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The Mitchells #1
The Mitchells: Five for Victory
The five Mitchell children are based on the author's own family. In the first of three books about their adventures, Daddy has just gone off to World War II. One of his final words to his daughter Joan is, "No dogs!" She would dearly love such a pet, but life is full and so many new friends—pets as well as people—join the Mitchells, she hardly has time to think about dogs. The children form a club to do their part for the war-effort—first and foremost helping Mother, of course. Humorous and tender incidents combine with delightful illustrations to make the Mitchells truly unforgettable.
United States, 1940's
RL5
Of read-aloud interest ages 8-up
United States, 1940's
RL5
Of read-aloud interest ages 8-up
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1945
13 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Hilda van Stockum
54 books76 followersBorn February 9, 1908, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Hilda van Stockum was a noted author, illustrator and painter, whose work has won the Newbery Honor and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Brotherhood Award. She was also a charter member of the Children's Book Guild and the only person to have served as its president for two consecutive terms.
Van Stockum was raised partly in Ireland, and also in Ymuiden, the seaport of Amsterdam, where her father was port commander. With no car and few companions, she recalled turning to writing out of boredom. She was also a talented artist. A penchant for art evidently ran in the family, which counted the van Goghs as distant relatives.
In the 1920s, she worked as an illustrator for the Dublin-based publishing house, Browne & Nolan. She illustrated her first book, an Irish reader, in 1930, and her last book in 2001, giving her a 71-year career as a book-illustrator.
Van Stockum attended art school in Amsterdam and later in Dublin, where she met and later married Ervin Ross "Spike" Marlin, who at the time was her brother Willem's roommate at Trinity College. Willem Van Stockum was killed piloting a bomber over France in 1944. Van Stockum memorialized him in her book The Mitchells (1945), about the travails of raising a family in Washington, D.C., during the war. She often used her family as models for the written and illustrated characters in her books.
Not surprisingly then, Van Stockum was, in fact, raising a family in Washington, D.C., at the time, having married Marlin, who by 1935 was a Roosevelt administration official.
She had written and illustrated her first book for children, A Day on Skates , in 1934. It had a foreword by her aunt-by-marriage, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and won a Newbery Honor. During the next four decades she averaged one book per year written, illustrated, translated or some combination.
Van Stockum and the couple's six children were in tow for Marlin's peripatetic assignments, and it seems nothing short of miraculous that she managed to write and illustrate a score of children's books. In addition, she translated and illustrated editions of many other authors.
Asked in 1942 by the Washington Post how she did it, Van Stockum replied with characteristic aplomb, "By neglecting my other duties." Highly organized in her work, she illustrated and painted in the winter and wrote in the summer, when she could get her children out of the house.
Known for their warm, vivid, and realistic depictions of family life in the face of danger and difficulties, van Stockum's books typically featured families and were set wherever she happened to be living; Francie on the Run (1939), about a child who escapes from a hospital, was set in Ireland. Friendly Gables (1958) completed the Mitchells' saga — by then they had moved to Montreal from Washington.
Her most popular book, The Winged Watchman (1962) is the story of two Dutch boys who help the Resistance during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. The book is based on letters Hilda received from relatives in the Netherlands, and has been praised for conveying an accurate sense of life under Nazi occupation.
Hilda van Stockum died in 2006 at the age of 98.
Van Stockum was raised partly in Ireland, and also in Ymuiden, the seaport of Amsterdam, where her father was port commander. With no car and few companions, she recalled turning to writing out of boredom. She was also a talented artist. A penchant for art evidently ran in the family, which counted the van Goghs as distant relatives.
In the 1920s, she worked as an illustrator for the Dublin-based publishing house, Browne & Nolan. She illustrated her first book, an Irish reader, in 1930, and her last book in 2001, giving her a 71-year career as a book-illustrator.
Van Stockum attended art school in Amsterdam and later in Dublin, where she met and later married Ervin Ross "Spike" Marlin, who at the time was her brother Willem's roommate at Trinity College. Willem Van Stockum was killed piloting a bomber over France in 1944. Van Stockum memorialized him in her book The Mitchells (1945), about the travails of raising a family in Washington, D.C., during the war. She often used her family as models for the written and illustrated characters in her books.
Not surprisingly then, Van Stockum was, in fact, raising a family in Washington, D.C., at the time, having married Marlin, who by 1935 was a Roosevelt administration official.
She had written and illustrated her first book for children, A Day on Skates , in 1934. It had a foreword by her aunt-by-marriage, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and won a Newbery Honor. During the next four decades she averaged one book per year written, illustrated, translated or some combination.
Van Stockum and the couple's six children were in tow for Marlin's peripatetic assignments, and it seems nothing short of miraculous that she managed to write and illustrate a score of children's books. In addition, she translated and illustrated editions of many other authors.
Asked in 1942 by the Washington Post how she did it, Van Stockum replied with characteristic aplomb, "By neglecting my other duties." Highly organized in her work, she illustrated and painted in the winter and wrote in the summer, when she could get her children out of the house.
Known for their warm, vivid, and realistic depictions of family life in the face of danger and difficulties, van Stockum's books typically featured families and were set wherever she happened to be living; Francie on the Run (1939), about a child who escapes from a hospital, was set in Ireland. Friendly Gables (1958) completed the Mitchells' saga — by then they had moved to Montreal from Washington.
Her most popular book, The Winged Watchman (1962) is the story of two Dutch boys who help the Resistance during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. The book is based on letters Hilda received from relatives in the Netherlands, and has been praised for conveying an accurate sense of life under Nazi occupation.
Hilda van Stockum died in 2006 at the age of 98.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 25, 2023
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
The Mitchells (also called The Mitchells: Five for Victory) is the first of three family stories about fictionalized versions of author Hilda Van Stockum, her husband, their children, and the children's grandmother. The story begins with Father going off to fight in World War II, and the family being left behind in their Washington, D.C. home with very specific instructions not to get a dog. The five Mitchell children - Joan, Patsy, Peter, Angela, and Timmy - would love a pet, but they are quickly consumed by other interests. Chief among these is their formation of the Victory Club, which meets in the backyard of a house on the street left uninhabited for so long that they call it the "white elephant." Friends Tilly and Dickie join them for club activities, and all kinds of antics ensue, including the acquisition of quite a few pets their father might not be pleased to meet when he returns home.
The writing in this book is breezy and entertaining, making it easy to read in just one sitting. I devoured the story, falling instantly in love with each character, and enjoying their "free-range" lifestyle and typical family story problems. Though this is partly a book about banding together during a time of war, it is also just as much a story about kids being kids that could take place at any time in history. The fact that the characters are based on real-life counterparts makes everything about the book feel true in a way that entirely invented fiction does not. As the mother of an independent-minded two-year-old, I could especially relate to Mother's very true-to-life difficulties in dealing with Angela, the second youngest child with a habit of making a fuss. By the end of the first chapter, I already felt a strong kinship with Mother, which stuck with me throughout the book.
As I read The Mitchells, I kept thinking back to a childhood favorite, Ten Kids No Pets by Ann M. Martin. The books are not really that similar except for the fact that they both involve parents who specifically disallow pets, but knowing how much I loved Ten Kids makes me certain that I would have loved The Mitchells just as much had I discovered it in childhood. I wish authors still wrote family stories like this one, which avoids discussions of mature themes like dating and kissing and instead allow kids to be kids. So many middle grade books are about trying to reach adulthood as soon as possible, instead of reveling in childhood, and that is just too bad. I am pleased, therefore, that I still have two Mitchells titles to read: Canadian Summer and Friendly Gables.
The Mitchells (also called The Mitchells: Five for Victory) is the first of three family stories about fictionalized versions of author Hilda Van Stockum, her husband, their children, and the children's grandmother. The story begins with Father going off to fight in World War II, and the family being left behind in their Washington, D.C. home with very specific instructions not to get a dog. The five Mitchell children - Joan, Patsy, Peter, Angela, and Timmy - would love a pet, but they are quickly consumed by other interests. Chief among these is their formation of the Victory Club, which meets in the backyard of a house on the street left uninhabited for so long that they call it the "white elephant." Friends Tilly and Dickie join them for club activities, and all kinds of antics ensue, including the acquisition of quite a few pets their father might not be pleased to meet when he returns home.
The writing in this book is breezy and entertaining, making it easy to read in just one sitting. I devoured the story, falling instantly in love with each character, and enjoying their "free-range" lifestyle and typical family story problems. Though this is partly a book about banding together during a time of war, it is also just as much a story about kids being kids that could take place at any time in history. The fact that the characters are based on real-life counterparts makes everything about the book feel true in a way that entirely invented fiction does not. As the mother of an independent-minded two-year-old, I could especially relate to Mother's very true-to-life difficulties in dealing with Angela, the second youngest child with a habit of making a fuss. By the end of the first chapter, I already felt a strong kinship with Mother, which stuck with me throughout the book.
As I read The Mitchells, I kept thinking back to a childhood favorite, Ten Kids No Pets by Ann M. Martin. The books are not really that similar except for the fact that they both involve parents who specifically disallow pets, but knowing how much I loved Ten Kids makes me certain that I would have loved The Mitchells just as much had I discovered it in childhood. I wish authors still wrote family stories like this one, which avoids discussions of mature themes like dating and kissing and instead allow kids to be kids. So many middle grade books are about trying to reach adulthood as soon as possible, instead of reveling in childhood, and that is just too bad. I am pleased, therefore, that I still have two Mitchells titles to read: Canadian Summer and Friendly Gables.
April 12, 2019
The short version: Reading this made me happy.
The more analytical version: I’m adding the book to my list of “stories that demonstrate parenting norms in different times and places,” because nothing teaches perspective like seeing how others successfully did things differently than we do today. I find it interesting that it happens to illustrate both strengths and weaknesses of the WWII-era tendency to give children tremendous freedom. On the one hand, a neighbor boy “gets away” with bullying behaviors (including one incident that would never fly today!), because adults don’t feel they have the right to interfere. This seems bad. On the other hand, the young protagonists have opportunities to develop maturity and family loyalty. This seems good. Weighing the costs and benefits of freedom is an age-old task, and this book might actually be a good opportunity to discuss the conundrum with children.
The big plot reveal is simultaneously predictable and implausible* from an adult point of view; but the heart of the story is the warm family relationships. Knowing that they are based on the author’s own family makes it even better. I look forward to sharing the book with my own kids when they get older.
*Perhaps, though, this implausibility is intentional? The author does connect it to the characters' love of fairy tales, so perhaps she intends to suggest that they experience a real-life fairy tale moment themselves.
The more analytical version: I’m adding the book to my list of “stories that demonstrate parenting norms in different times and places,” because nothing teaches perspective like seeing how others successfully did things differently than we do today. I find it interesting that it happens to illustrate both strengths and weaknesses of the WWII-era tendency to give children tremendous freedom. On the one hand, a neighbor boy “gets away” with bullying behaviors (including one incident that would never fly today!), because adults don’t feel they have the right to interfere. This seems bad. On the other hand, the young protagonists have opportunities to develop maturity and family loyalty. This seems good. Weighing the costs and benefits of freedom is an age-old task, and this book might actually be a good opportunity to discuss the conundrum with children.
The big plot reveal is simultaneously predictable and implausible* from an adult point of view; but the heart of the story is the warm family relationships. Knowing that they are based on the author’s own family makes it even better. I look forward to sharing the book with my own kids when they get older.
*Perhaps, though, this implausibility is intentional? The author does connect it to the characters' love of fairy tales, so perhaps she intends to suggest that they experience a real-life fairy tale moment themselves.
April 15, 2011
AHHH! I used to LOVE these books. I need to track them down and read them again, but I am afraid that my older eyes and world-ravaged soul will not love them as much as I used to. Dramatic? Maybe a little. But this is the first book in three about the cutest little family. I think these even might be out of print...my mom somehow scored them for us and I will be forever grateful that she read them to us when we were little.
February 25, 2017
It is July, 1943 and John Mitchell, father of the five Mitchell children and an electrical engineer, has just left from Union Station in Washington, D.C. to join his ship.
Back home, the three older Mitchell children, Joan, 10 1/2, Patsy, 8, Peter, 6, along with two friends decide to form the Five for Victory Club to help with the war effort. The purpose of the club is to help people who need it, to collect scrap and bottles, to help in their mother's victory garden, and even to do some babysitting. Anything they earn pays for stamp to paste in their V for Victory Bond book and eventually to exchange that for a bond. And the children believe they have found the perfect place to hold their club meetings - a small playhouse in the yard of an empty house they call the 'white elephant.'
No sooner do they get the playhouse all set up, however, than a mother, Mrs. Trotter, and her son, Henry, 12 and a bully, move in the house, and the first thing Henry does is kick them out of the playhouse.
Meanwhile, their mother, Rita Mitchell, has decided to rent a room for some extra income. The first woman, Mrs. Merryvale, to move in doesn't last long. She may have written a book about how to discipline children, but in fact, she doesn't really seem to like them very much and the Mitchells are way to unruly for her. Her leaving, however, is based on a complete misunderstanding which is because of a very funny misunderstanding.
The next boarder is a businessman named Mr. Spencer. Mr. Spencer believes he has lost his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter in the bombing of Rotterdam (Holland) in 1940, although he never had any official word about that. Luckily, he really likes the Mitchell children, especially Angela, age 3.
And it turns out that Mrs. Trotter has a young refugee girl named Una, who is about 8 years old, living with her beside her son Henry. Henry doesn't much care for Una and delights in tormenting her whenever he can. When the Mitchel children discover Una, they all become instant friends.
There is one other subplot concerning Lieutenant Mitchell's admonishing to his family NOT to get a pet while he is away. Well, you can certainly guess what happens there.
The Mitchells: Five for Victory was written in 1945 as the war was coming to an end. In the novel, Hilda van Stockum has created a charming look at everyday life on the home front and peopled it with an endearing, lively family. The book takes place over the course of one year and there are three generations living under one roof, Grannie (and Mr. Spencer), mother and the five children, so you know that there are lots of antics as well as ups and downs.
We hear a lot about refugees these days, and I think the story of Una will resonate with today's young readers. Van Stockum has really captured the trauma of a child who has lost her family in the war, and who was shuffled from country to country by people whose language she didn't understand, until she reached the United States, to be fostered by Mrs. Trotter. One particularly poignant scene takes place in a movie theater, where Una is left alone to watch a film while Mrs. Trotter and Henry shop for clothes for him. The movie she's left at is Journey for Margaret, a film about a young girl who has been traumatized by the Blitz. Judging by Una's reaction to the movie, it is clear that van Stockum had a very good understanding of how she felt.
Today's readers may find it odd that the children have so much freedom, but that was how it was back in those days. They may also find a few things a little outdated, like the children calling an escalator the moving stairs, but none of that detracts from the novel, in fact it really serves to give it a feeling a authenticity and charm. And yes, I find the van Stockum is a master at giving each of her characters just enough quirky characteristics to make them interesting, but still believable.
The Mitchells: Five for Victory is the second WWII novel by Hilda van Stockum I've read (The Winged Watchman was the first) and I have to say, they are as different from each other as possible and yet both are really interesting stories. I understand there is a third one called The Borrowed House that takes place in van Stockum's homeland, Holland, that I would like to read.
Should you fall in love with the Mitchell family as I did, you will be happy to know that their adventures continue in two more books that take place after the war is over. They are Canadian Summer and Friendly Gables.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to me by Boissevain Books
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
Back home, the three older Mitchell children, Joan, 10 1/2, Patsy, 8, Peter, 6, along with two friends decide to form the Five for Victory Club to help with the war effort. The purpose of the club is to help people who need it, to collect scrap and bottles, to help in their mother's victory garden, and even to do some babysitting. Anything they earn pays for stamp to paste in their V for Victory Bond book and eventually to exchange that for a bond. And the children believe they have found the perfect place to hold their club meetings - a small playhouse in the yard of an empty house they call the 'white elephant.'
No sooner do they get the playhouse all set up, however, than a mother, Mrs. Trotter, and her son, Henry, 12 and a bully, move in the house, and the first thing Henry does is kick them out of the playhouse.
Meanwhile, their mother, Rita Mitchell, has decided to rent a room for some extra income. The first woman, Mrs. Merryvale, to move in doesn't last long. She may have written a book about how to discipline children, but in fact, she doesn't really seem to like them very much and the Mitchells are way to unruly for her. Her leaving, however, is based on a complete misunderstanding which is because of a very funny misunderstanding.
The next boarder is a businessman named Mr. Spencer. Mr. Spencer believes he has lost his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter in the bombing of Rotterdam (Holland) in 1940, although he never had any official word about that. Luckily, he really likes the Mitchell children, especially Angela, age 3.
And it turns out that Mrs. Trotter has a young refugee girl named Una, who is about 8 years old, living with her beside her son Henry. Henry doesn't much care for Una and delights in tormenting her whenever he can. When the Mitchel children discover Una, they all become instant friends.
There is one other subplot concerning Lieutenant Mitchell's admonishing to his family NOT to get a pet while he is away. Well, you can certainly guess what happens there.
The Mitchells: Five for Victory was written in 1945 as the war was coming to an end. In the novel, Hilda van Stockum has created a charming look at everyday life on the home front and peopled it with an endearing, lively family. The book takes place over the course of one year and there are three generations living under one roof, Grannie (and Mr. Spencer), mother and the five children, so you know that there are lots of antics as well as ups and downs.
We hear a lot about refugees these days, and I think the story of Una will resonate with today's young readers. Van Stockum has really captured the trauma of a child who has lost her family in the war, and who was shuffled from country to country by people whose language she didn't understand, until she reached the United States, to be fostered by Mrs. Trotter. One particularly poignant scene takes place in a movie theater, where Una is left alone to watch a film while Mrs. Trotter and Henry shop for clothes for him. The movie she's left at is Journey for Margaret, a film about a young girl who has been traumatized by the Blitz. Judging by Una's reaction to the movie, it is clear that van Stockum had a very good understanding of how she felt.
Today's readers may find it odd that the children have so much freedom, but that was how it was back in those days. They may also find a few things a little outdated, like the children calling an escalator the moving stairs, but none of that detracts from the novel, in fact it really serves to give it a feeling a authenticity and charm. And yes, I find the van Stockum is a master at giving each of her characters just enough quirky characteristics to make them interesting, but still believable.
The Mitchells: Five for Victory is the second WWII novel by Hilda van Stockum I've read (The Winged Watchman was the first) and I have to say, they are as different from each other as possible and yet both are really interesting stories. I understand there is a third one called The Borrowed House that takes place in van Stockum's homeland, Holland, that I would like to read.
Should you fall in love with the Mitchell family as I did, you will be happy to know that their adventures continue in two more books that take place after the war is over. They are Canadian Summer and Friendly Gables.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to me by Boissevain Books
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
September 24, 2020
Really cozy book, I used to love it as a kid. Just re-read it to escape the COVID times :)
August 1, 2024
Perfect book for my kids (8 and 6) set in the WW2 years. Very cozy family read aloud, but with some ideas and situations to ponder that might lead to wisdom (i.e. when Joan’s foolish rough housing leads to her accidentally injuring her pet; unfriendly,bossy neighbor boy character you don’t want to be like). The ending was very satisfying. Looking forward to the sequels.
November 15, 2025
Such a heartwarming, hilarious, adventurous family read-aloud from the WWII era! I found myself, as a military wife, aspiring to be more like Rita Mitchell. What a wonderful mother in war-time to her busy crowd of kids! Loved revisiting this childhood favorite with my little boys.
June 5, 2016
A Piece of Salted Caramel
I was in the middle of reading Swallowdale (the sequel to Swallows and Amazons, written by Arthur Ransome) when we left for Croatia. My mother most (un)graciously told me that no, I couldn’t bring Swallowdale along because I would finish it in one night, so I picked The Mitchells off the shelf and stuffed it in a bag.
The Mitchells, by Hilda Van Stockum, is a story about five children, Joan, Patsy, Peter, Angela, and Timmy, who live during WWII. When their father goes to go fight in the navy, they create the “Five for Victory Club” that is supposed to help people who are in the midst of fighting. Then someone moves in next door, along with a mysterious refugee girl. The Mitchells become great friends with the refugee, a girl named Una. But can they help her find her parents?
The Mitchells was a funny book with one especially naughty (and amusing) character: four-year-old Angela. In the book, Angela said many funny and exasperating things. For example:
"'I’m hungry,' she said loudly to whom it might concern. 'I’d like some.'
'Oh, Angela,' cried Joan, blushing with shame. 'You just had a big breakfast.'
'I only had peas,' announced Angela in an injured voice.
'Peas?' Una laid down her spoon and smiled.
'Oh, Angela,' scolded Joan, embarrassed. 'You didn’t have peas.'
'I did too,' Angela maintained firmly.
'You did not. We don’t have peas for breakfast,' protested Peter. 'Only for lunch and supper.'
'We have too,' said Angela. 'Kris Peas.'"
Do you get what I mean?
The result of having episodes like this was that the book had a jubilant, merry feel to it that elated my spirits.
This book had a small mystery in it: the mystery of Una. Una had a very hazy past that she didn’t talk about. No one knew who she was or where she came from. This exposed the reality of how bad WWII was. There were thousands of refugees like Una who were forever lost in the world, knocked about from one house to the other. This added a touch of sadness to the book, like a sprinkle of salt on a piece of caramel. But like salt and caramel go together nicely, this sad fact made the book a little more exciting and realistic. Good job, Hilda Van Stockum!
In all, this was a sweet, funny little book that was indeed very pleasant. It is the first of three books, and even an eight-year-old could read it without much difficulty. And yes, I have made up my mind now: The Mitchells is a piece of yummy salted caramel.
If you'd like to see more youth reviewed books, go to my blog, bookshelfexplorer.com.
I was in the middle of reading Swallowdale (the sequel to Swallows and Amazons, written by Arthur Ransome) when we left for Croatia. My mother most (un)graciously told me that no, I couldn’t bring Swallowdale along because I would finish it in one night, so I picked The Mitchells off the shelf and stuffed it in a bag.
The Mitchells, by Hilda Van Stockum, is a story about five children, Joan, Patsy, Peter, Angela, and Timmy, who live during WWII. When their father goes to go fight in the navy, they create the “Five for Victory Club” that is supposed to help people who are in the midst of fighting. Then someone moves in next door, along with a mysterious refugee girl. The Mitchells become great friends with the refugee, a girl named Una. But can they help her find her parents?
The Mitchells was a funny book with one especially naughty (and amusing) character: four-year-old Angela. In the book, Angela said many funny and exasperating things. For example:
"'I’m hungry,' she said loudly to whom it might concern. 'I’d like some.'
'Oh, Angela,' cried Joan, blushing with shame. 'You just had a big breakfast.'
'I only had peas,' announced Angela in an injured voice.
'Peas?' Una laid down her spoon and smiled.
'Oh, Angela,' scolded Joan, embarrassed. 'You didn’t have peas.'
'I did too,' Angela maintained firmly.
'You did not. We don’t have peas for breakfast,' protested Peter. 'Only for lunch and supper.'
'We have too,' said Angela. 'Kris Peas.'"
Do you get what I mean?
The result of having episodes like this was that the book had a jubilant, merry feel to it that elated my spirits.
This book had a small mystery in it: the mystery of Una. Una had a very hazy past that she didn’t talk about. No one knew who she was or where she came from. This exposed the reality of how bad WWII was. There were thousands of refugees like Una who were forever lost in the world, knocked about from one house to the other. This added a touch of sadness to the book, like a sprinkle of salt on a piece of caramel. But like salt and caramel go together nicely, this sad fact made the book a little more exciting and realistic. Good job, Hilda Van Stockum!
In all, this was a sweet, funny little book that was indeed very pleasant. It is the first of three books, and even an eight-year-old could read it without much difficulty. And yes, I have made up my mind now: The Mitchells is a piece of yummy salted caramel.
If you'd like to see more youth reviewed books, go to my blog, bookshelfexplorer.com.
August 24, 2017
This book is very cute! It's a fun look at civilian life during World War 2, when so much literature focuses on the Holocaust, soldiers, and female flight nurses - and we know there were more people than that! We appreciate that it was written by someone who actually lived in that time, which means you get the real story. Plus, it features a family of very realistic children, and Hilda is so good at giving personalities to little ones.
What we loved:
The family. The children get along well, in a natural way; the father's mother lives with them, and his wife and mother respect and love each other like mother and daughter - so sweet!
The conflict. There is just enough excitement to keep even an older child flipping the pages, and Una! She just makes you want to adopt her yourself, she is so dear and broken by her experiences.
The resolution. Very well done! You close the book with a contented sigh.
What we hated:
We were not enthused by a few mentions of magic, and one of the boys believing that a neighbor is a 'witch' because of her appearance. While it is all portrayed as 'normal' childhood ideas stemming from fairytales and so on, we would rather there have been none at all.
We were a little disturbed by the mother's permissive parenting, and the older daughter deciding to 'train' her siblings on her own using a child-rearing book. This seemed to show the children as better as the mother, which encourages disrespect of parents. Fortunately, as a read-aloud, this subject was able to be properly dealt with and led to a good discussion of biblical child-training.
What made us laugh:
The children are just so cute! Our out-loud reader almost didn't make it through the first chapter! The toddlers, especially, do just the funny sort of stuff toddlers do the world over.
What made us cry:
A certain little girl finding a certain person - we can't say anymore, but it was heart-wrenching!
Warnings and Caveats:
As we said before, mentions of witches/witchcraft, magic, spells, etc. Also, a young Air Force pilot is shown smoking a cigarette once or twice. This would have been 'acceptable' behavior for a young man of the day, but we do not condone this and skip it whenever possible.
Fun, clean, historical read!
What we loved:
The family. The children get along well, in a natural way; the father's mother lives with them, and his wife and mother respect and love each other like mother and daughter - so sweet!
The conflict. There is just enough excitement to keep even an older child flipping the pages, and Una! She just makes you want to adopt her yourself, she is so dear and broken by her experiences.
The resolution. Very well done! You close the book with a contented sigh.
What we hated:
We were not enthused by a few mentions of magic, and one of the boys believing that a neighbor is a 'witch' because of her appearance. While it is all portrayed as 'normal' childhood ideas stemming from fairytales and so on, we would rather there have been none at all.
We were a little disturbed by the mother's permissive parenting, and the older daughter deciding to 'train' her siblings on her own using a child-rearing book. This seemed to show the children as better as the mother, which encourages disrespect of parents. Fortunately, as a read-aloud, this subject was able to be properly dealt with and led to a good discussion of biblical child-training.
What made us laugh:
The children are just so cute! Our out-loud reader almost didn't make it through the first chapter! The toddlers, especially, do just the funny sort of stuff toddlers do the world over.
What made us cry:
A certain little girl finding a certain person - we can't say anymore, but it was heart-wrenching!
Warnings and Caveats:
As we said before, mentions of witches/witchcraft, magic, spells, etc. Also, a young Air Force pilot is shown smoking a cigarette once or twice. This would have been 'acceptable' behavior for a young man of the day, but we do not condone this and skip it whenever possible.
Fun, clean, historical read!
March 2, 2017
The Mitchell Family is a true delight! A true story based on Hilda van Stockum's own life during WWII. She does as wonderful a job sharing the hardships of war on a family as Laura Ingalls Wilder does sharing the hardships of pioneer life in Little House on the Prairie. The children are whimsical, the troubles are conquered with brave hearts and the war is seen through children’s eyes only in the manner in which it affects them personally with food rations, father and uncle abroad, victory garden, etc.
Our family enjoyed Mary Sarah Agliotta audio narration. Her voice sounds like Megan Follows of Anne of Green Gables and we thoroughly enjoyed her reading interpretation!
Our family highly recommends this book for younger children as a read aloud book, for middle aged children as a treasured part of their own library or as an audio book for the whole family.
Our family enjoyed Mary Sarah Agliotta audio narration. Her voice sounds like Megan Follows of Anne of Green Gables and we thoroughly enjoyed her reading interpretation!
Our family highly recommends this book for younger children as a read aloud book, for middle aged children as a treasured part of their own library or as an audio book for the whole family.
July 8, 2018
The kids loved this one and can't wait to go on to the next story in the series. I liked it a lot, but a few coincidences stretched credulity for me as an adult. Van Stockum is great at identifying the little things that matter so much to kids, but I admit this one didn't captivate me as much as my beloved childhood favorite, The Winged Watchman.
December 24, 2021
Re-read as audiobook.
January 5, 2021
I read this with my daughter after researching books for kids that really enjoy the The Little House Collection. I had never heard of this series, but we jumped in and were delighted by the antics of the Mitchell family. As per usual in older books, there was a scene I had to quickly edit given its characterization of people of color, but the rest of the book was a delightful story of a family living in Washington DC while the father fights in WWII. We had to buy this in order to read it and I'm glad we did. We will definitely continue this series.
September 16, 2024
This is a wonderful book! I highly recommend it to 4th grade and up readers!
February 18, 2020
Precious story about five children growing up during WWII. Humorous, touching, and sweet. The kids & I looked forward to reading it every day!
January 1, 2014
My mom read this book to us growing up, and I still love it. Coming from a family much like the Mitchells, I can relate to a lot of what happens. However, it takes the author's deft and unassuming style to bring it all to life. The writing sparkles with realism, wit, and genuine insight into the lives of children. Absolutely delightful! This is practically the definition of comfort reading for me.
I can still relate so well to Joan and Patsy, and I just love happy-go-lucky Peter. This time reading it it struck me how much freedom these kids have. The six- or seven-year-olds go grocery shopping for the family, eleven-year-old Joan takes it upon herself to organize the cleaning of the house, and they all roam about the neighborhood's vacant properties and walk to school unattended. Also, Mrs. Mitchell seems to be an incredibly tolerant woman. She takes it in stride when the kids rip her dress and trample her hat, and she puts up with all those pets!
I can still relate so well to Joan and Patsy, and I just love happy-go-lucky Peter. This time reading it it struck me how much freedom these kids have. The six- or seven-year-olds go grocery shopping for the family, eleven-year-old Joan takes it upon herself to organize the cleaning of the house, and they all roam about the neighborhood's vacant properties and walk to school unattended. Also, Mrs. Mitchell seems to be an incredibly tolerant woman. She takes it in stride when the kids rip her dress and trample her hat, and she puts up with all those pets!
May 27, 2013
This is a story about a family living in Washington DC during WWII. The five children are determined to support the war effort while Daddy and Uncle Jim are away fighting in Europe. Their V for Victory club takes on a range of patriotic duties, from saving soap (though Mother had views on that one), to painting the lodger's room, to cleaning the neighbour's yard - meeting a mysterious orphan princess in the process. This isn't a war story in the usual sense, but the impact of the war on the family and their friends is felt throughout. A funny, charming family story that will appeal to 8-12 year-olds.
October 13, 2017
My mom read this book to my siblings and me when I was a child. Now that I have a son, I've been re-visiting books from my childhood and was delighted to find this novel to be full of sympathetic characters with zest for the goings-on in their lives on the homefront while their father is away at war. The children are quite realistic; flawed, and not at all sentimentalized (well, with the exception of the war refugee "Una," who has an air of a fairy tale character, but with good reason as the Mitchell girls believe she is a real princess).
I'll certainly be reading this one aloud to my son when he's older.
I'll certainly be reading this one aloud to my son when he's older.
October 24, 2013
Such a fun kids' book. It was laugh out loud funny in places. I found the ending to be a bit predictable, but I think that's coming from me as an adult. I'm sure that as a kid I'd have been shocked by the turn of events.
While I read this on my Kindle, the book is still in print and available in hard copy. My only complaint to that end is the cover. It's just ghastly. I know you're not "supposed" to judge a book by its cover, but we all do it, and certainly kids do. I think I'd have a hard time convincing a kid that this book was worth picking up in spite of the lame, cheesy cover.
While I read this on my Kindle, the book is still in print and available in hard copy. My only complaint to that end is the cover. It's just ghastly. I know you're not "supposed" to judge a book by its cover, but we all do it, and certainly kids do. I think I'd have a hard time convincing a kid that this book was worth picking up in spite of the lame, cheesy cover.
July 26, 2015
Good, ole' Bethlehem Books! That publisher supplied many good books to my childhood reading days. I had forgotten about this series! While the author's Bantry Bay series will be my favorite, the Mitchells series is still a fun read. Set in World War II and based on the author's family, the story is full of lessons on family and filled with humorous events. The Mitchells is great for family read aloud or kids who love to read fun, uplifting books.
August 6, 2022
My kids and I had so much fun reading this together. This historical fiction brought about conversations about things like WWII victory gardens, war stamps, housing shortages, patriotism, and love of family. This is a clean and wholesome book. My kids are already asking for us to read the sequel.
* Update: my kids are STILL asking to read this sequel. We've read several books since this one and they keep declaring this one of their all-time favorite books.
* Update: my kids are STILL asking to read this sequel. We've read several books since this one and they keep declaring this one of their all-time favorite books.
August 23, 2008
This was probably my favorite series from childhood! I have re-read all of the books multiple times (there are two more after this one). I think they are out of print but I don't know why because they are so cute. It also is a great book for teaching about the home front during WWII. If you want to read a good book that teaches great values with your family, this is an awesome bet.
August 1, 2011
I first read this book when I was 9 years old. Years later my brother and I read it aloud to our family.
Follow the lively and entertaining Mitchell children (all of 5 of them) in their exciting adventures, in the house, outside, in the neighbors yard, etc. This lovely book has two sequels Canadian Summer, and Friendly Gables that I recommend as well.
Follow the lively and entertaining Mitchell children (all of 5 of them) in their exciting adventures, in the house, outside, in the neighbors yard, etc. This lovely book has two sequels Canadian Summer, and Friendly Gables that I recommend as well.
August 2, 2011
Reviewed for the Logos Library. The children in this story are somewhat undisciplined due to the fact their father is gone to fight in WWII. Parents should take this into account as well as the date it was written: 1945; children today cannot run around the whole town and play in other people's yards, etc. It did remind me of my own childhood and the freedom we had!
April 19, 2012
It was okay. I can see 10-year-old Ellie loving this book if I'd had it when I was 10, but now, all I can see are the extremely sexist overtones of the story, which wasn't cool. It was just written in 1945 and you can tell. Good for the family who loves old quaint books. Maybe a good read-aloud for Grandma?
January 31, 2019
This is a really fun book for children, and an easy way to introduce history into their reading. For adults though, it is a frustrating example of the mass idiocy of our own society, and an example of the fact that asinine behavior and sheep-like gullibility is hardly limited to our own generation. Your typical world war two fiction, essentially.
May 27, 2008
This is primarily just a fun book to read, and all ages can enjoy it. I would have to say that just about everyone can find someone in the story that is very similar to, or dead on one of the characters in the book.
November 25, 2012
This was my second time reading it aloud. First time I read it to Paul, and this time to both Paul and Lila now that Lila is in first grade. We love the Mitchells. They are a wonderful family to emulate and very entertaining.
August 23, 2008
We read this book when the girls were in early elementary school and it has a special place in our hearts!
October 5, 2016
This book never gets old, even after the 4th time through!! Love it every time
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