Looking for a book that's bittersweet?

I gave this book recommendation on an earlier question, but, seriously Drunken Duck by Ronald Dawson fits your criteria absolutely perfectly. Some of the themes are not for children however. It's a story of an Irish-American Catholic boy growing up in Sacramento, California, often heart-rendering, that takes you back into the 1950s and 60s, culminating with the USA's involvement in the Vietnam War. The main character, as a boy and a young man, finds love and acceptance from an eclectic group of people (Asian, Hispanic, black, white), in a world often filled with racism and violence. He also, has a 'gift' as he looks into the eyes of others and sees beyond color and outward appearances. The stories are often sad, sometimes awful, but there is some humor, too. Later in life, as a Navy SEAL, he travels to Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Singapore where he finds love in the arms of women and violence in war. It's listed on amazon and on the Booklocker web sites.