Great Reads to Cozy Up With This Winter
BOOK REVIEWS BY LINDA STEPHEN
Prairie Forge: The Extraordinary Story of the Nebraska Scrap Metal Drive of World War II by James J. Kimble
This non-fiction book, the 2021 One Book-One Nebraska choice by the Nebraska Library Commission, tells the story of the great Nebraska scrap drive of 1942. At the time, arms production in factories was slowed because of a shortage of steel. Scrap metal was a solution. Henry Doorly, publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, put together a state-wide competition across all the counties involving cities, schools, and Scouts. In just three weeks, Nebraskans gathered 67,000 tons of scrap metal. Inspired by Nebraska’s success, later that year, all 50 states participated in a scrap metal drive that yielded 5 million tons. Prairie Forge (236 pages, Bison Books, 2014) includes photos and interviews from scrappers who participated. If you have a friend or relative over 85, ask them what scrap metal they collected in 1942. I recommend Kimble’s book for fans of Nebraska history or those who enjoy untold stories of the heroes among us.
True to Form by Elizabeth Berg
This coming-of-age novel of a 13-year-old girl takes place in 1961 in Missouri and Texas. The main character Katie has lost her
mother, her father has remarried, the family has moved, and her summer jobs include babysitting three rambunctious children and caregiving for a bed-ridden neighbor. This tender story includes surprising connections with her older neighbors and a growing understanding of what she truly values. I recommend True to Form (214 pages, Atria Books, 2002) for any reader looking for a forgiving view of relationships.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
I found this book in my house this fall while cleaning my daughter’s room – it had been assigned reading for a high school class and was a previous One Book – One Lincoln choice. This realistic novel by Afghan immigrant Khaled Hosseini takes place mostly in Kabul, Afghanistan in the 1970s and 1990s. The Kite Runner is a story of friendship and betrayal of two young boys living in Kabul in the 1970s. The Kite Runner (371 pages, Penguin Random House, 2003) is heartbreaking but also includes hope for new generations. With Afghanistan in the news again this year, I liked reading a portrait of Kabul before and after the Afghan war (1978-1992) and the rise of the Taliban. I recommend this for people who enjoy historical novels, stories of redemption, or exploring faraway cities through books.
Linda Stephen is an author, artist, and editor in Lincoln. Contact her at Linda@UnfoldingCommunications.com.