VVMBookBlog

What was life like back home in Illinois during World War II? I think we can get a good idea from the book On Wings of Heroes.

Davy’s life was going so well in his small town and then the United States got into the war against Germany. Within a very short time, everything changed. Davy’s older brother enlisted in the Air Force to be a pilot. And Davy’s father began reliving his war experiences during World War I. Lots of heroes in Davy’s life!

In order to support the war, US citizens were ordered to begin rationing items that were hard to get–sugar, coffee, oil, tires, etc., so that everyone had their share and to prevent people from hoarding these items. At the same time, citizens were asked to collect different things and contribute them to the war effort. This included items such as rubber, metal in tin cans, and even the fuzz from milkweed plants which was used as stuffing in life vests and suits for pilots (like Davy’s brother). We also experience the war as they did through the songs, slogans and posters (see book cover) used during the war to encourage those on the home front to be positive about the war’s outcome. This book shows how all of this was a part of their everyday life and urgently needed to support the war effort.

Richard Peck does such a great job of bringing an important time in the past, helping us really feel what was happening then, and making it funny all at the same time. Other great books by him include A Year Down Yonder, The River Between Us, and my personal favorite, Here Lies the Librarian!