Customer Reviews

When Christmas Comes Again: The World War I Diary of Simone Spencer, New York City to the Western Front 1917 (Dear America Series)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The year is 1917, and for seventeen-year-old Simone Spencer the World War overseas has caused her world to take a 360-degree turn. Her brother, Will, is in the army, and Simone finds with each passing day that her high society life in New York is far from what she wants. Searching for some meaning in her life, Simone finally volunteers to be a "Hello Girl," better know as French speaking girls who work as switchboard operators. Little does Simone know the many challenges the raging war will through her and the influence she will play. As each day passes with new surprises, all Simone wishes for is that her family will return intact and well.

Being a big fan of "Hello Girls", the ones who helped bring the Allie victory, I was very excited to finally find out they were going to do a piece on them. Though this diary was written by a virtual unknown, I felt Beth Levine did a great job writing this diary and should be commended. Another book I would recommend to read is Survival in the Storm, by a fifteen-year-old sensation. To close it up, I recommend all to read this new Dear America book.

Since I am very interested in the World War I era, I assumed this would be a great book. It was better than I expected, and very well-written. The story is about Simone Spencer, a seventeen-year-old who is pretty much bored and can't decide on what to do when school lets out. She begins her new diary stating that America is in war. After many are called to fight at the front, Simone's brother is one who leaves for France. Simone thinks about becoming a nurse, but then learns about the request for French-speaking American girls to handle the switchboards at the war front. Since her mother is French, and because she has learned the language, Simone decides that this is what she wants to do. She works very hard and meets a friend, Alice, who becomes very close. While over at France, Simone meets one of her brother's friends, who is also a soldier, Sam. Simone feels that meeting him is her love story. When both he and her brother, William, have to travel to another location, Simone is back to concentrating on her job. Soon Alice becomes sick and unexpectedly dies, which leaves Simone devastated. When the war is won, she immediately returns home, only to find out that everyone says Sam died. Somehow, she can feel that everyone is wrong. When visiting the hospital, she comes upon a soldier who lost his leg -- Sam. Simone finally finds true happiness at that Christmas. This was an excellent book, one of my favorites in the Dear America series, and I would definitely recommend it.

Seventeen-year-old Simone Spencer finds her life as a member of New York City society in 1917 empty, especially with the United States entering World War I and her older brother enlisting in the army. Simone is searching for meaning in her life, something she can do to contribute to the war effort -- and she thinks she has found it when she learns of a need for French-speaking American women to work as switchboard operators on the front. Simone travels to France, but is little prepared for the devastation of war. She forms close friendships and even falls in love with a young soldier. But on the front every new day is unpredictable, and Simone wonders if she and those she cares about will make it out of the war intact. I highly recommend this new Dear America books to fans of the series. I'd been hoping the series would put out a book about World War I, and I'm glad they finally have.

Seventeen-year-old Simone Spencer is a well-to-do girl who lives in New York City. The year is 1917, she is slightly bored following high school graduation, and is desparate to really do something to help her country during WW1. Then she finds her opportunity-the U.S. government wants French-speaking girls to be translators and switchboard operators for Allied troops in Europe. Simone has learned French from her Parisian mother, and quickly "enlists" for the job. In a whirlwind of events, Simone travels to France, is surrounded by war, makes a best friend, feels hope, anxiety, and pressure like never before, and even falls in love.

The best thing about this diary is simply the character of Simone. She sounds intelligent and friendly; her warmth seemed to draw me in as I read. As an "average" girl, she experienced the war how I think I (and many other girls who read this book) would, and this realism is such a plus in a historical fiction book.

Historically, this book is just plain good as well. Before I read this, I had no idea what a "hello girl" (what Simone's job was nicknamed) even was. This diary certainly changed that, and effortlessly included details about the job as well as the time period that were interesting and fit well into the text.

I must say that the end of this book is especially sweet as well-due to its closure of Simone's romantic life and its other conclusions about life and experiences. In conclusion, I feel it's safe to say that most girls will enjoy the "friendly" main character, little-known history, and cute love story in this diary.

I waited with more anticipation then the next Harry Potter book. It was well worth the wait. I absolutely love this book. I wish Simone was my big sister. I think this would make a bigger blockbuster movie than Harry Potter. I'd even wait in line overnight.

Simone Spencer is living a good and easy life in 1917 her family is very well off but every time Simone hears about the fighting over in the Great War also know as World War I. Simone's brother is also fighting over and Simone wants to do something. She decides go over and help by translating messages from the frontlines as nicknamed a Hello Girl. It was really interesting learning how close to the lines this girls were and Simone's diary entries were well detailed and very interesting. We always remember how much women helped during World War II that we often forget about the women who helped during World War I. This book certainly made me want to read more about the hello girls.

Simones brother william was of to war to be a doughboy which is an american soilder. Simone is in the twelth grade she starts writing in her jurnal April,6, 1917. Her mom is french but her dad is american they met at her moms parents bakeryshop in paris. Simone speaks a little bit french but not alot of it she speaks american alot better. Her parents moved to Ney York City to were her mom can open up a hat shop. Simones brother is married to Caroline Lawson which is a society girl. Simones brother went of to war two months before Chirstmas he said that he'll try to be back before Christmas but he didn't and while he was at war simone was helping out at the YWCA with injured soilders that gave her the idea of becoming a switchboard operater shetook a three week training school teaching her what to do with a switchboardat the last week they let them hang with there familys before they left for war.

I had little expectations when I picked up this unknown author. I was completely blown away by her style and composition. If ever a book deserved a Newberry, this is it. My daughter has read it every night since I brought it home. If Ms. Levine keeps this up she will be the next Jackie Collins for young teens. I can't wait for her next book. Put it on my wish list now.

Simone Spencer is a 17-year-old French society girl who daringly volunteers to travel to France as a telephone operator near the front after feeling a lack of usefulness during World War I.

Personally, I think this book was an especially exciting Dear America book, since most of the characters don't actually venture into the center of a war and get a job. I also liked getting a feel for New York City's society at the time. However, there were several things that kept me from giving it 5 stars: 1) Although it was probably necessary for this particular story, Simone is 17 years old, whereas all the other Dear America girls are no older than 14 or so. 2) Her little "love story" was pretty cheesy. She randomly meets a boy, has a huge fight with him, and then falls instantly in love - after only 3 conversations with him. Everybody thinks he's killed, but then Simone suddenly meets up with him among many other wounded soldiers in a large hospital. Of course, in the epilogue, they marry & live happily ever after. It was MUCH too far-fetched and perfect. 3) Another scene seemed to much like it was "out of the movies" - Simone bumping right into her brother somewhere in France, at a random Red Cross party, even though she had NO idea where he was before. France is huge, there were thousands of soldiers, it's just too coincidental.

I really enjoyed this book because it kept you wondering like when Alice got sick, what was Thomas going to do at the end of the book Simone was reading him, what happened to Sam in the war, where was Will and Sam after the war, and more. It was a really enjoyable book and it shows the courage of Simone Spencer. I thought it was neat how Simone and Sam ended up being together and their wedding song was the song they danced to when they first met. I liked how she told her adventures in New York with Francie and how Franice always cheered Simone up. I couldn't believe that Franice and Thomas ended up getting married. It was a great book and i hope you read it and enjoy it too.