primary characters, Elliot, for his devotion to his love of drawing and the risk he took in seeking the German artist's help in drawing. He was taking a dangerous one, which his cousin Robert advised against even. Both boys find their own ways of keeping cool during the WWII period. They're both tested and pulled between their own ways of staying calm in such tense circumstances and what they want. For anyone interested in fiction stories set in WWII, coming-of-age, deception and mystery- this is a book you should definitely read."
— Marc (5 out of 5 stars)
Awards
-
Winner of the 2001 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
-
An ALA Notable Book for 2001
-
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book for 2001
The Art of Keeping Cool Listener Reviews
-
" another young adult book that deals with adolescence during WWII while dad is away fighting. "
— Jennifer, 2/11/2014 -
" Engaging story of a boy living on the Rhode Island coast during World War II and the German painter in his area who faces persecution. All of the relationships are well drawn, and the protagonist is flawed without being too annoying. Pretty intense reading for a sixth-grader (suicide), but suspenseful and thought-provoking (for kids who haven't read much about discrimination and taking sides before). "
— Jessica, 2/10/2014 -
" I taught this book to my enriched English class. This book is well written and has many themes that are great for further discussions in a middle school classroom. This novel takes place during World War II in a small New England town. The local German artist becomes the target of the town's prejudice and suspicion due to his nationality. We read this shortly before we read Anne Frank. It was a great lead in to the idea of judging someone superficially (something middle schoolers tend to know a lot about!). It was worth a read even if it hadn't been for academics. "
— Lynelle, 2/9/2014 -
" 1942 on the East coast where there is fear of German invasion and u-boats. Prejudice and lots of family secrets make this an interesting, though sometimes frustrating, story. Read the other reviews for more insight. "
— Elaine, 2/2/2014 -
" a wonderful wwii book for kids. It deals with the subjects of lost loved ones, espionage, prejudices and courage to stand up for what is right. We read this book as part of wwii history unit. "
— Michelle, 1/31/2014 -
" OH MY GOD!!! this is a great book if you want to read about world war 2! "
— Claire, 1/17/2014 -
" good book if you like historical fiction this is one you should read "
— Mason, 1/17/2014 -
" This was a great historical young adult novel about life in the 1940s. I hate the prejudice against an innocent German artist, but it was typical of that time period. "
— Dana, 12/18/2013 -
" The Rhode Island setting is not all that makes the story wonderful. The many twists and turns add to the excitement. "
— Leigh, 12/15/2013 -
" It was just...ok. Not overly suspenseful or exciting or historically detailed. A fairly easy read for kids and adults I suppose. "
— the, 12/7/2013 -
" Wonderful story about growing up during the beginning of WWII and the worry over Germans landing on our shore and a side story of a family with secrets "
— Lori, 11/29/2013 -
" A sad, dramatic story filled will horror and misunderstanding, made me cry... "
— Michael, 11/29/2013 -
" it was interesting not one of my favorites but is was ok i guess "
— Lauren, 11/11/2013 -
" Good youth historical fiction. "
— Colleen, 9/16/2013 -
" An original look on the holocaust. The characters were well fleshed out, and there was some great character growth going on. There were some parts where the story didn't really grip me, and I wasn't as involved as I could have been, but overall, a great book. "
— Wendy, 8/27/2013 -
" This WWII novel set in the US east coast uses lots of historical detail to enhance a good story of a boy growing up. I've put off reading it for too long, and I'm sorry I did. "
— Chris, 6/22/2013 -
" tis book was a very lame book and i dident really like it. but janet taylor lisle is a very good author and she has some amazing books to read. because it dident have much action to it and i did not really like it "
— Brick, 1/5/2013 -
" It took me a little while to get into the story but once I did, I enjoyed it. "
— Marie, 12/20/2012 -
" Liked the illuminating information about the nature of "art" and the history of what the Nazi's did to the art community. "
— Pam, 12/2/2012
About Janet Taylor Lisle
Janet Taylor Lisle is the author of several acclaimed novels for young readers, including The Art of Keeping Cool, winner of the Scott O’Dell Award, and these five School Library Journal Best Books of the Year: Sirens and Spies, The Lampfish of Twill Forest, A Message from the Match Girl, The Lost Flower Children, and Afternoon of the Elves, a Newbery Honor Book. She lives with her family on the coast of Rhode Island.
About Charles Carroll
Charles Carroll is an actor and voice-over artist residing in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He is an avid film buff and stays active in the local film community.