Home and Away: A World War II Christmas Story

by Dean Hughes Narrated by Kirby Heyborne

Overview

A historical fiction novel told from the perspective of a son fighting on the battlefields of Europe during World War II and his mother, struggling with worry and uncertainty as she tries to maintain a normal, happy Christmas holiday

Norma Hayes has always tried to make Christmas special for her family, but 1944 will make that more difficult with money being tight and wartime rationing making everything hard to come by. Aware of his mother's hardships and the worry from having her eldest son at war, Norma's second son, Dennis, is determined to buy his mother a special gift this Christmas: a lavender blue dress he hopes will bring her comfort.

Meanwhile, on a battlefield far from home in Holland, Norma's soldier son catches a familiar scent of lavender, which briefly transports him back to the homefront and to the perfume scent his mother wore, giving him a short respite and reuniting the family once again-if only in his imagination.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

09/14/2015
In Hughes’s tense, emotional novel, members of a Utah family try to summon Christmas joy as they worry about their son and brother, Glen, who is on the front lines in 1944 Europe, and face financial pressures at home. Sixteen-year-old Dennis knows how hard his mother works to make the holidays bright, even if his gruff father doesn’t appreciate her efforts, so he works extra shifts at his part-time job in order to buy her something special. Hughes’s portrait of a family on edge and exploration of Glen’s brutal experiences in the trenches make for some dark reading, though he frequently cites characters’ sustaining faith and reliance on prayer and highlights some tender moments, too. A hopeful ending and a father’s emerging change of heart signal a brighter future for the entire clan. Ages 15–up. (Sept.)

Deseret News

"A touching story about the healing that comes when hearts are open and past hurts are forgotten during one of the most magical times of the year.  Dean Hughes delivers yet another masterpiece in this book set during the 1940s...Help[s] readers remember that true happiness comes from family and service."

Historical Novel Society

"A short, sweet book, a nostalgic read that could make a nice holiday stocking stuffer. Readers should keep tissues nearby, as tears may start to flow toward the end of the story."

Jason F. Wright

“Beautifully nostalgic. Hughes expertly captures the spirit of family, of war, and of Christmas. Home and Away isn’t just a book, it’s a gift.

Obert Skye

"Home and Away is far and away the best story I have read this year. Awesome and moving."

Chris E. Crowe

"Dean Hughes has found a way to imbue a tragic war story with the enduring hope of Christmas and the love of family. It’s a story to remember!"

Library Journal

10/15/2015
It's 1944, and teenager Dennis Hayes longs to join his older brother Glen, who is fighting in Europe. In the meantime, he works after school to earn enough money to buy a new suit so he can bring his date to a dance and also get presents for his parents and little sisters. When his family receives word that Glen has been wounded, Dennis realizes that going to war is not so glamorous. Christmas isn't the same without Glen, but the Hayes family members hope and pray that they'll be reunited soon. VERDICT Hughes's ("Children of the Promise" series) faith-filled, old-fashioned story feels like it could have been written during the period in which it takes place.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169904932
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	12/01/2015
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

It was 1944 and Glen, Dennis's big brother, was with the army's 101st Airborne Division, fighting in Europe. When the last letter had come from Glen-almost two weeks ago-he had been at the battlefront in Holland. Newspapers were reporting heavy casualties among the Allied forces there. Linda and Sharon didn't entirely understand the danger, but Dennis did, and he feared every day that bad news might come.

The kitchen was warmer than it really needed to be, but it was cozy, and Dennis loved the smell of turkey and the pies-and baked bread. He had eaten too much, of course, but he wasn't going to stop until he had a slice of each pie. Over on the kitchen cabinet, the radio was softly playing. A big band was performing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." The local station in Ogden, Utah, had begun to play Christmas music that day. When Linda began to sing the words to the song, Dad finally seemed to notice, and he groaned. "They start earlier every year," he said. "The stores must pay the radio station to play that stuff. That's all Christmas is now-a chance to boost sales."

It was what Dad said every year. But Mom loved Christmas, and she did all she could to make the holidays nice.

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