When Christmas Comes Again: The World War I Diary of Simone Spencer, New York City to the Western Front, 1917

In April of 1917, Simone Spencer's world changes. Her beloved brother Will goes off to war, and Simone seeks a way to help. The passionate daughter of a feisty French mother and a rebellious upper-class father, Simone is not cut out for the society life she is meant to lead. So, when General Pershing calls for French-speaking American girls to operate the switchboards on the Western Front, Simone becomes one of the first brave "Hello Girls" whose courage helped lead the Allies to victory. In the end, Christmas brings the Spencers back together again.

Seventeen-year-old Simone Spencer finds her life as a member of New York City society in 1917 empty, especially with the United States entering World War I and her older brother enlisting in the army. Simone is searching for meaning in her life, something she can do to contribute to the war effort -- and she thinks she has found it when she learns of a need for French-speaking American women to work as switchboard operators on the front. Simone travels to France, but is little prepared for the devastation of war. She forms close friendships and even falls in love with a young soldier. But on the front every new day is unpredictable, and Simone wonders if she and those she cares about will make it out of the war intact. I highly show more recommend this new Dear America books to fans of the series. I'd been hoping the series would put out a book about World War I, and I'm glad they finally have. show less

I don't feel like this was the best book in the series, but overall it was interesting and kept my attention enough that I wanted to keep reading. I don't know a lot about WWI and I certainly didn't know about Hello Girls, so it was fun to learn about them and what Simone went through. And the Spanish Influenza was touched on! over all, 4 out of 5 stars. It was a good book. And my last in the Dear America series to read :(.

This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.

is this literally the only dear america/canada book i have read with an actual happy ending IN the journal itself. probably