Customer Reviews

Dear America

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After her father goes to fight on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific in the fall of 1941, thirteen-year-old Madeline Beck and her mother move to a boardinghouse in Long Island. At first Madeline is lonely because the popular kids snub her. But Johnny, a boy in her class, befriends her - and eventually becomes more than just a friend. The two of them start a club for kids who want to help the war effort, but Madeline quits when she learns her father was wounded in battle - she's just to depressed to do much of anything. In her despair, she breaks the rules and wanders onto the beach one dark night, where she discovers some mysterious going-ons, and she is determined to investigate. The story is told through Madeline's diary entries from September 1941 to July 1942. Although this is not the best book from the Dear America series, it is excellant, and I highly reccomend it to fans.

My Secret War is about a girl named Madeline but known as Maddie from friends. Madeline is a young girl who befriends a Clara, a Jewish and German immigrant, Theo, Clara's lover, and Johnny, her boyfriend or just pals. Maddie's father went to World War 2 to battle against the Germans (Nazis), and the Japanese. Maddie joins this club with Johnny and investigates shocking things about the Japanese and the Nazis and tries to help America win World War 2. But when her father had been wounded Maddie's life turned up-side-down so she quit the club and being lonely in her dark,lonesome room, thinking. And she later just moves on with her life. I highly recommend you to read this book. Mrs. Osborne has done a wonderful job on this book.

It's horrible, it's humongous, i'ts World War 2! This story of Madeline Beck shows what it's like to have your father in the war. Constant anxiety. Constant pain. This girl lives in a boarding house on the sea, and by living here, she realizes what a family is. She meets Clara, A 19 year-old who was a Jewish refugee and her mother, Mrs. Rosenthal. There is Theo, who has a limp leg and seems to take a liking in Clara.There is also Mrs. Burke and Mrs. Hawkins.This story is about pain, life, and a little about romance. The theme of t his book is to never stop trying, even if you have something horrible going on in your life.

This book really showed me what life was like during world war 2. It is a very inspiring book and it shows that even kids could help out a lot in our country. It also teaches you a bunch about the war, I think this book would be great for any report a child would do in school. This book I think is one of the best! It is good for children 9+.

Madeline Beck is a 13 year old 8th grader, who lives in Long Island, New York. Her father is an air pilot in the navy, and she is somewhat of an outcast, who is snubbed by her classmates for no reason (although she thinks it's because of her clothes, hair and the gap between her teeth). Madeline is friends with Johnny, a boy who is fascinated by both Madeline and her fathers line of work. Madeline and Johnny become good friends (a little more than friends too) and soon organize a club for kids who want to help out during the war.

Madeline soon finds that there are people with strange accents following her (one who almost runs her over), ever since she walked along the beach one night and was found by the Coast Guard. Johnny and Mad (Madeline) soon tip off the FBI, and help to catch Nazi's. Not only that Mad's dad comes back from the war after being injured, and Mad and her mother have to move to San Francisco to be with him.

This was an excellent book, and I think that every kid should read it.

Forget about the "old-school" history books. Welcome to the new breed of educational books suited for kids 11-yo and up. In "My Secret War, The World War 2 Diary of Madeline Beck" the author -Mary Osborne- does a splendid job of portraying a young girl who is struggling with everyday issues while her father is off fighting at sea. With her father as her inspiration "Maddie" tries to head up her own homefront war by supporting America's men off fighting the war by doing a number of activities. For a while, Maddie is doing good supporting the war, but soon she finds out that not all battles are fought on foriegn turf. Buy this book to learn more about a crucial time in history through the eyes of an girl.

Though I would recommend you buying this book, it does come with faculties. Maddie Beck's stint with romance was unneeded and at times Maddie's actions proved a little too immature for a 13 year old. Also, it lacks the same appeal to boys as it does for girls.

MY SECRET WAR is a must-read for kids around ages ten to thirteen. The main character, Madeline, expresses her life through her diary. Madeline vividly tells us (her diary) about Johnny (her crush), the popular Star Points, her idea to help US in World War II with a club, and about her letters to and fro her dad, who works in the Air Force to help the US. Madeline is inspired by her dad to start a club that collects things that the US needs for ships and war planes. Madeline is also inspired by a Jewish refugee,from Poland,living in the same house, named Clara. She didn't want anything to happen to her or her dad so she tries to do everything she can. Firstly, I like this book because, in the ending, the story doesn't leave you hanging as to what happens afterwards, like most diaries. I also like MY SECRET WAR because it combines a little of everything into a vividly written diary of a thirteen-year-old girl. All of the above is why I rated this book five stars! *****!!!

"My Secret War" was another good "Dear America" novel, though not the best in the series.

13 year-old Madeline Beck lives with her mother in New York during WWII, while her father is away fighting. She is lonely in her new home with out any friends, but then she has a great idea: she'll start a club for kids to help with the war! Through her soon popular club she makes friends and a boyfriend, and she's very happy - but then she hears that her father was wounded. Suddenly the war isn't exciting to her anymore, and in her sadness she begins to walk along the beach every night. Then she sees something important...

This was a good book, though not great, for several reasons. For one thing, Maddie acted younger than her age; I would have thought she was 11 or 12. Also, not many good descriptions were included, and her so-called romance was rather dumb and unnecessary. However, this book was worth reading, as it was quite exciting at times!

I'd recommend this book for ages 10 and up, and I'd also recommend "Behind the Bedroom Wall", another WWII book, as well as the other "Dear America" novels.

I had to read this book, called My Secret War, for a US History book report. At first I chose this book because I noticed that is was on World War II. I have always been pretty interested in World War II because I know people that served in the army forces during it. As I began reading this book, it wasn't my very favorite. Once i got into it though, I thought that it was interesting and my opinion filp flopped. It is about a young teenage girl, and her life when her dad is sent to fight in the war as a Navy Commander, and how she and her mother deal with the compications of their lives. This book was written as a diary , and I found it easy to realate to because of the same age factor. I liked, and would recommend this book to any student around the ages twelve to about fourteen, because it is easy to understand due to the perspective that it is written in.

Maddy Beck, a young girl living during World War 2, is faced with her own personal problems in the face of the war. Her father is overseas, fighting for America. She and her mother therefore are forsed to move to into a "Seaside Manor", or boarding house, with a collection of unusual and quircky people. She sees herself as a silly, poor, gap-toothed girl, no friends and no talent. Until she meets Johnny, and is completely smitten, though she doesn't wish to admit it. The two create a bond, talking about the war almost all the time. But when they find unusual artifacts on the beach, they call the police, thinking they may be some how Nazi related. Maddie is repeatedly threatened, as she is almost run over by a dark car, and approached by a man walking down the street. Maddie is soon swept up in Pearl Harbor, just as swep up as she is with Johnny.

A very good book, written in easy language to me understood well, without taking away from the plot.