Don't You Know There's A War On? By Avi

A 10-year-old boy trying to understand today's worldwide conflicts might find Avi's tale of the WW2 US homefront quaint. Or not. Here, a book report I dug out of one of my favorite fourth-grader's folders.
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I read Don’t You Know There’s a War On? by Avi.

It’s about a boy who is in 5^th grade in Brooklyn New York. World War II is going on.

Howie Krispers is the main character. He went to PS 8. (PS means Public School.) Howie’s best friend is Denny.  

Denny and Howie’s teacher, Miss Gossim is going to be fired because she is expecting a baby. They really like Miss Gossim, and they give a petition to the principal that says Miss Gossim should not be fired because she is expecting.

Miss Gossim gets to stay until the end of the school year.

Denny and Howie’s fathers are both fighting in the war. Both boys miss their dads. When Denny and Howie go to the movies at Victory Theater on Saturdays, they saw news about the war and everybody cheered when they saw Germans and Japanese soldiers surrendering.

Howie’s father came home, but the same day Denny got a notice that his dad was MIA, Missing in Action.

After the war was over, Howie moved to Long Island and he never saw Denny again. Miss Gossim was always his favorite teacher.

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I argued that the part about the principal may or may not be a spy was important, but said 10-yo didn't think so it was such a big deal. Which, frankly, bummed me out, since I've written a book about spies in the US during WW2. Oh well. Guess it's about time to hit that summer reading list...