false 1303921 093531282X 9780935312829 59 11 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1182624694m/1303921.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1303921._Not_So_Quiet_Stepdaughters_of_War 206466 Helen Zenna Smith 59 11 4 1 false Mon Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 25 09:58:55 -0700 2008 Tue Oct 28 10:20:15 -0700 2008 1
This book was written in the 1930's by Helen Zenna Smith as she recounted the time she served as a VAD for the Army. Working 15 hour days in the snow (ambulances only had covers on the wagon part, not the driver section), eating spoiled food, sleeping an average of 3 hours a night and being terrified was a part of daily life for these women. These englishwomen who actually PAID to serve on the "front lines" of war. It was considered shameful to be a kitchen helper as you weren't really "doing your part" to help fight the war.

AFter I got used to the lingo and the type of writing I really enjoyed this book. It was heartbreaking. completely heartbreaking, and I can't wait to read it again.

Like I said in my review of the Birth House by Ami McKay, I enjoy books about women in this time period. I am seriously obsessed with women's history. And I am seriously lacking in that history, as are most people because we don't learn about women's history in AMerican high schools. which is super unfortunate because there is a wealth of it, and so much of what we have today was made possible by women. ]]>