Following My Own Footsteps

Gordy Smith #2

by Mary Downing Hahn

When Gordy Smith and his down-and-out family go to live with his rich grandmother, Gordy brings with him all the hostilities of an abused child whose drunken father has beaten him regularly. His no-nonsense grandmother and his friendship with a boy who uses a wheelchair change his perspective and life. The author, Mary Downing Hahn is a former children''s librarian.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Juvenile, Historical, Middle Grade, Childrens

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

I grew up in a small shingled house down at the end of Guilford Road in College Park, Maryland. Our block was loaded with kids my age. We spent hours outdoors playing "Kick the Can" and "Mother, May I" as well as cowboy and outlaw games that usually ended in quarrels about who shot whom. In the summer, we went on day long expeditions into forbidden territory -- the woods on the other side of the train tracks, the creek that wound its way through College Park, and the experimental farm run by the University of Maryland.

In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.

Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.

When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.

In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.

By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.

Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.

Reviews

[Anisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because of the way Mary Downing Hahn portrayed Gordy, the main character to be. She really showed that even the toughest kid has feelings, and can have a kind heart. If you enjoy historical fiction, and juvenile fiction, you will really like this book. It takes place during world war two, and helps picture what life was like for american kids during this time of war.

[Corde]

Sometimes in life people pop in and out of their family life like a magician doing a trick. In the book Following My Own Footsteps, after many years of being gone the father now pops back up into the family’s life and is trying to start over. This book is describing the life of a young boy and his sister who father has walked out the family due to being an alcoholic drunk and now the kids are moving out of the house they stayed in to get away and are now living with their mother’s mother. Grandma, who is really strict on the mother because she left the family after being with her boyfriend whom they already warned her about. This is really crazy to me to think that things like this actually happen in life and families actually have to deal with things like this. Mary Downing Hahn talks about the pain and things you go through as a kid and realistic possible problems for an average teenage boy and his siblings. She’s trying to tell the reader that no family isn’t perfect but you’ll always get through the rough times. Gordy is the main character of this book. This book is told from his perspective and what he went through in his life. Gordy is very aware of his surroundings and keeps a close eye out for everything he is a good thinker and always helps out. He has been the man of the house every since his father has left. He is the oldest of two children, He has a young sister who is very vibrant who also went through and experienced the family struggles first hand as well. The purpose of this was to mainly entertain. The author was giving you your own personal show in your head making you feel as if you were watching a movie. The author wanted you to be Gordy and feel his pain because if you your weren’t going to really understand the book and get the best out of it as you should as the reader.
The author’s style was very unique she showed me of side of reading that i have never seen and read before she made the story come to life in my head. Author had explained the mains character point of view so good that she made me feel as if i was in his shoes. Her choice of words were so good. Overall this book was a good book describe many different types of aspects of life and really hit home for a lot of readers. The book main purpose was really telling that family will always be family no matter what the differences are.

[Rants and Bants · Rating 4 out of 5]

MUCH better than the first book. Maybe it's the new setting, maybe it's that I have more of a fondness and sympathy for Gordy in this book, but I think the number one improvement is not having Elizabeth Crawford there...or Maggie's mother. Maggie herself was okay, but I still remember how horrible those other two were.

The grandma is of course the best character. The mom and dad are of course the worst. I felt so bad for Gordy and June...poor June seems so sweet. I felt like I could relate to her and that I was very much like her once upon a time, just trying to be nice and happy, and then causing a small accident to happen or spilling a little something, and then suddenly my parents screeching at me like I'd murdered someone or something. Granted they weren't as bad as Gordy and June's parents, but still.

It was interesting seeing Donald return, as this is his first appearance in the books of him, and still hearing about the war, how it's over, how everyone's celebrating...how it's still the backdrop of the story, the reader is always reminded of it. And how Donald is not proud of what he had to do, how war, as it turns out to these young boys, is actually horrific and not cool at all.

William was also obviously a big character, though I was slightly disappointed he wasn't in there more. I know a big part of that is about his separation from Gordy after their big blow-out and how that ends up affecting both of them, but he didn't seem as present in the novel as he should've been for a major character.

Obviously my final judgment of these books will be on the final one, As Ever Gordy, where he returns. I remembered liking it, but we'll see...here's to the final book.

[Mary Schwabenland · Rating 3 out of 5]

mary downing hahn was my favorite author as a child. i randomly decided to re-read this yesterday. i remember why i liked her as a kid, i think it’s because she touches on heavy topics in a way thats simple but affecting. i feel like in this one, the main character has a good amount of depth, but not much happens plot-wise. i wanted more development of his relationship with william, and think it could have been a more powerful lesson of acceptance if william hadn’t learned to walk at the end. but overall it was a quick, nostalgic and heartwarming read.

[Matt Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the books I've ever read, I think this is my favorite. I felt so many emotions while reading this. At the beginning of the book, when Gordy described their situation, I felt so much anxiety. I kept thinking the old man would wake up before they could get onto the train. Out of the whole book, there's only one part i hate. It's the part where they're staying at their grandma's house, and the old man shows up and his mom wanted to leave with him because he said he changed. Gordy mentioned it wasn't the first time he said that, and then not long after he would get drunk and beat them. Why would you want to stay with someone who hurt your kids?

[Riley Christos · Rating 5 out of 5]

real rating is 4.5. i loved this book. I love gordy and grandma so much. this book had my emotions high and i just wanted to keep reading. i feel like the last book will very sad and im not readyyyyy. i just wish that the ending was just them happy with grandma but i doubt it. william was a sweet character and im glad he and gordy are friends. it makes me sad that the baby boys went back with their dad and that donny is like roger. this book was just so well written i can’t say anything bad. all the characters have depth and so does the plot.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I really appreciate about Hahn's work is that she makes her characters complex, and that includes the adults. In her books, plenty of adults act pretty shitty, which is a reality it actually helps kids to know when they are kids. I particularly appreciated how she rendered the relationship between Gordy and his strict but fair grandmother in this book. And we see how people can evolve out of patterns they thought held them captive, another important lesson.

[Tricia Toney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gordy and his family have settled into their lives in a new town. He's made friends with a polio victim William and is making progress in school. His brother Donny comes home from war very disenchanted with life. When everything seems to be going well, his father reappears, swearing that he's changed. Te only one convinced by this is his mother. Can she change her mind before it's too late?

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read because a student asked me to.

[Liana Szz · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, I love the author and the Gordy series! it rules

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is when the series gets pretty good. It’s set in Virginia (my state!) and switches to Gordy’s perspective and narrative. It’s a pretty drastic change from Margaret’s story in the first book, but I like it better. Gordy has a very complicated home life. It’s a timeless social issue really, in any era, of having a dysfunctional abusive parent.

I can relate to his little sister, June, a lot. She tries to just live life and be happy, but is always getting snapped at for no real reason, and that can really take a toll on someone. Especially a child. It’s been a while since I’ve reread these books, but if I remember correctly, I think this was the book where the war ended. And Gordy’s older brother Donald comes home, and it’s a big deal for everyone everywhere upon hearing the news of it ending.

Gordy also has an interesting friendship with William, a boy who lives next door to him I think, who is in a wheelchair due to polio. Within Gordy’s perspective, we see a couple moments of vulnerability concerning his complicated friendship with him. It was a different side to what we saw in the first book, from Margaret’s perspective. She (and thus we) only saw the nasty, angry side to Gordy, but not his actual inner thoughts.

A very good story showcasing complex friendships, familial relationships, and inner conflict, all set in WW2 America.

[Samantha W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book three stars because I thought it wasn't that good but it was okay. It was something that I probably wouldn't want to read again but it did tell me a little bit about the holocaust and that is what made me want to read it. I am very interested in why the holocaust even happened. How could you torture someone of your own kind so much? I would never be able to do that. When you torture someone like that it changes peoples views and how they act around you. If you act bad to someone or something, that other person may start to act the way the bad person acts. It's like follow the leader. One person acts bad the next person acts bad. That isn't right. But Gordy knew that being like his father, who beated up his mom and his brothers and sisters, wasn't right. Not one bit right. He wanted to act like a good man. Gordy wanted people to think of him as a good citizen. And with the strength William and him built really helped him become a good man. Friendship can make a big difference but a lot of the times it's the help of others that pulls us through.

[Isabella Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

[I wanted to say thanks to my friend Valerie for giving me this book. When this book was given to me by her, I was instantly drawn to read it. I was in love with this book (and I still am), even after I finished it.] This book is about a boy named Gordy Smith and his family when they have ton move away from College Hill, their hometown, to live with their grandma after their father was arrested. When he is there, he is a big trouble-maker, as usual, but ends up making friends with their neighbor, William, who has polio and is in a wheelchair.

[Gordy Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to the Stepping on the Cracks book. Due to his family troubles, he and his sister moved in with his rich grandmother. Though feeling down, Gordy made friends with a boy in a wheelchair next door to his grandma's house. His friendship with the wheelchair boy changed his perspective on life. I recommend this book because this book shows how being friends with anyone doesn't matter as long as they are good friends.

[Duane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that deals with the tragedy of men who find pleasure in abusing their children and wives. Looking through the eyes of Gordy who hates his fahter, we see the stupidity of his mother who still loves her husband even though the physical abuse will continue. A great read that opens your eyes and let's you know you got it good.

[6garrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book about child abuse the father is arrested and they run away and live with there grandma and one of the kids Gordy is being mean and grandma talk to him and now he does not know if he should stay with his family. The book is good but it not as good as some other books i read but i would give it a try it for everbody.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realistic insights into a bully's needs and hopes. Grandma seems to controlling that you an understand why Mom eloped, but eventually you see Grandma as loving and demanding in a way that Gordy needs. Realistic return of brother from war, following in father's footsteps. Uses occasional "hell", but otherwise refers to Gordy's swearing rather than showing it.

[Lakendra]

That hitlers got a couple of the boys friends, just like him. like he changed his friends to be like him. and now they all have to watch out. and some more stuff about the book it's just been a long time since i read this book.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to "Stepping on the Cracks." It follows the story of a minor character, Gordy, as he goes to live with his grandmother, finally escaping the physical abuse he has endured from his dad his whole life. What a fabbity book! This series may be Mary Downing Hahn's best.

[Jillian K · Rating 4 out of 5]

What i liked about this book is that it shows that people can change. It shows that even the most helpless person can change the person that is tough. I like it becaus the charaters are so realict.And it shows that every one has a soft side. It shows that every one is not helpless

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series and highly recommend it. I think any child who has grown up in an abusive home will find healing words in these pages.

See full review on my blog.

http://buildinglifelongreaders.blogsp...

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this to know how not to live or parent. The parents in this story are pathetic. The grandmother is a light in the darkness, bringing stability, safety, structure and wisdom. I hated all the profanity.

[Laeroport · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 3rd grade daughter checked this out from the school library - it was a bit heavy for her - maybe in a couple of years. I thought it was a good glimpse of social history.

[Isaiah Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked this book

[Aruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to Stepping on the Cracks. This book is about Gordy and his life in North Carolina. Set during World War II.

[Alia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a realy good book on the continuing story about Gordy Smith and his abusive father locked in jail but when he threatens gordy to take away his new life he is determined to give up!!!

[Abe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow-up book to Stepping in the Cracks. It is a continuation of the lives of the characters, and it is just as wonderful as that book.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no words