Wave Me Good-bye (Home-Front Heroes) by Funke, Teresa R. (2012) Paperback

Home-Front Heroes

by Teresa R. Funke

Based on a true story . . .As the only Jewish girl in her New York neighborhood, thirteen-year-old Miriam Liebler has a lot on her mind. World War II is raging, and her brother will soon pack his bags to join the fight. Blackouts and air-raid drills punctuate her daily life. Worse yet, her family has heard nothing from their Jewish relatives in Europe since before the war started, and Miriam fears the worst. Her friends don’t understand her worries—until she meets Christopher Richards, an orphaned English boy whisked to America to escape the deadly bombings of London. Miriam and Chris exchange candy, comic books, and secrets through the iron bars of the orphanage fence.When Miriam’s mother takes in a German-Jewish refugee and her daughter, Miriam becomes entangled in the woman’s desperate search to find her family. Will her friendship with Chris survive when trouble brews? Readers, don’t miss the last few pages to learn more about the real Miriam Liebler.

Paperback

First published January 7, 2012

About the author

Teresa R. Funke is the author of "Bursts of Brilliance for a Creative Life," a highly regarded collection of her postings from her popular blog of the same name. She is also the author of seven novels for adults and children about World War II including "Remember Wake," "Dancing in Combat Boots," and the Home-Front Heroes Series.

Teresa's short stories, articles, and essays have appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and anthologies. Two of her essays were listed as Notable Essays by the prestigious Best American Essays series.

She is a sought-after speaker and consultant and works with organizations, schools, and non-profits to promote the arts, literacy, and history education.

Reviews

[Janie R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Home-Front Heroes"- A series of stories of families living in the 1940's during World War 2, are based on true stories, and are fascinating to read! This is the second story in the series, and I have enjoyed reading it and the first story, also!

[Woodrós · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did you or someone you know read about Molly in the American Girl books or about Penny in Jennifer L. Holm's Penny from Heaven, and find yourself (or themselves) eager to read more stories from the WWII period?

If so, Wave Me Good-bye and the other stories in the Home-Front Heroes series are great options. They are historically accurate books based on true stories and written for middle-grade readers.

In Wave Me Good-bye, 13-year old Miriam Liebler befriends refugees, searches for her voice as a writer, and struggles with being in the only Jewish household in her NYC borough during WWII.

Written in a straightforward way, Wave Me Good-bye is an approachable and educational story. It has a couple of moments that touch the heart, but overall its accuracy and the smoothness of the writing take precedence over emotional connection or character building.

That's why, after more time to think about it, I've adjusted my rating. I still think its short and simple style and engaging coverage of historical facts make it a good book for certain readers, it just didn't worm its way into my heart.

**Note: I won this in a Goodreads First Reads contest.**

[Jennifer Bohnhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wave Me Goodbye is a sweet novel for middle grade readers. Set in Brooklyn during WWII, it tells the story of 13 year old Miriam Liebler, who lives in the only Jewish family in her neighborhood. She suffers some of the usual problems of early teens: boorish boys, angst over what she wants to become, whinny little sisters; but Miriam has other problems, too, like a cousin who dies in the war, a brother shipped off to the Pacific arena, a house guest whose Jewish husband and son were left behind in Germany, and a friendship with a British boy sent overseas during the bombing of London. Teresa R. Funke tells the terrifying aspects of WWII with delicacy and sensitivity for her young readers, but she doesn't sugar-coat the facts, either. This book is a good addition to literature on the American home front during WWII.

[Cassy · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I won this book through the First Reads Giveaways*

...And man, am I glad I did! I really enjoyed reading this book as it gave me a fresh perspective on world war two and was about the struggles that Jewish people had to face outside of Europe. It was enlightening to see that the author wrote about a Jewish girl in America, when most books are based on Jewish people actually caught in the middle of the holocaust. I liked the character of Miriam and really liked Chris. I would recommend this to middle school students who want to find out more about the effects war had on the people in America, as well as around the world.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wave Me Good-bye by Teresa R. Funke is the fourth story in her Home-Front Heroes series. Written for middle school aged readers, Funke's series hold up to an adult audience. Wave Me Good-bye centers around Miriam, a young Jewish girl living with her family in New York City during World War II. The reader gains an understanding of what it is like to be the only Jewish family in a predominantly Christian neighborhood in the 40s. A very touching story based on real people in the author's life.

[Tedders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very touching.
Tense, worrying writer Miriam is endlessly identifiable.
I love this series.

[Lana Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wave Me Good-bye" is fiction, based on a true story. Setting is New York City during WWII.

Thirteen-year-old Miriam becomes friends with Chris, a boy from England that lives in the Actors Orphanage. Miriam and her family are the only Jewish family living on the East Side and they encounter prejudice from some of Miriam's classmates.

Lots of WWII history is masterfully woven into the story. The reader easily pictures New York City during 1944-45.