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3.86 of 5 stars
In a diary that brings to life the dramatic happenings on the home front during World War II, Madeline Beck is living in a boardinghouse with her m... read full description

reviews

Feb 03, 2009
Pam rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This was a fun book to read...bit bit of a tear jerker, too. Mary and I enjoyed making the "war" cake at the end of the book.
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Dec 08, 2008
Woojae rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This book is very girly, it talks about the love between a guy and this girl - well not all, but anyways quite a lot. This book is set during the World War 2 when USA just declared war against the Axis. Madeline isn't really interested in the war until she meets the boy she likes (I forgot the name :P). The boy is very interested in the war making Madeline interested in the war too. Madeline makes a club to support the US Army by sending them foods, clothes, etc. After Madeline became a very clo More...
Oct 08, 2009
Kristian added it
this book is about a girl named madiline beck. her dad is in the amry on a military shit. in hawaii. madiline is walking on the beach one day and she heres people talking in he bushes. two seconds later they jump out and ask her where she is headed. she explains home. then they took a flash light and blinded her with it and told her that she didnt see anything and they where not there. they where two japaneese men looking for her father. she finds out the next day that her father is now at war. More...
Jan 01, 2012
04madelines rated it: 3 of 5 stars
The main issue is that Madeline's Dad is at war during world war two. She has to help him when he gets hurt over seas. Also when she gets caught by the German soilders she has to tell the FBI without them knowing about it. The setting is 1941 in New York. Where she is right next to the ocean. I like the book that shows how a girl from 1941 shows how she feels about life then in 1941 also that she tells about how it is with her Dad out at sea. The main girl Madeline is in 8th grade. She has black More...
Jan 29, 2011
A.S. Halsey rated it: 3 of 5 stars
REVIEW COMPLETE

The Dear America books are easily-accessible historical fiction for young readers, especially girls (the My Name is America books, I've been told, are very similar, only for boys).

In My Secret War, Madeline Beck tells of her daily escapades in her hometown on Long Island while World War II is being waged overseas. Reveals to young readers fictional but realistic accounts of ways Americans changed their daily lives during the war in order to make efforts, ho More...
Jun 15, 2010
Peach rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is one of my unforgettable books. A girl named Madeline,thirteen-year old, she is active and brave. Her father joined on an air craft carrier in the Warld War 2, and he was badly wounded. This book said to us the War had horrible and a lot of sad stories. It was second book since I started extensive reading. I learned of rule of not using dictionary even though I didn't understand any words or sentences. It really encoureged me because I can read all of them without dictionary . To my su More...
Mar 09, 2011
Ana rated it: 5 of 5 stars
My Secret War (World War II) / 0-590-68715-8

"My Secret War" paints a wonderful portrait of America in 1941. Madeline cultivates a close friendship with her German-Jewish neighbors, and learns to tread respectfully around the fear and sadness they harbor. She is distraught when she learns of the Japanese-American citizens put in American camps for 'observation' and reminds her classmates to take seriously the meaning behind the president's wife's exhortation to not allow America to be More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Jan 13, 2012
Victoria rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I think that this book does a great job of showing what a little girl is going through when her dad is sent to the Pacific to fight during WWII. This book would be a great tool to use in a classroom during a social studies lesson, or for a child to use for a book report. When I was in school I used to read books from the "Dear America" series to do reports, and the way these books are written made it easy to relate because you are reading from another child's viewpoint.
Oct 05, 2010
Laura rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I for sure read this book a few years ago on my first go 'round with this series. It took me a while to remember that I'd already read it, so I finished it the second time. It was a good look into what it may have been like to be a child in WWII and the frustration of the popular girls not understanding what war really means. I like the part of the book at the end when the author makes up a future for her characters.
Mar 26, 2010
Rebecca rated it: 5 of 5 stars
After her father goes to fight on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific in the fall of 1941, thirteen-year-old Madeline Beck and her mother move to a boardinghouse in Long Island. At first Madeline is lonely because the popular kids snub her. But Johnny, a boy in her class, befriends her - and eventually becomes more than just a friend. The two of them start a club for kids who want to help the war effort, but Madeline quits when she learns her father was wounded in battle - she's just to depressed More...
Jun 11, 2011
Abby rated it: 2 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here
Nov 09, 2010
Rachel added it
I think that this book is a great book. I love how in the book madline told little details about what happened to her during the day. Her diary shows how interesting her life is. I want to read more history books. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history!!!
Mar 09, 2009
Maddie rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really good book! I like the books that are in a diary format. THis was a girl name Madeline Beck and she was in the World War II. She tells how she felt about the time and shows her struggles and hardships but also it shows some of her fun times.
Sep 19, 2009
BoohBear rated it: 4 of 5 stars
ohh, i loved this book. it told so much about what was happening to the people at home during the war not necissarily the people who are living in germany who are seeing people killed by nazis. this was one of my favorite of this series
Feb 24, 2009
Korrin rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I read this book because World War II is my favorite time in history to study. I think this book gives a very good example of what life wasa like for the people who witnessed this war take place.
Aug 28, 2009
Sarah rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Another in the "Dear America" series. I really liked this book a lot. It was an easy read, but also very entertaining and included some interesting elements to WWII that I didn't know. Very cool.
Jul 15, 2009
Cheri rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Learned some things I didn't know (which is surprising because both Rick and my dad were WWII history buffs - which means I've seen alot of movies :)!) I enjoy the historical tidbits at the end.
Sep 18, 2009
Breanna rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I can't really remember the plots of all the Dear America series. I just remember enjoying them when I read them in late Elementary and middle school time.
Jan 30, 2012
Melissa rated it: 3 of 5 stars
An easy, quick read, with some interesting tidbits of history. It read more like a cohesive story than some, but didn't need the romance between the boy and girl.
Nov 20, 2011
Abby rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I'm still digging the Dear America audiobooks. This one is narrated by Claire Slemmer who does a nice job with voices and gives an authentic, 40s-sounding performance.
Nov 03, 2009
Meredith rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Violet's 2009-2010 reading page reviews: http://happyheartsmom.typepad.com/sweetn...
Jul 05, 2010
JocelynRose rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Very interesting. I thought Maddie's constant gushing over Johnny a bit overdone, but otherwise this is very well-written.
Jul 06, 2009
Grace rated it: 5 of 5 stars
BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!! Filled with a good level of romance, action, sadness, anger!!!! I COULD READ IT AGAAIN!!!!!!
Mar 08, 2011
Cate rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I thought this book was very well written and really explained how life was even in America during WWII.
Sep 11, 2011
Isabel rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I'm not really sure how old I was when I read this, but I found this diary especially powerful.
Jan 01, 2009
Sarah rated it: 5 of 5 stars
THis is one of the better dear america books i've read. it has a bit of mystery in it.
Sep 29, 2009
Mia Claire rated it: 5 of 5 stars
It was very realistic. It seems that I traveled back to 1941 when I read the story.
Mar 13, 2009
Noelle rated it: 4 of 5 stars
realy good just wish was not fiction and did not get romance into it

Mar 22, 2011
Ashley rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This was the first novel I ever read. Always will be, and I so glad it was. :)
Dec 26, 2011
Patrice rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Once again, I'm not a fan of war stories.