Don't Throw the Bread: A Young Girl's Journey During World War II [Paperback]

Gerry Niskern (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 2001

In this warm, down to earth story covering 11 days during 1945 during WWII, we meet a young girl and share her awakening to the ways of a wartime world. Gerry and her family travel by bus across the U.S., losing their seats time and again to servicemen who have priority. Her mother passes the time sharing stories both nostalgic and comical about the Austrian grandparent's emigration to America. She describes how the family becomes a mini United Nations as Russians, Pollacks, Italians, and other Americans marry into the clan. Tired young soldiers and sailors listen and nod in recognition, as you, the reader, will also. Gerry's memories and her mothers entwine to form a compelling family narrative in this memoir within a memoir.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gerry Niskern's creative non-fiction stories are found in magazines and anthologies. Her opinion column appears in the Arizona Republic newpaper. Gerry lives with her husband in the north Phoenix foothills of Arizona.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse; illustrated edition edition (April 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595170943
• ISBN-13: 978-0595170944
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,208,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review for Dont Throw the Bread, May 29, 2001

By 

Matthew Cooper (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't Throw the Bread: A Young Girl's Journey During World War II (Paperback)

I found this warm, down to earth story about an eleven-day period during WWII easy reading. Gerry Niskern managed to create living history with a series of delightful family stories told by her mother during layovers on a bus trip her family took during wartime. Her description of the soldiers and sailors listening as well, while trying to get home on leave was touching. This fast paced and absorbing portrayal of her family was profoundly honest. Niskern paints compelling portraits of family members and weaves in her emigrant grandparent's experiences in America. If you remember WWII you will be nodding in recognition and younger readers like me will enjoy an easy dose of history. I found this memoir within a memoir deeply moving. You will not want to put it down and when you've finished, you'll wish it was longer.

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Throw the Bread, May 26, 2001

By 

Beverly Alexander (Fairfax County, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't Throw the Bread: A Young Girl's Journey During World War II (Paperback)

I ordinarily don't buy books anymore but wanted Gerry Niskern's book as I grew up in Phoenix, AZ and went to high school with her, but we didn't know each other. "Don't Throw the Bread" brings back memories of growing up during WWII. The way she writes I could imagine myself right there with her and her family. She made me remember seeing troops trains going through Union Station in Phoenix and my mother telling me not to say anything to anyone about them. Would I buy another book written by Gerry Niskern, Yes.