Paper Dolls & Hollow Men

Book excerpt: World War II comes alive through the eyes of three young couples and their families from small towns in Ohio and Kentucky. Virgil Thomas and Louise Forest want to have a future together. But their plans abruptly change when he is called to service, and she makes a crucial decision about their unborn child. John Simon and Charlotte Ross are newlyweds with a young child. When John volunteers for service, Charlotte doesn’t understand why he abandons their small family. And Gabby Thurlow, Laverne Osgood, and Birdie Le Foret are involved in a complicated relationship that challenges their decisions of heart versus head. As the couples navigate these rocky relationships, they also must adapt to the effects of rationed goods, interference from well-intentioned family members, and long gaps in communication. Traditional roles are challenged as women enter the workforce in larger numbers and men return from war with life-changing injuries. Despite these changes, however, residents of the small towns struggle to keep their uniqueness and charm. Paper Dolls and Hollow Men is their story of hope, courage, and love.