Structure of the Book
Eddie’s War is a historical novel set on a farm in central Illinois during World War II. The 76 vignettes, written in short lines of prose, range from very short to rather long. Many can stand alone as short stories. Teachers will find much in the book to inspire discussion and activities in social studies, language arts, and science.
The time range, including flashbacks to Eddie’s early childhood, is 1934 to 1944; more than half of the book takes place during the war. Although Eddie and his family are at the heart of the story, the stories involve a cast of characters from Ellisville and neighboring farms.