Stepping on the Cracks [Hardcover]

Mary Downing Hahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 1991

In 1944, when her brother is overseas fighting in World War II, eleven-year-old Margaret changes her mind about the school bully, Gordy, after she discovers he is hiding his own brother, a deserter.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Most WW II homefront novels are unambiguous in their approach to patriots and traitors, allies and enemies. Hahn's subtle, thought-provoking work, however, proposes the legitimacy of a variety of ethical responses to critical situations. Margaret's brother Jimmy is overseas fighting, and Margaret and her parents avidly follow news of Allied advances. She and best friend Elizabeth, united in their dislike of Gordy the bully, slowly uncover several ominous secrets: Gordy is helping his older brother Stuart, an Army deserter, hide in a weatherworn shack in the woods; and Gordy's father batters his mother, his siblings and Gordy himself. At first Margaret and Elizabeth see their discovery of Stuart's shack as a way to "blackmail" Gordy into treating them decently, but when Stuart falls dangerously ill, the girls feel obliged to help care for him. Soon they begin to reexamine the standard propaganda about the war. While some of her characters seem anachronistic and certain developments are unlikely, Hahn succeeds in raising questions as valuable as they are vexing. Ages 9-12.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-- The complex arguments for and against pacifism are woven into this involving story of a girl's experiences on the home front during World War II. Margaret, 11, and her boisterous friend Elizabeth hate the school bully, Gordy. They discover that a man living in the woods whom they had thought of as crazy is actually Gordy's gentle brother, who has deserted a war he feels he cannot morally fight. When Stuart nearly dies of pneumonia, the girls join forces with Gordy to get help and they gain insight into Gordy's difficult life with his alcoholic, abusive father. Well-drawn characters and a satisfying plot keep this from deteriorating into a message novel. The issues raised are presented from diverse points of view, and no easy answers are given. Margaret struggles with her feelings about her brother fighting (and ultimately dying) in a war that Stuart has deserted. She realizes, however, that Stuart's conscientious objection is not the black-and-white, coward vs. patriot matter her parents believe it to be. Although clearly set in the '40s with characters that are true to their time, their problems and feelings are not dated and should interest today's readers. There is plenty of action and page-turning suspense to please those who want a quick read, but there is much to ponder and reflect on as well. --Louise L. Sherman, Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; First Edition edition (October 28, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395585074
• ISBN-13: 978-0395585078
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #799,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children's librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories, including Deep and Dark and Dangerous and The Old Willis Place. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her two cats, Oscar and Rufus.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stepping On The Cracks, June 3, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Stepping on the Cracks (Paperback)

Stepping On The Cracks is a great book filled with excitement and patriotism. In this book young and courageous kids bump into many surprises along the way. This book takes place during the time of World War II in the tiny town of College Hill. The book focuses on Margaret, Elizabeth, and Gordy. Margaret and Elizabeth are best friends that can't stand Gordy who is, of course, the school bully. The two girls and their families are going through a rough stage that includes a lot of stress and anxiety because both Elizabeth and Margaret have brothers that are fighting in the war. On top of everything going on with their families they have their own personal issues with Gordy; he keeps picking on everyone in the 6th grade, especially Margaret and Elizabeth. Elizabeth, who can sometimes have a bad temper, wants sweet revenge, and she gets even more than what she ever thought she could get. Margaret, who follows along and usually does what Eizabeth wants, gets persuaded and joins in on the whole revenge idea.

Just when Elizabeth and Margaret started to enjoy blackmail they realize that they want to help Gordy. Without much enthusiasm Gordy allows them to help and for the girls, the idea of revenge fades away more and more. Gordy's family wasn't an average one and Margaret and Elizabeth see a different side of him and they learn more about what his family is like "behind the scenes." Both of the girls try to help out and they want to tell someone about Gordy's little secret but they promised not to tell a living soul. Finally, not even Gordy can stand trying to solve his problem so the 3 kids go to a loyal friend, Barbara, who helps out more than what was required.

I think that readers from ages 9- 13 will enjoy reading this book. Stepping On The Cracks teaches many valuable lessons. I definitely recommend this book to people interested in books about friendship and how friendships evolve. The main theme in this book is the importance of trust. Throughout the book, that's a quality that the characters demonstrate.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bk Rewiew( eng homework ;P, February 25, 2002

By 

k3 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stepping on the Cracks (Paperback)

This book is about two best friends, Margaret and Elizabeth, experiencing a thrilling adventure as they discover the secrets of their worst enemy.
Back in College Hill, Maryland during World War 2, the girls were filled with patriotism like everyone else in America. Their bigger brothers, Jimmy and Joe were in war then. However, they were having their own private war against the worst sixth grade bully, Gordy.
When Gordy Smith tore down their tree house, they decided to get even with him. They followed him to his hideout in the woods, across the train tracks. That was when they found out that Stuart, Gordy's elder brother was hiding there, instead of fighting for America like their brothers. The girls were wrathful at first, but when the deserter had pneumonia, Margaret and Elizabeth sympathized. They helped by bring food and medicine that Gordy could not afford to do so.
As winter deepens, Stuart's condition worsens. The children decided to get help from Barbara, a war widow, who was also a classmate of Stuart.
Just as Stuart was getting better, resting in Barbara's house, his father punched Gordy and his family members. Thus, he decided to protect his family from his abusive, alcoholic father. He was beaten up badly in the process and was sent to hospital. His identity and him being a deserter was found out eventually.
Just before the incident, the news of Margaret's brother being killed in action broke out. Grief filled the girl's heart. Although her brother has won many medals for his bravery, nothing was able to substitute his presence.
Margaret's mother found out about her helping a deserter, while her son got killed in the war. She was ashamed of her own daughter. However, the girl was determined not to regret her own decision, no matter what her mother had to say.
The book is full of agitation and excitement. There are twists and turns along the story. It shows us how lucky the children of today are, compared to Margaret, Elizabeth and Gordy.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ravages of War, December 14, 2005

By 

C. Davidson "maturereader" (Kirkland, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stepping on the Cracks (Paperback)

This is a good book for adults and children to read. It reveals how intolerance of other peoples views can be so harmful.
Elizabeth and Margaret start out having a romantic view of the war - both of their brothers are enlisted, but as the book progresses and they are helping a deserter they begin to see a different side of war.
Gordy, Doug and Toad terrorize Margaret and Elizabeth - each for their own disturbed reasons, especially Gordy who has problems of his own that he feels responsible for but are too much of a burden for a child to bear.
The girls find out a secret that Gordy will do anything to keep. Because of the secret, Elizabeth and Margaret learn more about Gordy and his family than he wants them to know.
I think Mary Downing Hahn did a beautiful job of protraying the ravages of war.