Since You Went Away (Children of the Promise, Vol. 2.)

Since You Went Away (Children of the Promise #2)

4.27 of 5 stars 4.27  ·  rating details  ·  5,817 ratings  ·  207 reviews

Wally Thomas didn't know how many days and nights he had been marching up the coast of the Bataan Peninsula. He was almost too numb to think, too full of pain. He tried to keep a steady pace, but the guards pressured the prisoners to keep moving, forced them close together, and in their exhaustion the men stumbled and knocked each other off stride. When that happened, the

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Hardcover, 507 pages
Published October 13th 1997 by Deseret Book Company (first published October 1st 1997)
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Stan Crowe
Jul 15, 2012 Stan Crowe marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
I think one of the best things about Dean Hughes' authorial style is that it's clean and transparent. The story pulls you in, but you're not constantly being reminded that you're *in* a story--that, to me, is a mark of a skilled author.

I had to laugh, a little, when I realised that after reading (well, listening to) several of the "Hearts of the Children" series that I had become engrossed in what essentially amounts to and LDS literary soap opera. But Hughes has definitely done his homework, ma...more
Laura Gubler
American history is my absolute favorite school subject! This is the reason Historical Fiction is my favorite book genre. WWII, however, has always been the part of our history that I only learned what was needed to "pass the tests" this being because of all the things that happened to the Jews. It was always a very hard thing for me to think about. I have owned the Children of the Promise book series for over 5 years now and finally brought myself to read them THANKS to my father in law. This b...more
Kylene
This book was great...I liked it better than the first. Maybe it's because I already knew all the characters so there wasn't much need for character development. Maybe it's because the author just jumped in and got on with the cliff-hanging storyline. Maybe it was because it took place during the bulk of WWII. Probably all of the above. I found the characters' stories to be so fascinating...Wally's in particular as he was a POW of Japan in the Phillipines. The whole time I was reading I kept thi...more
Beth
This is the second in the Children of the Promise series that I'm re-reading. I like the characters and the storyline, though the first in the series was more touching for me. I remember having a hard time slogging through all the details of training and battle (one of the characters, Alex, is a paratrooper who invades France on D-Day), and this time around I appreciated the story more, but it still wasn't terribly gripping.

On the flip side, I really connected with a couple of the other storyli...more
Tiffany
This is my summary of the entire series. I love this series of books. It is a great history of the World War II and how it affected a regular family trying to deal with the changes the war brought. It is LDS historical fiction, so it's about an LDS family living in Salt Lake City during the war. It follows the story of the six children in the family. The four oldest go off to fight the war; Alex in the army, Wally in the Army Air Corps, Bobbi as a nurse in the navy, and Gene in the Marines. It i...more
Chandler
I absolutely love these books! I can't put them down. The author does a wonderful job with historical fiction (which is my favorite) He does a great job of recreating the WWII era. I have learned so much about that time period and it is explored on all sides. I think mostly people think about Hitler and not the Japanese envolvement and this book does an awesome job of helping you to understand both sides. I also love how you get the whole perspective...Soldier, nurse, POW, the family at home, Ge...more
Ruth
By the time I began this book (second in a series of five), I was already very familiar with the main characters, the Thomas family of Sugar House, Utah. By this time, four of the children are serving in the military during world war 2. Wally is still in a prison camp in the Philippines, and his brother Alex still struggles with his role as paratrooper over Germany since he served a mission in Germany earlier and feels a strong inner conflict. Bobbi is a nurse in Honolulu and Gene is on his way...more
Linda Brough
This is a religious historical fiction. I read the first book in this series a long time ago. I actually enjoyed most of this book. Some parts were a little cheesey but the historical parts that were brought to life, I learned from. The pain of war that affects both sides was addressed in a sensitive manner. War and death are especially hard topics to write about since everyone views them from their own unique situations. I felt safe reading this book, knowing that nothing offensive would sudden...more
Tiffany
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Janet
This is book two in the Children of the Promise series, continuing the story of the Thomas family, an LDS family from Salt Lake City. This is a very likeable and interesting book, hard to put down, and a good look at what it was like to live through WWII. You can't help but get caught up in their lives as you read this book and realize there were many real families in the war who had stories similar to these.
My parents got married during WWII and this gives me a little more insight into what it...more
Tanya
This book broke my heart! It is written in a very positive light, but the realities of war are brought out. I love "happily-ever-after" books; this teases the reader with a happy ending, but constantly brings in reality. Just when I thought the characters had faced the worst, something else happened. Hughes keeps hope running throughout this novel, but sometimes the hope is at a distance. I love that this novel shows the true ups and downs of life without slipping into a depressing mode.
Tiffany
I have a problem with historical fiction novels---I can't put them down! This one kept me up until the late hours of the night! I'm loving the series though and have already started the next one to find out what happens. I especially like these because they talk about the struggles and war with the Japanese. When I think of World War II, I think more of Hitler and the things that went on in Europe so I appreciate that he made sure to include the other aspect of the war.
Kathy
I wish everyone under 60 would read this book and realize what their grandparent's generation lived through - whether fighting in the trenches or supporting the war effort from the home front. Can we even imagine the cost paid by every family who lost a loved one (or two or three) so far from home.

The world is fighting another war in this generation. But we aren't rationed food, or tires, or material for clothing. The loss of life, though horrific for their families, is not nearly as devastating...more
Shelley
This series is great. I wanted to learn more about WWII and this was an enjoyable way to learn. The author did a great job of giving us all perspectives - American, German, Japanese, Civilian, and Soldier. What a great sacrifice made by all and what a great tragedy that war is. There was so much heartache caused. I miss the Thomas family. I loved the struggle between the parents as the war changed the roles of men and women everywhere.
Amy Egbert
It's getting a little too "happily ever after" for me, but at the same time it's totally heartbreaking. How is that possible?

I'm still in love with the families; still fascinated/horrified by the aspects of WWII that I knew nothing about (hello Bataan Death March!); and still dying to find out what happens next. How long can this war last?!?!?!?!

Well done Brother Hughes. Well done.
Leslie Lamb
I found myself struggling to finish the book finding it to be a little long. What I did like was what happened to Kellerman, and that Alex and Anna finally got to reunite. I really admire Wally for being so strong in the prison camp, being a leader, an example, and friend to many. Some of the descriptions of the cruelties from the Japanese guards are very graphic and hard to take. The book makes me grateful for those who fought for freedom and peace so we can now enjoy it.
Stephanie Salmon
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Angela
I thought this book was a little more predictable than the first (not sure why), but I still really enjoyed it. I LOVE historical fiction and I do feel like the author really did his homework for this series. I think the most interesting part of this book for me was learning more about the POW's in the Philippines. I'm excited to read the 3rd one.
Mandy
Jun 12, 2009 Mandy rated it 4 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition
Recommended to Mandy by: Mom
Still super good. This author is pretty consistent so far. Haven't become sick of all of the back and forth between everyone's story-line. Keeps life interesting. Balled my eyes out toward the end, too. My husband came home from work and thought that something tragic had happened like a death in the family or the cancellation of Good Eats on the Food Network.
Photina
I love the history in the books. I am drawn in by the characters' stories and when I finished the last chapter I was surprised to be at the end of the book already. The depth and attachment you get to the characters in the story is refreshing. I find myself crying along with them in the book.
Michael-ann
I found myself very caught up in this series. I frequently looked up historical facts so I could more fully understand how events discussed tied in to WWII overall. I felt the book sometimes moved too slowly but still felt very invested in the characters...enough so to read the whole series.
Bonnie
What do I love about this book? Dean Hughes does such a great job of making the characters real and the story believable...there's just nothing that seems contrived or unrealistic. Every one of his characters are well developed and act and feel like you would expect that anyone you know would act and feel. Also, Hughes has really done his research in order to successfully portray WWII for many different people in many different places and circumstances. No sugar coating, no grandstanding, no sen...more
Elise
I really love reading these books--So entertaining. The Thomas's remind me a lot of my family growing up. President Thomas reminds me of my Dad in a lot of ways.
I know I like a book when I'm thinking about it long after I've put it down. My only complaint is that sometimes I felt like the situations were "pushing it" and didn't feel real, like that it couldn't happen ( not believable). I don't know. I didn't live through WW II or that era. I think the characters have an awful lot of luck on th...more
CarolAnn
It was a very good read. I wasn't so interested in the personal love lives of the Thomas adult children but the storyline of the prison life of Wally, the paratrooper training of Alex and the plot of the Stolz's in Germany made the story come to life for me. I must really like meaty conflict.
Andrea
I loved this series - couldn't put it down! I love the way the chapters weave through the different family members' lives. It's like reading several novels in one. Despite the length of these books, I was captivated from the start and just kept reading.
I really love the author's writing style.
Emily Norton
For your LDS historical fiction reading, the Children of the Promise books are perfect. It taught me about a new perspective and what the life and trials may have been like for families and individuals during WWII (even behind enemy lines).
Nicole
Just finished the first two in this series. I loved them so far and now I have to get the rest. I really liked that the author put actual facts in with this fictional family. I learned a lot about what life must have been like during WWII.
Cyndyh1
Once again I loved this book. the history is great but how history affects our lives is even better. Sometimes our lives go along and then hit a big wall (or event) and things change forever. I finished this one of Saturday. On to book 3
Carol
I am really drawn in to the war story of these novels. Thought provoking and intense. What would I do in those circumstances? A lot of questions are raised and answered in different ways for different people. I can't wait for the next in the series.
Jennifer
I have not read this book for about 10 year and deiced to listen to the Audio. I have a son heading over to the Philippines and wanted to remember the Bataan Death March. It was even better the second time.
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Since You Went Away (Children of the Promise, #2)
Since You Went Away (Children of the Promise, #2)
Since You Went Away (Children of the Promise, Volume 2)
Since You Went Away (Audio)
6421982
Dean Hughes is the author of more than eighty books for young readers, including the popular sports series Angel Park All-Stars, the Scrappers series, the Nutty series, the widely acclaimed companion novels Family Pose and Team Picture, and Search and Destroy. Soldier Boys was selected for the 2001 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list. Dean Hughes and his wife, Kathleen, have three...more
More about Dean Hughes...
Rumors of War (Children of the Promise, #1) When We Meet Again (Children of the Promise, #4) As Long As I Have You (Children of the Promise, #5) Far From Home (Children of the Promise, #3) The Writing on the Wall (Hearts of the Children, #1)

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