Love You, Soldier

by Amy Hest, Sonja Lamut (Illustrator)

Katie is just seven and her father is leaving, going to fight in a faraway war, and no one knows when he will come home again.

With Papa away, Katie and her mother do the best they can. Katie makes friends with Old Mrs. Leitstein downstairs. Mama's best friend Louise comes to visit, and then to stay, because her husband is fighting in the war, too, and Louise is going to have a baby.

One stormy day while Mama is at work, Louise says the baby is coming, and Katie helps her through the blizzard to the hospital. Mrs. Leitstein and Louise and her new baby come to seem almost like family to Katie. Then one day, a telegram man brings Mama an envelope with stars on it, and life will never be the same.

Through Katie's keen and tender eyes, Amy Hest tells an intensely moving story about the changes war brings to one family.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Coming Of Age, Family, Childrens, Grief, War, Fiction

80 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Amy Hest is a three-time winner of the Christopher Medal and winner of the BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Wendy Harkrider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Amy Hest's writing style. But...

It seemed to leave some issues (beloved friend's loneliness, death of a main character) feeling unresolved. The ending came too early. Moving on seemed to come too easily. Grief needed a greater presence here in the interest of reality I feel, as did the difficulty of leaving loved ones behind.

I had no problems becoming easily absorbed in this story immediately. However, I think it read more like a short story, and even as that it needed to be expanded.

Again, the prose and description used were completely engaging.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This MG chapter book is a story about a family during and after World War II. Katie's father goes to war, and her mother's best friend comes to visit. Her husband is a soldier, too, and she is expecting a baby, so Katie's mother convinces her friend to move in with them while they wait for the baby to come and the war to end. Happy and sad times are told in a very interesting way for young readers to grasp.

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The war came and my father left in a uniform.” Katie is only seven when her father goes to fight in Europe. She cherishes the letters they receive and are rather lonely until Louise, a pregnant friend of Katie’s mom, moves in. Over time, Katie learns that a family consists of not only those who are related, but friends and neighbors as well. An easily read chapter book that is simple and predictable.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a middle grade book the writing was simple and spare which I think added depth to the story. That really surprised me. I found this a good introduction to tough topics of war and loss and moving on after tragedy.

[Sarah Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short read, little girl and her mother survive during WWII after her father's death.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book that was pretty sad. A Katie's father is sent off to war and her mother is left to take care of the family. Now I know this book is pretty typical of what happened back when soldiers were sent off to war. The mother's friend came to stay with the family since the father had gone. Louise who is the family friend is pregnant and Katie walks in a blizzard with her to find the nearest hospital. My thing is why didn't they stay at the house? The book ended with a letter being sent to the house that had stars on it indicating that her father had died in the war. Now in more modern times I dont think thats how they let families know today.

[katyjanereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. I cried. I cried so much. This little tiny book made tears gush down my face.
2. "Love is risky, but it's worth it." I cried.
3. "Sam wore a suit and he brought two flowers. One for my mother. The other one for me." I cried.
4. Loved that Katie read all of the time. I'm Katy so I felt like I was her.
5. The book had so much heart! I loved that Louise and Rosie stayed with them. I loved the neighbor, Mrs. Leitstein, and her advice. I loved that Sam wrote Katie.
6. This is one of my new favorite middle level books.
7. How is this just so good?! I'm still crying.
8. I'm crying for my husband who is sitting right next to me now. I'm feeling thankful that I have him.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy Hest writes with a pulsing breathlessness in the historical chapter book, Love You, Soldier. At the start of WWII, young Katie watches her father leave to fight, and over the next four years, everything changes.

I loved the spareness and heart of the narrative. Katie is a girl you like, not whiny, and definitely brave.

There were several moments that caught in my throat. The mirror of roses at the train station, for example.

One quibble: basic details of WWII life were left out. Rationing wasn't mentioned; in fact, they had jam and bread aplenty. Katie would have been collecting tin scraps. These are little things, but I felt their absence.

Overall, a lovely story.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

i still have vibrant, starkly real memories of reading this book, from reading this book. the automat lunch restaurant, the day her father leaves, the picture she draws, the walk they take in the cold the night her mother delivers... these became my memories when i was really small.

it's a short easy book for children but it left a deep, deep impression on me, one that lingers today. i don't often write serious reviews but i thought ms. hest created such a brilliantly accurate portrait of what it means to lose someone you love to war... from a child's perspective.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

gr 3-5 47 pgs

WWII New York City. Seven year old Katy misses her dad while he is serving as a soldier in WWII. When Louise, best friend to Katy's mother, moves in with them, the apartment seems a little less lonely. Katy tries to be a help to her mother and Louise. After Louise's baby, Rosie, is born Katy tries to help her too.

Recommended to a reader who doesn't mind some sad parts (Katy's father dies). Overall a good story about one family's experience during the war.

[Alondra Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very sad book about a seven year old girl whose dad gets sent off to war and it is just her and her mom at first then her mom’s friend moves in with them and she is pregnant and the little girl has to walk in the blizzard to find the nearest hospital when the mom’s friend is ready to have the baby. The ending is really sad because they get a letter in the mail with stars on it which meant that her father had died in the war.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie is 7 when her father goes off to WW II She and her mom survive with the help of their apt neighbors and her mother's childhood friend Louis also moves in w/them as she wait sfor her baby to be born since her husband is als a soldier. A wonderful, touching look at those left behind & waiting for their soldiers to come home.

[Shannon Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about the war, loss, and love.

This one touched my heart. Simplistically and tenderly written from a young girl's point of view.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story, but not quite sure how to use it for writing yet.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but sweet read. I like when books intended for children don’t shy away from tough topics.

[Cws]

JEAR3-Hes

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read again in 1996.