World War II Home Front Book

Provides an overview of what life was like in the United States during World War II.

Greg M. Romaneck - Children's Literature

World War II remains the most devastating and widespread conflict in history. However, while most attention has been directed toward chronicling the efforts of soldiers, sailors, marines, and other troops across the various fronts of that destructive war, it is important to realize that the vast majority of people in the United States remained at home during the entire conflict. The homefront in America during World War II was a world sharply altered by the coming of war. Women who had been destined to remain home and raise their families found themselves working in factories. Rationing changed the eating and living habits of the broad public. The fear of loss daunted the days and nights of family members whose loved ones were overseas. All in all, life on the homefront during the war years permanently changed the way people lived, thought, and behaved. In this book in the "Witness to History" series Barr concisely addresses the sweeping subject of life on the homefront during the second World War. Barr addresses this huge topic by thematically presenting small bits and pieces of information and then pairing his work with a primary source document. Many of these primary source selections are letters written by Americans of that period. This combined approach to history works and, as a result, World War II on the Homefront becomes a moving and informative little book. 2004, Heinemann Library, Ages 10 to 14.