Why? (26 Fairmount Avenue Series) Book

The latest addition to the Newbery Honor award-winning 26 Fairmount Avenue series. World War II is raging in Europe, and Tomie finds that life has changed in many ways. Now he ...

Children's Literature

Tomie DePaola is young and scared in this title, part of the "26 Fairmount Avenue Book" biographical series. The book begins in January, 1942. The United States has just entered World War II and Tomie's world, while not exactly crumbling, is definitely fraying. The second-grader is told that sugar will be rationed soon, his birthday cake is safe, but bubble gum is no longer available. Heating oil is in short supply so they all wear extra clothes, even overcoats, in school. His favorite adult cousin Blackie, who must be early twenties or late teens, visits to attend a going away party as he ships out for the war. Tomie uses his new diary to good effect: "Dear Diary, Well I am the last one in my class not to lose a tooth. ... Buddy [his brother] said that proves I'm just a baby!" Tomie enlists the help of another cousin to get his tooth out. And so for a moment all is happy. Tomie is growing up as he is supposed to. Then the war breaks in. Blackie is dead, and Tomie is asking why. But like the people who lived through the war, readers will not get a satisfying answer. This is not a book about the whys and wherefores of World War II but it does provide a sense of how WWII impacted this large Irish/Italian family. DePaola's illustrations keep the reader smiling and provide greater depth to the writing.