It is 1940, and thirteen year-old Tommy Duncan is growing up in the Bronx where he divides his time between school, friends, and family. He loves listening to Brooklyn Dodgers games on the radio and playing stickball after school. And, he worries about his mother’s declining health. What could be causing her growing weakness, blurry vision, and shaking hands? Why does she have trouble holding on to things? He doesn’t share his friend Beth’s fascination for the front page news about the war in Europe. He’d rather peruse the sports page. After all, the war is happening far away, and America is not involved. Beth goes to Goldman’s Diner before and after school to take advantage of the free newspapers. Tommy meets her there every morning, and they walk to school with Sarah, a Jewish girl who escaped Austria with her parents and two young cousins. Sarah worries about her aunt and uncle still in Nazi-occupied Austria. As both girls talk about the Nazi menace in Europe, Tommy begins to pay attention. He learns that the Nazis have trapped the British troops between the town of Dunkirk, France, and the English Channel. If help doesn’t come soon, the entire British army will be annihilated, and Germany will have a clear path to England. Together, they listen to Winston Churchill’s impassioned plea for America’s help and rejoice when privately owned boats from the coastal towns of England evacuate most of the soldiers from Dunkirk.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com ( )

13-year-old Tommy doesn't really take an interest in the possibility of America entering the war in Europe. He wants to listen to the Brooklyn Dodgers games on the radio, and spend time with his friend Beth. He is also worried about his mother's declining health.