As Long As I Have You

As Long As I Have You Hearts of the Children Vol. 5 by Dean Hughes

The end of the war finally comes for the Thomas family. Everyone except poor sweet Gene returns home to Utah. Even the Stoltz family is brought to America. At first the book seemed to be wrapping up nicely. Then we come to find that the boys (Alex, Wally and Richard) have varying degrees of PTS (post traumatic stress).

Wally makes it home first. He is shipped around to different hospitals. He is fattened up, checked for diseases, and vaccinated. When he returns home he quickly learns to enjoy life again. He seems even better than the old Wally. Much deeper. Lorainne by some miracle is only engaged, not yet married. Once she sees Wally, she knows that she still loves him. Wally and Lorrainne are engaged and married quickly. Wally begins working for President Thomas as the family parts plant. His life seems set and happy.

Bobbi is the next to return. There are moments that are incredibly tense and weird feeling between Richard and Bobbi. She wants him to want her. (Who doesn't?) He is still suffering with feelings and flashbacks from being blown to high heaven by a Kamikaze pilot. They finally marry and they still have a stiff, strange relationship. At one point Bobbi has a miscarriage. Richard has been working for President Thomas so that he can give Bobbi the lifestyle he thinks is important. Finally Bobbi can't take anymore weirdness and confronts Richard about his pent up feelings and the fact that she thinks he does not enjoy his job. Richard tells Bobbi about some things during the war that he never wanted to share with her. He also agrees to go back to college and do something with his life that he will truly enjoy.

Peter shows up in the same German LDS branch that Alex has just been given a calling in. He finds that Alex is now his brother-in- law and that his family is still alive. It may have been a little contrived and tightly wrapped up at this point, but I am glad that Peter was able to reconnect with his family. Peter is reunited with the Stoltz family and moves to America with them. They live in Salt Lake where President Thomas has made jobs for Heinrich and for Peter. He has also provided a house and a car for them. Peter does not like America as much as the rest of his family. He does not learn the language as quickly either. He wants to return to Germany and help rebuild it. He also has fallen in love with the young daughter of the family that took him in and saved his life.

LaRue is growing up and becoming more serious. She doesn't date and she doesn't seem to care for clothing as much as she did in the past. High school is ending for her and she is able to receive a scholarship to a college out East. President Thomas is concerned for LaRue. He is afraid that once she leaves the valley, her faith with subside and she will be brainwashed by the liberal thinkers she meets. LaRue wants to leave for this reason. The more she ponders, the more she wonders if her faith is really strong enough. She has many doubts which become strikingly more evident when she talks with her friend Cecil and her younger sister Beverly. LaRue hopes that leaving the family will make her rely on her own faith more.

Alex is the last to return home. He has a very hard time adjusting to being a father of a one year old that he has never met. He realizes that he has hardly spent any time with Anna. President Thomas wants to put Alex right back at the head of the family business but Alex has other ideas. Alex suffers with anxiety and anger from the horrors he saw and feels like he committed while in the Army. He refuses to say anything about what occurred while he was away. He is angered that anyone would think he is a hero. Finally Wally and Richard help Alex begin talking about some of the things that are plaguing his mind after Alex freaks out at the plant where he works. Alex realizes that they do understand him and that he can speak to them frankly about his fears and regrets. He gets closer to Anna and his baby Gene. He and Anna are soon expecting another baby. Alex decides that he may stay with his father's business and later enter politics.

If felt like the story wrapped up fairly neatly. I am sure some people find that not really true to life, but there is another series to follow this one. I like feeling like most things have been resolved. I really loved this series and felt like I learned a good deal of history while coming to love the characters.

Rating 5
Rating PG war stories of the violence that occurred to the soldiers.

When We Meet Again Children of the Promise Vol. 4

When We Meet Again Children of the Promise Vol. 4 by Dean Hughes

WWII is nearing it's end. The Thomas family anticipates reunion.

Alex is sent to army intelligence. He must drop in to enemy territory with a German ex patriot to find landing zones and heavy artillery that must be destroyed. He is successful, but when he tries to return to the Allies he is taken captive and his partner is shot and killed. Finally the Allied troops believe Alex and he is released. The war ends in Europe. Alex is sent home to Anna on leave. He cannot stay until their baby is born. He returns to Germany because he is fluent in German. He is to seek out Nazi and Gestapo leaders to be turned over for their war crimes. His son Gene is born in London. Alex is able to find Anna's father. He tells Papa Stoltz that he will continue looking for Peter, but that he should return to London and care for Anna and her mother and the new baby. Papa agrees but is reticent to give up on the search.

Anna is used by Allied intelligence to translate recordings of Allied spies from German to English. She hears Alex's voice. She fears for his safety and is angry that he would risk so much when he has a child on the way. She and Alex are reunited for a short time before the birth of Gene. She knows that the end of the war for Europe will not be the end of the war for Alex. With his skills, he will be left behind to attend to much of the damage and rebuilding.

Bobbi is on the Naval hospital ship The Charity. They are sent out to the Pacific Islands as the war there rages on. Her ship is bombed by a Kamikaze pilot. She and Richard are engaged but Richard is home in Utah having reconstructive surgery on his hands. He seems concerned that President Thomas has big plans for his family involving money and production plants after the war. Richard is afraid he will not be able to give Bobbi the same kind of life. Bobbi is upset because she wants Richard to fight for her and not care about income. Richard meets the Thomases.

Wally is still a POW in Japan. He works the Japanese mines. When Hiroshima has an atomic bomb dropped, the war ends in the Pacific soon after. The POW's are released. Many have built up anger towards their captors. Wally begins to feel bad for the general public of Japan. Once he has been able to get food for himself, he begins traveling around sharing what he has with the Japanese. Eventually Wally is able to make it out of Japan and home to America. He finally learns of Gene's death as he contacts his family. He and the other men wonder how deep the scars from being held captive and abused will run. They wonder if they will ever be able to act normal again.

LaRue befriends a boy in her class that is intelligent and easy to talk to but he doesn't keep up on current fashion. She leads him on with her friendship knowing that he could never be more to her because of his "coolness" factor. LaRue and President Thomas continue their power struggle. LaRue thinks that her father doesn't like her.

Once again I am loving this series. I feel like I have learned so much about this era. My favorite is the way that Wally still has such a deep urge to remain humane and spiritual despite the horror he is shown by his captors.

Rating 5

Rating PG war

Soldier Boys

Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes

Dieter and Spence are two boys caught up in WWII. Spence an American boy wants to prove his worth to those back in his home town. Dieter has joined Hitler Youth and wants to help Hitler wipe out the evil Americans and kill the filthy Jews.

Each boy finds that the glory of war is not what they thought it would be. They are starved, frozen and wounded. They see the baseness of humanity. As their lives are on the line and quickly coming to an end, they realize the hatred that they carry is not the men they want to be. Spence risks his life to help Dieter as he lay dying after battle. His kind and charitable hand is paid with the price of his own life when German soldiers gun him down as he drags Dieter to medics.

Quick tender read. Very reminiscent of Children of the Promise series. Great in helping understand history, current and future war events.

Rating PG violence, war
Rating 3.5

Far From Home Children of the Promise #3

Far From Home Children of the Promise Vol. 3 by Dean Hughes



The Thomases are still a war torn family. President Thomas is grating on my nerves with his holier than thou attitude.....but I also see where he is coming from.....sometimes. Sister Thomas is standing up to him......go Bea.

Alex is still in the heat of the battle near the front lines. It is winter 1945 and things are miserable for every soldier. Along with the battle the cold is tearing them up. Alex is freezing and fight for most of this book. He loses one of his men that reminds him of Gene........he finally has enough feeling left to cry. Alex finds out at the end of the book that he and Anna will be parents.

Bobbi rarely hears from Richard. She remains close to Ishi (an AJA in her ward) and her children as they also wait for news of Daniel, their husband and father. Bobbi finds herself tiring of Afton (her friend and roommate). Afton has found love in Sam, a Hawaiian. She leads him on for awhile knowing that he feels deeply for her but that she will not marry him because of their racial differences. Bobbi learns that Richard's ship has been sunk near the Philippines. She waits for so long to hear from him that she fears he is dead. Richard is finally rescued and sent back to the hospital at Pearl Harbor where Bobbi is stationed. He and Bobbi decide they do love each other and want to get married. Bobbi will soon be leaving on a naval hospital ship.

Wally is a POW in Japan. Conditions are still terrible for him. He is working in coal mines. The Japanese are under pressure to mine the coal and are horrendous to the prisoners. Wally and the other POW's suffer from extreme conditions, little food, disease, unsanitary situations, and the wrath of the Japanese. Wally struggles to get his hatred under control.

LaRue is only fifteen but acting much older. She has begun volunteering at the USO. She dances and flirts with the soldiers leading them to believe she is not just fifteen. Ned, a soldier from Hill Field falls in love with LaRue. Despite President Thomas' urging and harsh criticism LaRue cannot get enough of the attention she is attracting from the older boys. When Ned professes his love and asks LaRue to marry him before he is shipped out to the battle, LaRue has to come clean about her age. Ned is enraged but he loves her so much he asks her to wait for him while he is at war. She agrees to write to him but will not become engaged. She is also flirting like wild fire with the boys her age. LaRue begins to realize that she doesn't like what she is turning into.

The Stoltz's are separated. Anna and her mother are in London. Father has joined the Allied forces and is spying for then against the Nazi's in Germany. He is also hopeful that he will be able to locate Peter. Peter is caught by the Gestapo. He runs. In an effort to hide from then he finds that he must join the army even though he hates the Nazi's and what they are doing to Germany and the other nations. Conditions for the German troops fighting the Russians are horrid. Peter and the other boys are so young. They are freezing and starving. Peter and his last friend are sick and wounded. They finally make it to a hospital where Peter's friend Hans dies. Peter can take no more. He goes AWOL and joins fleeing refugees in hopes that he will not be caught. He is determined to never kill again even if it means forfeiting his own life.

This is another great addition to the already great series. I have loved watching Wally and the other POW's struggle with their determination to quell their hatred and find a way to forgive the Japanese. Also Alex and Peter are able to show that even though a nation may be wicked, not all of the people in the nation are. Despite desperate times and evil in the world, good can still be found in individuals.

Rating 5
Rating PG 13 War, violence, violent death, injury, hatred.

Since You Went Away

Since You Went Away by Dean Hughes Children of the Promise Vol. 2

In this second volume of Hughes WWII series, the Thomas family is pulled apart by the raging war. Alex joins the army paratroopers. Bobbi joins the navy as a nurse. Wally is still a POW in the Philippine Islands. When Gene graduates from high school, he joins the marines. Alex's love, Anna fights the Gestapo and her family is forced into hiding.

President and Sister Thomas are having to face the realities of war. Their children are being called to the corner's of the earth and the Thomases are hoping that they will all live to be reunited.
Alex joins the army after hard thought about staying to run his father's parts plant. He becomes a paratrooper, with the army's promise of later moving to intelligence because of his German background. Alex has a hard time thinking of German's as the enemy. The other soldier's in the paratroopers doing like his soft heart and love of the enemy. Even Alex's leaders think he is not cut out for the elite group. Alex proves them wrong and finds himself quickly working his way up the ranks. He is dropped behind the lines just before D day to make way for the incoming beach landing. Alex with only a very small platoon is able to disarm four large weapons. Just days later, while trying to lead his men toward enemy fire, Alex is shot in the leg. He ends up in a hospital in London. There he meets Anna again. They are reunited for the short time Alex recuperates. They get to know each other and find they are in love as much as they dreamed they would be. They marry and have a short honeymoon before Alex is shipped back to the front lines.
Anna and her family find themselves stalked by the Gestapo. Kellerman, the agent that hated the missionaries is on a mission to ruin the lives of the Stoltz family. He comes to their apartment one day while Anna is alone. He attempts to brutalize her. She slashes his face deeply with a knife and seals the fate of the family. Kellerman will never stop until he has had Anna and killed her family. The Stoltz's go into hiding by running away to Berlin and seeking refuge with another LDS family. On the verge of being discovered they run away and live in a bombed out building. Finally, Brother Stoltz is lead by the spirit to find the identification of dead man. He uses these to get other legal papers and find a job. The family is blessed to get an apartment and through Brother Stoltz's government job, their own legal papers. They work and lead a quiet life, waiting for the day they are discovered by Kellerman. Brother Stoltz hates the Nazi's. He decides to join an underground network in order to help save the lives of Jews. The family takes in a small Jewish family to hide. The Stolzt's are found out. They escape, but the Jewish family is taken away. The Stoltz family is able to escape Germany, but in the process are separated from Peter (Anna's brother). He is left somewhere inside of Germany. Anna and her parents make it to England where Anna and Alex are reunited.
Bobbi is stationed in Hawaii. She meets Afton, an LDS girl. They become friends, room together and attend church together. While at church they meet an AJA (American of Japanese Ancestry). We learn of the Japanese Americans being interred in camps because they could be spies. They are then asked to fight for the country that has treated them so regretfully. Bobbi and Afton also meet Richard Hammond, a sailor and also LDS. Bobbi and Richard fall in love but Richard is not able to reveal his feelings because he is afraid there will be no future for he and Bobbi.
Wally is still being held as a POW on the Philippine Islands. He is subject to atrocity after atrocity; no food, disease, death, violence, brutality, and hard manual labor. He is loaded on a train at one point, with so many men there is no room to move. His friends die or he is separated from them, but still he has the grit and desire to continue on. Wally is always the one trying to help those around him. He is proving to himself that he is not the family quitter. He dreams of the day he can return home and show his father what he is made of. Finally Wally is taken to Japan.
Gene joins up as soon as he graduates high school. He is a sweet and kind boy that has been better at sports than even his older brothers. Gene doesn't want to go to war but he feels like it is his duty. He joins the marines and stays true to who he is, not becoming foul and corrupt like many of the soldiers. Gene is able to be with Bobbi in Hawaii for a short time before he sees battle. On his first day on the beaches of Saigon, Gene is shot down and killed. The family mourns greatly over knowing that they will never be a whole family in this life again.

This is my favorite book so far, in this series and in the series to follow. It is heart wrenching and also a historical feast. Fabulous!
Rating 5
Rating PG 13 War and its atrocities.

Rumors of War

Rumors of War Children of the Promise Vol. 1 by Dean Hughes

The first book in Hughes WWII series is Rumors of War. The Thomas family has made it through the Great Depression and WWI. Hitler is rising in power across Europe and Russia. He promises to strengthen the dying economy. In truth he is out to strengthen communism and wipe out the Jews.

Alex Thomas, oldest son of Al and Bea, is on a mission for the LDS church, in Germany. He is there for the conversion of the Stoltz family and their beautiful daughter Anna. He is also there for the rise of Hitler. Jews and foreigners are being persecuted, including missionaries. After witnessing many atrocities towards Jews, the mission is being closed. Alex and other missionaries must flee the country before the borders close and trap them. The Gestapo is after them.

Once home, Alex wants to return to college, but his father, President Thomas has other ideas. Strict and opinionated Al is investing in a parts plant that he wants Alex to run. Al knows he can make his son rich and keep him out of the war this way. Alex sees things differently. He can't let other members of his family and community serve without joining his own effort. He knows someday he may have to fight the Germans that he came to love. He and Anna promise to ride out the war and find each other.

Bobbi oldest Thomas daughter is engaged to Phil, the man of every girl's dreams. Every girl except for Bobbi. She finds one of her professors more intellectually stimulating. Finally realizing that she doesn't want to be Phil's 'little woman', she breaks off the engagement. President Thomas is furious, especially when he finds out that Bobbi is thinking of marrying her English Lit. professor, David. David is brilliant and right up her alley, but he does not share her faith. He encourages her to master in literature and become a professor herself. When things aren't going the way David wants, he takes another position in Chicago. Bobbi's heart aches for him and she decides to travel to Chicago to visit. She has a wonderful time and things that maybe she can live without David's dedication to the church. David finally sees how that would change Bobbi and tells her they should end the relationship. Bobbi returns to Utah with a broken heart. She strikes a deal with her father that she will become a nurse. Something that President Thomas finds worthy of her time. The war is really raging now, and after Bobbi's brother is caught up in the middle, Bobbi realizes she must join her effort. After graduation Bobbi plans to sign up with the navy.

Wally, second son in the Thomas family is not living up to the Thomas name, at least in the eyes of his father. Wally deems himself the family quitter. When he can't beat Alex in anything, he gives up. His grades drop and he feels depressed. The only thing he loves is Lorraine. And she doesn't want to love him back. Finally when Wally sees that he can't be the man Lorraine wants, he joins the air corps.

Wally is stationed in the Philippines. He is quickly rising in rank and living a life of leisure. Then Japan storms Pearl Harbor and the Philippine Islands quickly follow in a desperate take over. Wally becomes a true soldier over night as he and his men are sent on a death march across the island. The Thomas family back home is frantic. They see the world changing over night. Alex and Bobbi join the fray with the blessing of their father.

The history in this book is amazing and terrifying. Everyone I have spoken with loves this series even more than the follow up series The Hearts of the Children. I can't wait to immerse myself into history with personal perspective.

Rating 4.5

Rating PG 13 War time violence

So Much of Life Ahead

So Much of Life Ahead Hearts of the Children Vol. 5 by Dean Hughes

Hans and Elli are engaged. Then the Stasi demote him after Rainer is imprisoned and tells the lies about Hans that they want to hear. Hans feels like he can't ruin Elli's life by keeping her hanging on waiting for him. He also doesn't want to marry her because he won't be able to provide for her. He is the counselor in his branch presidency. But his faith is tested as everything he has hoped for is ripped away. His father comes to him and tries to talk him into having more faith and moving ahead but Hans feels like he has no hope. Finally in a last attempt to break him, the Stasi call him in and threaten him. Hans fears he will be taken back to prison. He can't stand it any longer and tells them exactly what he thinks of the way things are being run in the country. He waits and waits to be taken back to prison, but instead is promoted. He and Elli can finally marry. They do. His faith is restored and he realizes that he should have listened to Elli all of the times she told him that they needed to go forward in faith and that doors would be opened to them. By the end Elli is pregnant and a counselor in the Relief Society. I would have liked to find out what happened to them in the years later when a temple was built in East Germany........even before the Berlin Wall fell.

Gene is not the same Gene as before Vietnam. He is no longer self confident, upbeat and kind. Danny is afraid of him and although Emily loves him she is having a hard time living with him. He has finally gotten off of the pain killers but he is angry and depressed. He begins writing articles about Vietnam and then current politics which are picked up by magazines and newspapers. He decides to return to college for a degree in journalism. He reports on the Watergate proceedings. Finally Emily can take no more of his anger and bottled up emotion. She and Danny leave. Gene's father Alex and his uncles Wally and Richard try to get Gene to talk about his fear, anger and nightmares. They know this is the only way for him to heal. He refuses. Someone takes offense to an article written by Gene. When the man confronts him Gene goes crazy and tries to kill him. Gene is put in the VA hospital psyche ward. Emily comes to be supportive. She wants him to get better. She finally tells Gene that she is seven months pregnant. Gene wants to get better and begins therapy. By the end he and Emily have their second child and Gene is doing better. I didn't get the feeling that he had completely recovered though.

Kathy is inspired by her Aunt LaRue coming home from the east and marrying a BYU professor and getting pregnant. She finally begins dating but can't stand anyone she goes out with. At long last she throws herself at her old high school boyfriend, Marshall, hoping to convince him she has changed. Marshall has some things of his own to figure out and Kathy thinks things between them will never work out. They eventually get together, marry and buy an old house in Heber. They decide the best way to change the world is to become involved in their community and the lives of their children.

Diane finally tells Greg she cannot ever see them together again. Greg's reaction only reinforces that decision. Diane finishes college and becomes a teacher. Her home teacher is in love with her and they begin spending a lot of time together. Finally she must tell him that she is not in love with him. She raises Jenny alone.

The patriarch of the family, Grandpa Thomas dies.

I didn't like this book as well as some of the previous ones. Maybe because I really want happy endings and all of the loose ends to be tied up.........which never happens in real life........but I like it in my literature.

Rating 4
Rating PG

Take Me Home

Take Me Home Hearts of the Children Vol. 4 by Dean Hughes

Hans is still being stalked by the Stasi. His old college roommate Rainer shows up at his door. Rainer says that he never ratted Hans out, but now he wants Hans' help getting out of the country. Hans turns him away. His life is improving little by little and he fears the government will come down on him for having any contact with Rainer.

Gene is in the jungles of Vietnam. It is a complete nightmare. He is shot in the leg during one recognisance mission. He is not injured enough to be sent home. Most of his team is injured or killed so when he returns to duty he is made a sergeant. Eventually just as his days of duty are counting down he is gut shot by the Viet Cong. He has surgery and returns to the States. He must undergo many more surgeries and has a colostomy bag until his final surgery when his intestines are reconnected. He has a hard time with anger and flash backs. He cannot connect with Emily and Danny.

Kathy joins the Peace Corp. and goes to the Philippines. She is depressed to find out that Filipino's are a layed back people and she feels like she has no hope of changing the families in her barrio. She tells everyone including the mayor and principal of the school she teaches at, what to do. It isn't until she begins going to church that she understands the only way she will see change is to love the people. She begins to regain her testimony and becomes the branch choir director.

Diane has Jenny, her baby. Greg is still mean and cutting. He beats Diane up. She leaves with Jenny but returns after Greg and their bishop convince her to try again. Diane finds an inappropriate letter from the female student in Greg's class. She brings it to Greg's attention. He freaks out. Eventually Greg hits Diane again and she leaves for good. She flies home to Utah and begins divorce proceedings. She lives with her parents. Greg doesn't pay child support. Greg's parent's come to visit Jenny. The do not know why Diane has filed for divorce. She tells them. Then she decides to try to improve her life and returns to college. She gets good grades. Greg tries to woo her back.

I really enjoyed this volume of Hearts of the Children. It was good to see Diane stand up for herself and protect her daughter. She realizes that there is more to life than looking cute. I'm glad that she didn't fall for Greg's manipulation for very long. I am finally beginning to like Kathy. She is starting to realize that anger and violence isn't the way to change. She regains her testimony and starts to love those around her instead of judging everyone. Gene just saddens me. It was an eye opener to find out what kind of hell the soldiers were going through in Vietnam only to come home and have their own country turn on them. Hans is finally beginning to see some light in his life and realize that he stayed in East Germany because that is what God wanted him to do. He becomes a leader in the church.

Rating 4.5
Rating PG for violence

How Many Roads (Hearts of the Children Vol. 3)

How Many Roads by Dean Hughes

Gene and Emily are just getting married. Gene is still in college.
Diane and Greg are engaged and getting married. Diane is learning that Greg is manipulative.
Hans is in prison in East Germany. The government is trying to get him to confess to helping Bernt in his attempted escape and to tell of the other people that were involved.
Kathy is still at Smith College but is starting to become less angry and always wanting to fight.

Gene and Emily get pregnant on their honeymoon even though Emily is on the pill. She is not happy. She wanted to finish college and have time alone with Gene. She does not want him to go to Vietnam. She wants him to try to get a delay or have his father Alex try to get him out. Gene refuses to take the easy way even though he can't bear leaving his new family. Gene is drafted soon after his son Danny is born and he has graduated from the U. He goes to Vietnam and ends up being a LURP. His job is to go out and scout to tell the other troops where to go. His first mission, he is paralyzed with fear. One of the men with him is seriously injured. He drags the man to the helicopter.

Diane and Greg move to Seattle for law school. Diane gets a job selling clothes in a fashionable store. Greg is gone all of the time. He belittles Diane constantly. Diane is soon pregnant. She and Greg have a daughter Jenny. Greg spends a lot of time at school with his study group and alone with a woman from the study group. At one point he grabs Diane harshly and pushes her against a mirror. She wants to leave but doesn't have the guts. All Greg cares about is that she is ready for sex at bedtime. He keeps promising that he will spend more time with Diane but he never does. Diane stumbles upon 'The Feminine Mystique'. She really begins to wonder what her life will be like when she is no longer a trophy to Greg.

Hans is miserable in prison. No matter what he says he cannot convince the government that he never saw anyone but Bernt during the attempted escape. He is put in a cold dark prison room. They take his Bible. He cannot even lie down during the day. He cannot move around too much....no exercise. He is bribed with a visit from his family and the offer to be able to relocate to America. He does not break. He refuses to go to America and leave his family. He feels the Holy Ghost and knows that even though he is miserable, he made the right choice. Finally the man that has been questioning him begins to like him and believe that he tells the truth. Hans is given a small apartment and a job. Basically he is on probation.

Kathy finally graduates from Smith. One of her professors has a thing for her. They become close. He brings up existentialism. Kathy begins to wonder if this is the answer to her feeling like she cannot deal with being a Church member any longer. Her family pleads for her not to give up on the church. Finally she agrees to keep praying and reading her scriptures. She is able to feel the Spirit at times. She tells her professor that she cannot let go of God. He basically makes fun of her. They both decide to join the Peace Corps. They are sent to different areas. Kathy goes to the Philippines. She learns a lot. She realizes after a visit from some of her students that she has been asking the wrong questions all of her life. This seems like a real turning point for Kathy.

I am enjoying these books the more I come to know the characters. I suffer with Gene and Emily as he goes off to war. I want to strangle Diane when she doesn't leave Greg (well I wanted to strangle her for marrying him in the first place). I get disgusted as women's lib moves more to the forefront of their thoughts. I know that sounds wrong. I am so appreciative for that movement but the pendulum swung to far to the other side. That is the part that I don't agree with and I can see it coming for these women. I pray right along with Hans that he will someday be free and happy. And I am finally coming to appreciate Kathy a little more. I hope she finally comes around and realizes that she can do so much more without vicious anger.
Rating 4.5
Rating PG war violence, violence against women

Troubled Waters

Troubled Waters by Dean Hughes Hearts of the Children Vol. 2

Troubled Waters picks up right where book 1 left off. Gene is still on his mission in West Germany. Hans is stuck in East Germany and going to church, hoping to be allowed into university. Kathy is just starting Smith college in the east. Diane is starting at the Y and sending her boyfriend Ken off on his mission.

Gene finds out that there is more to a mission than climbing the ladder when he is not made the AP. He finally starts doing the Lord's work instead of vying for leadership positions. After serving his two and a half years he returns to the states at Christmas. He lives in his parents home as they are living in Virginia and his father is in Congress. Gene returns to his studies at the U. He works for his uncle Wally selling cars. This is where he meets Emily. We eventually find out that Emily knew him from an opposing high school and scoped him out. They fall in love and Gene frets about marrying her or taking some time to cool off. The Vietnam war is raging and even though things don't look good Gene still wants to serve America if he is called up. He doesn't want to leave Emily to go to war and die. Finally he realizes that they can be sealed forever if they are to marry and he decides to tentatively propose marriage........which Emily accepts.

Hans goes to a youth conference where he and his crush Greta almost drown. He is convinced that Greta is the girl for him and that they will someday end up together even though he is younger that she. As Hans is accepted to University and moves away from home, he finds out that Greta is engaged to another man. He is seriously depressed. Hans also still has the Stasi on his case because he decided to help a friend escape from West Germany. Hans saw his friend murdered by police but escaped. Even though he wasn't fleeing the country himself, the government is sure that he aided the escape and they are slowly building a case against him. Hans visits Greta to make one last attempt at what he thinks is the love of his life, only to find that she will never feel the same about him. Upon his return to University he is picked up by the Stasi and put in prison. He is sentenced to three years. He will probably now never have a professional job (an engineer) with the government. Life will be even harder.

Kathy heads out east to Smith college. She meets her roommate.......whom she feel they have nothing in common with each other. She joins an SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) group and devotes most of her time to rallies instead of studying. She and LaRue, her aunt don't see eye to eye anymore about politics and the church. Kathy pulls back from her religion feeling like she has nothing in common with the other members. When she is home she fights with her family because they are so uniformed about real life. Martin Luther King Junior is murdered. Kathy begins to see that blacks are no longer wanting to change things peacefully. The radicals begin preaching violence. Kathy walks away from a flag burning. She joins a hippie movement in San Fransisco but his mauled by a free love, nasty hippie and returns to Salt Lake City. The country is in turmoil over Vietnam.

Diane semi promises to wait for Ken, or at least not to get married until she graduates from college. Then she is practically stalked by the smooth talking Greg. He paints a nice picture of their life together.........he will be beyond successful and give her the kind of life she dreams of. Nice home, kids, great clothes and the right kind of people to associate with. Diane lamely tries to hold out for Ken. Her roommates even try to stage an intervention because they don't like some things about Greg. Finally it is time for Greg to graduate and go away to grad school. He proposes marriage in a Greg sort of way and Diane can't help but fall for it. She agrees to marry him and follow him to grad school.

Gene seems more mature in this book, hence much more likable. He loses some of his politician slickness. He evolves into a character that I finally care about. The budding romance helps.

Hans has grown spiritually but his life seems destined for bleakness.

Kathy is almost more than I can handle in this book. I know that she is evolving like a real person so I try to understand. But I did not like Kathy in this book. She is ANGRY and she knows more than anyone else. She's hard to swallow. She does stick by her beliefs though, despite not feeling part of her religious community.

Diane just continues being pretty and dressing cute. I can see her heading for trouble. She doesn't take college very seriously unless it has to do with socializing. Greg gives her the old ' I prayed and God revealed to me you should be my wife!' and she totally is suckered in. He's an icky guy. I don't foresee a happy marriage.

Rating 4.25

Rating G

The Writing on the Wall Hearts of the Children Series Vol. 1

The Writing on the Wall Hearts of the Children Series Vol. 1 by Dean Hughes

This is the follow up series to Children of the Promise....which I have not read. This book stood on its own. I didn't feel like I had to be familiar with the previous series.

The book opens in 1961.......and as the title describes, I think this is a warning of things to come in the next books and American/World history.

The book follows the Thomas cousins; Gene the good-looking, school president, lots of dates but some depth kind of boy, Kathy the p.c. democrat in a largely republican family, Diane the pretty girl that only wants to be cute and grow up to have a 'nice' life, and Hans trapped in West Germany just as they are walled in.......struggling with a bleak life and questions about faith.

Gene wants to live up to his dad Alex. Alex served a mission in Germany where he met his wife Anna. He went back as a soldier and was in the thick of the fighting. He came home and served in the church and becomes a Congressman. Gene becomes class president then graduates and enrolls in the U were he joins a fraternity. He dates Marsha. She many times seems antagonistic towards Gene and thinks he lacks depth.........until he leaves on a mission. Gene serves in East Germany. He finds that he struggles with his faith and the bleakness of non-believers in his area.

Kathy may be young but she reads a great deal and is up on her current events. She wonders why her family, church and community don't CARE the way she does. We spend time with Kathy as she sees the vast churning of emotion and violence surrounding the racial movement in the 60's. Through Kathy the subject of priesthood for blacks, voting rights and other pivotal issues arise. Kathy travels to Mississippi one summer to show she wants to help bring about change.......not just sit at home and support it. Eventually she is bludgeoned by the white police and thrown in jail when she tries to stop the beating of a young black man. She also runs away from home and joins a freedom march. Kathy feels the desperation of the nation as President Kennedy is assassinated and human rights and Vietnam hang in the balance.

Diane is sweet and beautiful. She struggles as what brings her happiness.......dating, clothes, family life and church, clashes somewhat with her mother's values. Diane's mom Bobbi teaches at Weber State and is busy with her job and obtaining her doctorate.........just as she becomes pregnant with their last child Ricky. Diane ends up taking care of a lot of things at home. She also dates Scott, a nonmember. He begins showing interest in Diane's religion. He takes missionary discussions but always puts off baptism. Diane hears rumors of Scott's other life when he isn't hanging out with her.......drinking, gambling and other girls. Scott also becomes physically aggressive with Diane. She decides after some hard thought and a heart to heart with Bobbi, that she will break up with Scott.

Hans is not part of the Thomas family. He is a cousin to Gene. Gene's mother Anna and Hans' father Peter are brother and sister. Hans and his family become trapped in east Germany. Hans becomes angry that his father would never try to get them out before it became too late. Hans tries to escape with one of his friends. They nearly drown and sneak back home. The government still finds out and Hans knows he will pay for the rest of his life. His father is even demoted in his job for Hans' attempted escape. Peter thinks they should remain in West Germany to help build up the church. Life is bleak with little to eat, an oppressive government and lacking living accommodations. At one point Peter decides to try to get his whole family out of Germany but they are snitched on and end up returning home........although the government doesn't find out who they are..........a sign from God Peter determines. Hans is kicked out of school and given manual labor because of his first attempt at leaving the country. He starts to doubt his faith because he doesn't think a just God would want his family to live this way. He finally is admitted back into school where he becomes the top of his class but denounces his religion, breaking his families' heart. As time goes on his little sister Inga is teased for being LDS and refusing to sing part of the Internationale, which denounces a Savior. Hans sees her suffering. He loves her. He agrees to sit through Peter giving Inga a blessing. Peter then asks Hans if he can give him one also. Not wanting to cause more friction in the family, Hans agrees. He is touched by they Spirit. He decides to return to church and investigate his feelings further.

I loved the historical aspect of this book. I can see what a vicious struggle must have taken place back in the 60's to get our nation to this day. To me it seems so unbelievable that in history that current, people thought the things they thought. Okay, not unbelievable, I just don't want to believe it. This book made me question what I would have done if faced with those challenges.

Rating 4 I truly enjoyed the book, characters and historical view but I didn't fall madly in love with anyone in the book. Maybe in later volumes.

Rating G The characters certainly speak in 'Leave it to Beaver' terms.