Perspective

In my lifetime I have lived through several wars, but my perspective is very different from that of my grandparents who lived through different wars.  I am accustomed to multiple points of view, there has always been dissent, it would be an anomaly for the country to be completed united in the war effort.  I have not had rations, or shortages, or victory gardens.

But Margaret, in Mary Downing Hahn's Stepping on the Cracks. has grown up with these things.  Her brother is off fighting the war and a blue star hangs in their window.  Margaret is cautious, careful, and shy.  Her best friend Elizabeth is exactly the opposite. Like Margaret, Elizabeth's brother is also fighting the war.  Both girls miss their brothers, but they are convinced that this war is necessary.  The Americans are the good guys and we had to fight the war to stop Hitler.  Everyone is happy to do their part, to give up new bikes at Christmas and to comply with rationing. Besides, at the end of the war both brothers will come back safe and sound.

But as time goes on, and as the girls interact more with Gordy (a boy in their class), they start to wonder if things are so simple.  In their neighborhood blue stars are changing to gold stars-some boys aren't coming home.  Yes, Hitler needs to be stopped, but is war really necessary?  Can any war be a good war?  Did all those boys really want to be soldiers?

I love that this book was able to transport me back to that 'simpler time' everyone always talks about, but it didn't just stay at simple.  Margaret and Elizabeth face hard issues.  Issues that we still face today when our country goes to war.  And it is a good reminder that the regular struggles of 6th grade still happen, even in wartime.

Serving on the homefront...that's kids stuff.