Death Coming Up The Hill: A Novel

Death Coming Up the Hill is a historical fiction novel-in-verse by Chris Crowe. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, the novel revolves around the life of Ashe, a high school student in 1968. Ashe navigates personal challenges, societal pressures, and the looming draft lottery while also grappling with family dynamics. The novel consists of a series of haikus, or 17-syllable poems, that explore themes of Struggles with Identity and Responsibility, Far-Reaching Horrors and Enduring Impacts of War, and Loss and Sacrifice Amidst Turbulent Times.

This study guide refers to the 2014 eBook published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publications.

Content Warning: The source material features depictions of murders, racial violence, and war. Additionally, the source material uses outdated and bigoted terms for people of color, which are replicated in this guide in direct quotes of the source text.

Plot Summary

In 1968, 16-year-old Ashe navigates the complexities of his family life amidst the escalating tensions of the Vietnam War. His household is a battleground of ideologies, with his parents bitterly divided over the war. His father staunchly supports the conflict, condemning dissenting opinions, while Ashe’s mother fervently protests against it and advocates for peace.