Willow Run

Bibliography

Giff, P. R. (2007). Willow Run. New York: Yearling. ISBN: 9780440238010

Plot Summary

The war has changed thing for Meggie and her family. Her brother is serving, her father get a job as a foreman of a bomber plane factory, and her grandfather becomes a target because of his German blood. Meggie must choose between fitting in and family. Which is more important?

Critical Analysis

The author Patricia Reilly Giff presents a different perspective of time in America during World War II. Automobile factories were converted to help create plans for the war effort. Since Meggie’s father cannot see well, he cannot fly the planes, but he can work as a foreman to help build them. So the family moves from New York to Michigan, leaving behind Meggie’s grandfather.

There are many references to the war effort and how things are being sacrificed. At the beginning of the book, it is mentioned how there is a shortage of rubber and leather. If your car needed new tires, you may be out of luck. A couple of times, Meggie mentions how she is tired of the war and what they must do for the war effort.

The majority of the book focuses on Meggie and her relationship with her grandfather. She has always felt that he prized her older brother, Eddie, over her. She is also ashamed that he is from Germany, even though he helped his country during the last war and has a medal to prove it. The beginning of the novel has two teens desecrating her grandfather’s house by painting a Nazi symbol on his window. Meggie takes her time to vigorously scrub the sign away and never tells anyone.

By the end of the book, Meggie has come to accept her grandfather for the way he is. She even starts going by her given name, Margaret. A name she often told her grandfather not to call her. But she was named after her grandmother.

Reilly Giff does an excellent job describing the ramshackle conditions Meggie’s family comes upon after their move. Buildings were created hastily for families to move into in order to have more people building airplanes. The walls were extremely thin. Thin enough that the first night, Meggie ends up knocking on the wall after hearing the family next to her arguing. They hear her and begin banging ruthlessly.

This is a short, entertaining novel of life in American during the second World War.

Review Excerpt(s)

BOOKLIST - “Tough and tender, this [book] is an excellent addition to World War II shelves.”

Connections

Have students study the shortages Americans faced during World War II. How would this affect industry?

Why did factories such as car factories adjust their product? How did this assist in the war effort?

Have students study the Battle at Normandy. How many soldiers went missing in action or were killed in action?

Meggie’s father is from Germany. Have students interview their grandparents about if and where they immigrated from and why. Or have students ask their parents why their grandparents/great grandparents immigrated. Where did they immigrant from? Do they do anything embarrassing like Meggie felt her grandfather did (example: talking during films)

Show students a newsreel from the movies like Meggie watched.