Mars Needs Moms!

Finding Junie Kim

Izzy at the End of the World

Hector and Maggie

Salvation

Larry at Number 10

The Big Fight

In Ned's Head

Author L. M. Elliott captures life on the U.S. home front during World War II, weaving a portrait of a family reeling from loss and the voyage of fighting for what matters.

Days after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Hitler declared war on the U.S., unleashing U-boat submarines to attack American ships. Suddenly, the waves outside Louisa June's farm aren't for eel-fishing or marveling at wild swans or learning to skull her family's boat--they're dangerous, swarming with hidden enemies.

Her oldest brothers' ships risk coming face-to-face with U-boats. Her sister leaves home to weld Liberty Boat hulls. And then her daddy, a tugboat captain, and her dearest brother, Butler, are caught in the crossfire.

Her mama has always swum in a sea of melancholy, but now she really needs Louisa June to find moments of beauty or inspiration to buoy her. Like sunshine-yellow daffodils, good books, or news accounts of daring rescues of torpedoed passengers.

Determined to help her Mama and aching to combat Nazis herself, Louisa June turns to her quirky friend Emmett and the indomitable Cousin Belle, who has her own war stories--and a herd of cats--to share. In the end, after a perilous sail, Louisa June learns the greatest lifeline is love.

Discover Your Child's Next Read

Mars Needs Moms!

Berkeley Breathed, 2007

Finding Junie Kim

Ellen Oh, 2021

Izzy at the End of the World

K.A. Reynolds, 2023

Hector and Maggie

Janet McLean, 1990

Salvation

Tamika Champion-Hampton, 2017

Larry at Number 10

Elizabeth C Radcliffe, E.C. Radcliffe, Dave Hill, 2021

The Big Fight

Kiki, 1988

In Ned's Head

Soren Olsson, 2001