Cold War

The Cold War is the backdrop for most of the action of the novel. All of the characters grow up under the threat of the bomb and there are many references to it throughout the novel. On the day the Giants win the pennant, October 3, 1951, the Soviets successfully test an atomic bomb. As Matt is growing up and attending Catholic grade schools, the students are trained in what to do if there is an air raid. They must crouch under their desks or against the walls without windows. All of the students must wear identification tags around their necks to help the authorities identify them after an attack. Sister Edgar regularly checks to make sure they are wearing their tags. As Matt grows up, he works on secret government projects. In New Mexico, the entrance to the installation is manned by protesters and he begins to question...