I enjoyed the contrasting memoirs in While...: Born During WWII. I found many similarities between Peg Hanna's upbringing in Pennsylvania to my mother's upbringing in New Jersey. My mother was born in 1938 and I've always enjoyed her memories of what growing up during WWII was like. Her first American Girl doll gift to my daughter was Molly, the girl growing up in the war years; she found so much in Molly's story that she remembered and wanted to share with her granddaughter.

I also connected to Hilde. My maternal grandmother was the daughter of German immigrants to Canada and I found a number of similarities between my grandmother and Hilde in their outlook and attitudes toward life that might be very much about being German. Hilde's disgust with things that were dirty and unclean certainly rang a bell -- my grandmother kept a very clean, neat house and expected everyone else to do the same!

The contrast between the two women's histories was striking. Hilde's traumatic upbringing, her abusive relationships, were a stark contrast to Peg's warm, supportive environment. Every time Hilde had another obstacle thrown in her way, I felt so sad for her; struggle after struggle seemed to leave her exactly where she started, occasionally even further behind. I admired her perseverance and commitment to doing the best job she knew how for her children.

I know Peg (Mrs. Hanna, in my mind!) personally: her adult son Lee is my neighbor. I have admired her wit and humor at the birthday celebrations where I have met her -- and I laughed out loud when she described herself at a formal wives tea party when she dropped the lid of the pot and swore. That didn't fit my experience of her at all!

What a treasure Mrs. Hanna and Mrs. Barron have given us: a first person record of a dramatic time in American and German history.