Margaret "Meggie" Dillion lives in Rockaway, New York with her mother, father and grandfather. Her older brother, Eddie, has enlisted to fight in the war and everyone is having a difficult time coping with his absence.
Meggie's Grampa is German and she's heard rumours around town that anyone German will be arrested and Meggie worries constantly about him. The fact that he has a German accent isn't helping her feel any better nor is the fact that two older boys came and painted a red swastika on his kitchen window which Meggie removed herself with turpentine before her Grampa could see it and get upset.
Suddenly, Meggie's father announces that the family needs to help in the war effort, packs everyone up and moves to Willow Run, Michigan. Grampa decides to stay home and Meggie is very sad to be leaving him behind. Once they arrive in Willow Run, Meggie is shocked to see the horrible housing they'll have to live in while her father works at the factory building bombs piece-by-piece.
Meggie meets Lily, Patches, Harlan and a couple of other kids who slowly form a bond during the time they're in Willow Run. All of the kids have some family member who is fighting in the war and Meggie finds herself faced with questions about courage, and what it takes to go into battle like her brother Eddie, and to keep hope alive on the home front.
This was a really cute story for kids aged nine to twelve years of age. I had originally thought it was a novel and didn't notice when I ordered it that it said: "...for ages nine through twelve". It was still a very good read and rather relaxing!
March 20, 2011
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