Blue

Blue by Joyce Hostetter

Blue is a WWII story that doesn't spend much time focusing on the war, but life on the home front. Ann Fay's father heads overseas to fight Hitler, leaving her in charge to wear the britches and be the man of the house. At first, things are going well; Ann Fay does a respectable job of balancing work and play. She keeps an eye on her younger brother and twin sisters, while planting a garden and helping her mother in the house.

Upon arriving at church one Sunday morning, the family is turned around with the news that polio has spread across Catawba County. The story really begins here; polio sweeps through Hickory, and Hickory fights back. An emergency hopsital, otherwise known as the Miracle of Hickory, is set up in a matter of days to help those suffering from polio. Ann Fay hears from newspapers and townspeople about the effects of polio, but suddenly it's in her own house. Follow Ann Fay as both she and her family live with the grief brought by polio while her father battles Axis powers in Europe.

This piece of historical fiction is very enjoyable, but could also be used in the classroom. WWII America, North Carolina history, segregation, and the polio outbreak align with Social Studies curriculum. Blue is classroom-friendly when it comes to language and content. A thirteen-year-old protagonist keeps the readers engaged.

Target age range: upper elementary/middle school