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Stepping on the Cracks
The poignant story of World War II back home at lastFinally, the paperback edition of one of Mary Dowing Hahn’s most gripping and personal stories. Culled from her memories of growing up under the shadows of WWII, this story has touched young readers for more than fifteen years. We are so excited to have it back with us in paper, with a fantastic new cover, available for y...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
March 23rd 2009
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
(first published 1991)
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Stepping On The Cracks
by:Mary Downing Hahn
There are 2 girls Elizabeth & Margret. they like to have adventure but wherever they go the boys are their making fun of them. They get made fun of a lot by Gordy and His Boys! Their nicknames are Lizard and Magpie!
They have a tree house close to the train tracks, but they are not allowed past the tracks. One day they are feeling brave enough to go into the woods, which is past the train tracks the 2 girls are brave enough...more
by:Mary Downing Hahn
There are 2 girls Elizabeth & Margret. they like to have adventure but wherever they go the boys are their making fun of them. They get made fun of a lot by Gordy and His Boys! Their nicknames are Lizard and Magpie!
They have a tree house close to the train tracks, but they are not allowed past the tracks. One day they are feeling brave enough to go into the woods, which is past the train tracks the 2 girls are brave enough...more
Twenty Word Summary: Three kids who each have brothers fighting in the war, they aren't much of friends but they can become friends.
Passage: For a moment or two, no one said anything. I saw mother glance at the blue star hanging in our living room window, and I knew what she was thinking. Thats star meant Jimmy was overseas fighting in a war Hitler started. There was a star in Elizabeths window, too, because her brother Joe was in navy. That summer, there were stars in lots of windo...more
Passage: For a moment or two, no one said anything. I saw mother glance at the blue star hanging in our living room window, and I knew what she was thinking. Thats star meant Jimmy was overseas fighting in a war Hitler started. There was a star in Elizabeths window, too, because her brother Joe was in navy. That summer, there were stars in lots of windo...more
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I missed out on this one growing up. I read a lot of Mary Downing Hahn back then, but I was (and still am in some ways) guilty of pidgeon-holing. Hahn was a writer of the supernatural, of mysteries. Like Zilpha Keatley Snyder or John Bellairs I wasn't interested in reading their work if it wasn't immediately offering what I liked.
But kids don't always know what's good for them. Sometimes they can't leave the table until they've eaten they're broccoli (this is hypothetical, I've alway...more
But kids don't always know what's good for them. Sometimes they can't leave the table until they've eaten they're broccoli (this is hypothetical, I've alway...more
Elizabeth and Maggie are best friends and they share a common enemy, Gordy. All of them have brothers serving in the war. Gordy is constantly picking on the girls and he steals the wood from their treehouse. When the girls decide to get revenge they make a discovery. Gordy threatens them if they tell anyone his secret. They decide to make him build them a new treehouse in exchange for their silence. Elizabeth and Maggie aren't sure how they feel about Gordy's secret. When things seem to g...more
I don't know if I read it all in one night, but I know it's the first book I remember staying up late into the night to read. I was completely enthralled with it and remember it as such a unique, profound moment in reading for me. I can't even fully remember what happens apart from there being two best friends, and one of them has a brother who defects from the war, and they help hide him. It was really thought-provoking at the time, introducing shades of grey into my life, where something might...more
I remember reading this book in grade school and absolutely loving it, so it's no surprise I wanted to revisit it again this year. It wasn't as intriguing and mysterious as the first time I read it but that's probably because I'm no longer a ten year old girl. I did still enjoy the book and liked how much history the author put into it. From the ovaltine shakes Margaret had after school to the fabric rations mentioned during Christmas time, you could definitely tell that the war had much greater...more
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This book was a good new view on World War II. Connecting the families overseas and the fighting of wars in and around towns, even if it was the School Bully. Mary Downing Hahn writing style creates a different view on society in this time. The view of two girls that are not really included in the war, but they are affected by it. This book was a good mix of strong english and historical concepts. It was very intriguing and will get a readers emotions running.
At first, I chose this book at random. Then, I started reading it and realized I actually enjoyed it. This book takes place back when Hitler was in rule and all men were being sent to war and deserting was forbidden. Margot, gains a new perspective of a bully when helping nurse his brother to health, even though he was deserter. I'd have to say that my favorite quote in this book is "YOU'LL NEVER LIVE UP TO YOUR BROTHERS EXPECTATIONS! YOUR NOTHING LIKE HIM" mostly because jordy is tryi...more
Margaret and Elizabeth are best friends. They live near each other, both their brothers have gone to fight Hitler, and they are both tormented by the sixth grade bully, Gordy Smith. While trying to get back at Gordy the girls discover a secret about Gordy that plunges their lives into chaos. Are there some secrets that should be kept? What is the price of standing up for what you believe to be right and is it worth paying?
I thought it was ok. I mean it wasn't my favorite book in the world but it was ok. It is aboutt a girl named Margaret who's brother( Jimmy ) is in world war two. Her best friend Elizabeth always loves to go on adventures. Then on one of thier adventures they discover a secret about thier arch enemy Gordy smith , but you will have to read the book to find what happens next!!! :)
It was pretty sad, I guess the ending was ok, it taught you to move on. To help others even if it risks your safety. I liked how they eventually became friends with Gordy. I hate abusive parents they don't deserve to be able to have time with their kids. I kind of wish Gordy's family didn't move away and they stayed and replanted the grass, have the girls help paint the house and that would be a cute ending.
In the body of World War II literature aimed at middle grade students, this one stands out in the way Hahn explores one girl's feelings about the war, her brother's fighting, and views toward those who believe that fighting is just not a good option. Hahn shines in this story that looks at family dynamics and does not provide readers with any easy answers.
I really liked this book because it tells about world war 2. and what its like to have silbing in the war. I would like to meet one of the charaters in this book and ask them question abot the war. I would like to see what they did for fun in that time. To see what people did when the soldiers came home
I loved this book so much in 4th grade, that I volunteered to "adopt" its library shelf during recess on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I kept the "H" shelf straight and in order so that this book would be safe and well cared for. I have no idea how many times I read it, I'm sure it was alot...
<DIV>The poignant story of World War II back home at lastFinally, the paperback edition of one of Mary Dowing Hahn’s most gripping and personal stories. Culled from her memories of growing up under the shadows of WWII, this story has touched young readers for more than fifteen years. We are so excited to have it back with us in paper, with a fantastic new cover, available for young readers for many, many more years to come.Margaret and Elizabeth support everything about the war: the troop...more
Two girls during WWII in america are mostly sheltered from the war. After all, they have their own problems to worry about. Like they bully in their grade. But suddenly they know his deepest secret, and it's a choice of weather they beleive in it enough, to do whats wrong, to do whats right.
Read for mother-daughter book club. Intense, but age-appropriate (late elementary) in my opinion. Major topic is pros/cons of military service (young girls help an army deserter during WWII). Secondary story is about socioeconomic class differences and domestic violence.
I had to read this in fourth grade. It was me and a bunch of girls and all we did when we read it was giggle and cry, we all bonded. It was so sad once the book was over because our little group was over. I remember it very fondly and would definitely recommend it.
Another favorite from my childhood, maybe 4th grade, that I read over and over again. I loved the story and the friendship of the two main characters and their lives in the war and how different and sad it was compared to what I was living in my time.
I remember reading this somewhere around 6th grade and really liking it. Recently I saw the name somewhere and remembered it. I'd like to read it again, but my library doesn't have a copy, so I'll have to find it somewhere else. :)
This book relates to the war, and how people are trying to escape it. Along the way, people make some chocies that they may or may not regret later. I did like this book because of all the action and the story behind it.
Two friends deal with having brothers fighting in WWII.. as well as finding a deserter in their neighborhood. I thought this book was decent- it was worth reading, but I'm not rushing to recommend it to everyone.
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This book was required reading for Jared's sixth grade literature class, so I thought I'd read it first. It is a story about two girls in a small town during World War II--interesting and well-told story.
This was a book Sydney read and then she had me read it. It was such a great book for a mom/daughter book club. It was our first book club book together!
Great story of courage! Love reading war type books.
Great story of courage! Love reading war type books.
This was the book that made me fall in love with reading. I don't really remember specifically what made me love it so much, 'cause it was back in I think the 5th grade that I read it.
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Younger siblings and neighbor hood kids dealing with their brothers out fighting the nazis. Not gory. A good choice for a kid who just wants to know what it was like at home for the families.
I read this book as a 10 year old. I don't remember the whole plot but it really impacted me back then. I still think about this book everytime I read something on World War II.
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