Coming of age is never easy. Coming of age in the 1960s was extraordinary. It was a decade that transformed America. After the post-World War II dreams of a healing nation, the '60s shook America to its foundation - the assassination of an idealistic young president, a tragic and unpopular war, a battle for civil rights, a cosmic clash of riots and burning cities, and an explosion of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

For four young people, the '60s is a decade of possibility. For Troy, it's the joy of living with his new family and exploring the world of flight and outer space. For Tara, the girl he loves, it's the power of song as she evolves into a rock and roll star. For Mick, a football star and reluctant rebel, it's a time to question everything, including his new brother's choice to fight in Vietnam. And for Daisy, the girl Mick loves, it's a chance to fight for equality, join the Peace Corps, and expand her study of the human mind.

Set against the backdrop of our most turbulent decade, celebrated author Mike Bond's America is the first in his seven-volume historical novel series, capturing the victories and heartbreaks of the last 70 years and of our nation's most profound upheavals since the Civil War, a time that defined the end of the 20th century and where we are today.