Love Wars: Clash of the Parents, A True Divorce Story by Matthew A. Tower , illustrated by Tsuneo Sanda

Love Wars:  Clash of the Parents, A True Divorce Story by Matthew A. Tower, illustrated by Tsuneo Sanda
Publisher:  Raja Media LLC
Format Read:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   370 pages
Published:  October 17th, 2025
Source: Books Forward 

Opening Lines:  "As I listened to my father read my favorite bedtime story, I curled up against his chest and felt the comforting rise and fall of his breathing."

The story begins with Matt around the age of three watching Star Wars six times across two days as his younger brother, Thomas was born.  The film left a huge imprint on his life.  Meanwhile, tension grows at home with an escalation of arguments between his parents.  Angry voices, send him to his room and his mother becomes increasingly absent.  At the age of six, Matthew's parents begin the process to divorce, and he and Thomas live primarily with their mom while splitting time with their father. 

Hoping to repair their relationship, his parents move the family from the city to the country, but the change only deepens their divide.  What follows is a painful tug-o-war, with Matt and Thomas caught in the middle.  Their mother disparages their father calling him horrible names like "cretin" and "bastard," often urging Matt to join in.  The boys are shuttled back and forth, each parent vying to appear as the better caregiver.  The conflict reaches a breaking point when Matt summons the courage to shout for them to stop fighting.  Stuck in the middle of their custody battle, Matt copes with the chaos by turning to the teachings of Luke Skywalker, using Star Wars as a guide to navigate his parent's battles.  

Love Wars chronicles the author's childhood memories of his parent's bitter divorce. It reveals Matt's sadness, confusion and longing to see his father.  Early on, it becomes clear that his mother struggles with mental illness, and her relentless criticism of his father deeply scars him.  She places Matt and Thomas at serious risk, leaving them in a motel with a babysitter on Christmas Eve, wages a "Violin War" over lessons, and even sues Matt for refusing to take Hebrew classes.  Matt is overwhelmed by anger and frustration, and he even lashes out at his younger brother, treating him cruelly.  

This heartbreaking memoir underscores how divorce should never place children in the middle of parental conflict.  Children should not be pressured to spy or forced to carry insults between parents.  I deeply appreciate that the author chose to share his story, despite how painful in must have been to relive.  By doing so, he offers a voice to children who are caught in similar situations, reminding them that they are not alone.  I hope that young readers whose parents are in the middle of a divorce will find comfort and strength from reading this book.  Love Wars is accompanied by stunning black-and-white illustrations by Tsuneo Sanda.  I can't fully express how powerful and detailed they are, but they are not to be missed (There's a sample in the video below).  The Star Wars references and Luke Skywalker's presence throughout the narrative add depth and resonance.  It is a powerfully moving story that I would highly recommend.

**A huge thank you to Books Forward for the hardcover review copy in exchange for an honest review**

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE