War and Millie McGonigle

By Karen Cushman

Can Millie find balance amidst war, family chaos, and unspoken crushes?

3.6/5 Goodreads · 801 ratings

224 pages· 49,552 words· Est. 7 hour read

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

In WWII-era California, Millie McGonigle navigates a world of rationed food, family tensions, and unspoken crushes. With a sickly sister demanding attention and a charming surfer boy she can't approach, Millie struggles to maintain control. As a new neighbor arrives with unexpected lessons, Millie must find her footing in a world teetering on the brink of war. Can she keep her family together and her spirit intact as everything around her shifts? Discover a tale of resilience, growth, and the search for stability in uncertain times.

From the publisher

The Newbery Award-winning author of Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife’s Apprentice tells a heartfelt and humorous story of WWII on the homefront. Millie McGonigle lives in sunny California, where her days are filled with beach and surf. It should be perfect–but times are tough. Hitler is attacking Europe and it looks like the United States may be going to war. Food is rationed and money is tight. And Millie’s sickly little sister gets all the attention and couldn’t be more of a pain if she tried. It’s all Millie can do to stay calm and feel in control. Still–there’s sand beneath her feet. A new neighbor from the city, who has a lot to teach Millie. And surfer boy Rocky to admire–even if she doesn’t have the guts to talk to him. It’s a time of sunshine, siblings, and stress. Will Millie be able to find her way in her family, and keep her balance as the the world around her loses its own?

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