Stepping on the Cracks

Author: Mary Downing Hahn

Title: Stepping on the Cracks

Illustrator: none

Genre: Chapter Book

Subgenre: Historical Fiction about World War II

Theme: Several themes: Dealing with abuse, fighting illness, forgiving others, patriotism

Primary and secondary characters: Primary- Margaret and Elizabeth Secondary- Gordy, Toad, Doug, Jimmy, and Stuart.

Award(s) date of publication: Scott O'Dell Award, 1991

Publishing Company: Houghton Mifflin

Brief Summary and how I would use this book with students:

Stepping on the Cracks is about two girls named Margaret and Elizabeth. Both of their brother are fighting overseas in the war against Hitler. The girls share this relationship and their patriotism with one another. While dealing with the issues of the war the are also dealing with a bully at school by the name of Gordy. Gordy and his two friends pick on the girls repetitvely untill the girls decide to take action against them. Yet, when they start to get their revenge they learn many secrets about Gordy that change their whole perspective on him. They realize that he is actually a good person with a huge heart and when Gordy becomes seriouly ill the girls end up taking care of him. This book could be used in the classroom when teaching students about World War II. The book talks about the challenges that these families had to face while dealing with someone else in their family being at war. Living near a military post this book can be used to help students who may have family members who are deployed in coping with the situation.