Amazon Category:  Young Adult/Teen Publisher: Press-TIGE Publishing ISBN-10:  1575321416 Type: Fiction Pages: 100 Copyright: Jun 1 1999 Micah's mom finally musters enough nerve to leave Micah's alcoholic dad. They move to Micah's grandpa and grandma only to find Grandpa dressed in army fatigues, acting strange, and preparing a fallout shelter for World War III. Micah is concerned about Granndpa's panic attacks, but, for once in his life, Micah has it all - friends, popularity, and being head of the "Fallout Club." Nothing is going to change that now, including Grandpa's sickness. Nevertheless, Micah fails to consider one important factor - his tremendous love for his Grandpa. Micah feels so alone, moving to a new town, going to a new school. Sure, there's his mom, but he yearns for a friend, something he's not used to having. When they arrive at Grandpa's, Micah discovers that his grandpa has built a fallout shelter. Micah shrugs it off and when he meets Stephen, who lives down the street, the two hit it off. The only problem is Stephen's dad and Micah's grandpa have had words - angry words, and Stephen's dad doesn't want Stephen going to Micah's house. But the boys are determined to be friends. Stephen shows up at Micah's house and tours the neat fallout shelter where Grandpa tells them stories about World War I and II. Soon, the boys have formed a fallout club and more boys have joined, including Louis Moulds, the local rich kid and trouble maker. However, when Louis doesn't get to be the head of this new club, he's determined to sabatoge it, even it means distorting the truth about Grandpa and his motives for building the shelter. Excerpt "Grandpa," I started. "Why did you build this fallout shelter?" His serious eyes blazed. "You want to know why I built this?" "Yes sir," I replied, my swallow climbing over the lump in my throat. "Well, son, I think you're old enough to know, and man enough to understand. You see...."

Jennifer Leesee, Reviewer and Published Author
FALLOUT By Richelle Putnam ISBN: 1-57532-141-6 Press-TIGE Publishing Author Richelle Putnam has written an astounding book for young adults called FALLOUT. Ms. Putnam's fiction book reads well and each chapter flows nicely into the next. A mother of six children, she definitely knows children and how to address tough subjects that some children, no matter what age, deal with everyday. I enjoyed reading her book FALLOUT and I highly recommend it for children dealing with alcoholic parents, moving to a strange town, going through divorce that usually causes emotional stress and anger. Micah and his mom move in with his grandparents after his mom builds up enough nerve to leave his alcoholic father. All new situations arise for young Micah when he finds his grandfather dressed in army fatigues, and ready for attack. Naturally, Micah cares about his grandfather and that he's building shelter for World War III, but Micah is experiencing things that he's never faced before, but always wanted--popularity. Micah decides to make the best of his situation and he appoints himself head of the "Fallout Club." Everything goes well for a while, but love is stronger than he could have ever imagined. Ms. Putnam's book FALLOUT is a beautiful, captivating story with a wonderful lesson for young people and adults alike. --Reviewed by Jennifer LB Leese, ASTORYWEAVER'S Book Reviews, www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/aswbr.html Jennifer LB Leese I'm Jennifer Leese, a 31-year-old Mom from Maryland, a full-time Childcare Mom, a gift basket & craft entrepreneur working on becoming a successful writer in all genres. (www.BasketsAnBows.com) I have been writing children's short stories since I was only ten years old. (www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff) As well as being a Mom, a Writer, a Business Owner, and a Childcare Provider, I am also a book reviewer, reviewing books for my web page: ASTORYWEAVER'S Book Reviews. I'm a member of SCBWI,and EPIC, since the beginning of 2000. I recently started a newsletter for individuals interested in knowing more about me, and my writing. It is called, aMUSEing and can be found at: http://www.egroups.com/group/aMUSEing Jennifer LB Leese, www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/ ASTORYWEAVER'S Book Reviews, www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/aswbr.html BLURB: Author of children's fiction. Beetle Bug Adventures, Beetle Bug Adventures: The Cave, Mason Goes to the Dentist, Mason Goes to the Doctor, and Sounds I Hear from Wordbeams.com Michael's Drawing from Saxco Publishing

Silvia Richard-Wallis, Writer and Editor
Richelle Putnam's newest Children's novel Fallout is one of the most educational, enlightening and insightful books addressing preteen, historical and family issues. I highly recommend this book to any twelve-year-old (or the twelve-year-old within each of us), who has ever experienced divorce, loneliness, fear of a new environment and the special bond shared between a grandchild and his grandparents. Richelle's ability to speak from a child's perspective and express the range of emotions many children living in today's uncertain society encounter, shows great sensitivity. Fallout is truly a "Must Read." I know it is going on my daughter's summer reading list. Silvia Richardson-Wallis, Reviewer Cloudy Mountain Books silvia(at)fictionforest.com Silvia Richard-Wallis has been an active writer and editor for over twenty years. In 1987, she combined her passions for writing and motions pictures to turn screenwriter and recently optioned one of her properties, And The Angels Sing, to Spencer-Shaw productions. She is working on a new sitcom slated for a 2001 release, rewriting two original screenplays, and wrapping up her second novel.

Danielle Thorne, Freelance Writer and Reviewer
Written with the juvenile reader in mind, FALLOUT is a story of courage, forgiveness, and the love that binds a family together. Author Richelle Putnam opens the window in to the every day anxieties of adolescence as she weaves a tale of self-examination and discovery. It is painful and brave, and successfully paints a portrait of a boy bridging his own gap in to young adulthood. When Micah Knight and his mom move to Quitton, Mississippi to start a new life, Micah discovers that settling in isn't going to be as easy as he initially hoped. The scars his ruthless father left behind are still fresh, and his faith in the world around him is tentative. Even with a loveable, dear, and eccentric old grandpa to help heal his wounds from the past, being the grandson of the craziest old man in town is certain to come between Micah and his new life. But not everyone thinks there's something wrong with Grandpa. Micah and his buddies start meeting covertly in his grandfather's hand-dug fallout shelter, against the wishes of neighborhood parents. Creating a private club and retreat, the boys soon discover there's more to American history than just dates in a book. Sharing family stories and personal experiences from the greatest wars of the century, Grandpa entrances his young listeners, while educating them at the same time. The success and secrecy of the Fallout Club seems destined for discovery as Grandpa's health worsens. Then Micah's worst fears are realized when the most unpleasant of all his classmates worms a path in to the group of friends. Feeling the cold fingers of doubt every time school bully Louis Moulds manipulates club members, Micah must do everything in his power to protect his territory and his grandpa. Even if it means walking away from the life of fun and friendship he's always dreamed about. Parents will appreciate Ms. Putnam's detailed and sensitive explanations of the first and second world wars. Her candor also extends in to the cause and effect of the recent stressful events of the Gulf War, which brought back so many painful memories for our veterans. Children will empathize with Micah as he faces the ridicule of his peers, the torturous health problems of his grandfather, and the troubling challenges of trying to fit in. And everyone will cheer as he finds the courage to stand up for what is right, and stand tall in the face of danger and death. FALLOUT is moving story of letting go of the past, facing trials with valor and faith, and finding love where it matters most. At home. Danielle Thorne is a freelance/fiction writer and editor of the manuscript web business, A GRAIN OF SALT (www.webnow.com/DthoCha). For reviews or critique services, visit AGOS or contact her at DthoCha(at)aol.com.