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Written by Joan Wehlen Morrison

Edited by Susan Signe Morrison

  Wednesday, December 10, 1941
“Hitler speaks to Reichstag tomorrow. We just heard the first casualty lists over the radio. . . . Lots of boys from Michigan and Illinois. Oh my God! . . . Life goes on though. We read our books in the library and eat lunch, bridge, etc. Phy. Sci. and Calculus. Darn Descartes. Reading Walt Whitman now.”

This diary of a smart, astute, and funny teenager provides a fascinating record of what an everyday American girl felt and thought during the Depression and the lead-up to World War II. Young Chicagoan Joan Wehlen describes her daily life growing up in the city and ruminates about the impending war, daily headlines, and major touchstones of the era—FDR’s radio addresses, the Lindbergh kidnapping, Goodbye, Mr. Chips and Citizen Kane, Churchill and Hitler, war work and Red Cross meetings. Included are Joan’s charming doodles of her latest dress or haircut reflective of the era. Home Front Girl is not only an entertaining and delightful read but also an important primary source—a vivid account of a real American girl’s lived experiences.

Another Troy is the poetry book containing some of Joan’s beautiful verse from this time period.

Check Susan’s Blog for new content and a chance to interact, post photos, and more!

Home Front Girl has won a number of awards. Another Troy has been chosen as the Gold Medal Winner in the category of Wisdom Poetry [2021 Human Relations Indie Book Awards] and was a Finalist for the 2021 Eric Hoffer Book Award. Read more about them on this website, along with information on how to purchase these books.

You can purchase Another Troy here.

8 responses

  1. lcottam | September 3, 2012 at 17:28

    So proud of you! This looks great. Can’t wait to read it in November!

  2. Clare Barker | October 15, 2012 at 18:33

    Cannot wait to read it! What a wonderful tribute to your mother.

    • smorrison78704 | October 15, 2012 at 18:36

      Thank you! That’s very sweet of you to say. I think my mom, who was a historian herself, would be thrilled to have young people read it who are her age when she wrote the diaries!

  3. Joellen Peters | October 19, 2012 at 13:36

    Susie – This looks amazing! I look forward to reading it!

  4. smorrison78704 | October 19, 2012 at 13:39

    The kids were reading it two nights ago–fighting over who got mentioned more in the Acknowledgements. So sweet.

  5. Andrew Greenblatt | November 2, 2012 at 10:34

    Hey Susie it’s Andrew – your student friend at Swarthmore. Congratulations on the book launch!