Ellie's Great War - by Diane Keech (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A debut historical novel destined to become a classic like Little Women, this coming-of-age story records an upstate New York family's suffering and growth through World War I and its aftermath through the eyes of a young woman.

Eleanor Foerster, a bright and irreverent fourteen-year-old, takes her first step into adulthood on the day she learns that America has entered the Great War against Germany. Suddenly, her quiet town in upstate New York is swept up in the turbulence of World War I, and Ellie watches as her family and community are reshaped in unexpected ways.

Ellie's impulsive elder brother Francis tries to escape family expectations by enlisting in the army, but then discovers that the army has expectations, too. Her sister Lucy finds love, loses it, then finds it again. Her uncle and mentor John helps his roomer Reid find a way to avoid the draft without breaking the law, but then learns that his political frankness can be costly in a small town.

As the war rages on, the Great Influenza spreads at home, and the post-war Red Scare stirs unrest, Ellie must navigate personal loss and growing uncertainty. Along the way, she discovers a hidden talent--one that may just help her earn her way into a future beyond her family's expectations.

Rich in historical detail and emotional depth, Ellie's War is an inspiring portrait of one young woman's determination to build a life for herself in one of America's most tumultuous times.

Review Quotes

"An engaging historical novel told by an insightful teenager who comes of age during World War I and the terrible flu epidemic that follows. Her story allows the reader to appreciate how major events impinge upon the residents of a small town. Ellie's Great War is an enjoyable and informative novel worth reading."--Hillary Tiefer, author of Lily's Home Front and The Secret Ranch

About the Author

Diane Keech grew up in an upstate New York family with deep roots in the area. She avidly absorbed local lore before going on to study American history and literature at Wellesley College. After many years in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she wrote Ellie's Great War, Diane and her husband now live in Portland, Oregon.