Stepping on the Cracks

Masterful writing, great story.

MDH steps away from the ghost story genre to tell the tale of children growing up in the shadow of WW II.As always it’s the well written characters that make MDH’s books shine. Though if there is a flaw it’s that she tends to write shorter stories, and it feels the story suffers a bit. A longer and more in-depth tale would have made the story even better. But she makes the time period of the mid 1940’s come to life. (Though there are more books with these characters).

College Hill, hometown U.S.A., is the home of 6th graders Margaret and Elizabeth during WWII. Both girls'brothers are overseas, as are many of the town's sons and young husbands. Margaret is the main character. All of the families are worried about their loved ones and live letter to letter about the far away soldiers. Margaret & Elizabeth love to jump on the cracks in the sidewalk and yell " step on the cracks and break Hitler's back " hoping that will help bring their brothers home safely. We also see other hometown characters: Gordy, the bully, along with his two toadies. And then there is Barbara, a young soldier's widow and their baby. All of this might seem very mundane until you throw in and abusive father, someone who will not be coming home, and a soldier gone AWOL. All of these characters become closely inter-twined and . . . well, you'll see.

Read this book 25 years ago as a pre teen. Just as good as I remembered it to be. Highly recommend this for anyone to read.

We read this book with our class - a mix of immigrant youth in Harlem. I so regret not diving in deeper before we read it together. "Stepping on the Cracks" is on tons of curriculum lists but it's not appropriate unless there are notes and guidance on how to work through the material. Not trying to censor; just a warning.

If you need a good cry, read the beautiful book. About Hitler, this book made me realize, that people are fighting for us. People are getting killed so we can enjoy our familys, eat home cooked meals, go to nice resturaunts, and enjoy holidays with relatives. But they don't get that. They don't get to be with their families. They barley even get to eat. So next holiday pray for Aerica.

This book about a young American girl and her family during WWII is well worth reading. " Stepping on the Cracks" gives insight into the time and place in United States history that many of us have not known. My personal example is the term"Gold Star Mother" - I'd never heard the term and now I know. I have much deeper respect for the people "at home" as well as those who sacrificed so much for our freedom. This is a children's book , but can be enjoyed by adults. I highly recommend "Stepping on the Cracks" by Mary Downing Hahn.

Written from the point of view of a girl who grew up in the time frame as I did and about what was going on in the US during WWII helped me to identify with the characters. The plot was well stated and the fact that times were different then was nostalgic. Written originally for younger adults I found it quite enjoyable.Bulling and abuse has always been around these actions were presented in a thought-provoking manner.