Will & Dena: Love and Life in World War II by Bob Rogers
By Beverly Jackson • May 26th, 2010 • Category: Book Review 2010 •
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Will & Dena: Love and Life in World War II by Bob Rogers tells a story that until recently was mostly only whispered about, or at least was not known outside of a limited community of people. It is a coming-of-age story that begins in the North Carolina Central Piedmont region in the spring of 1943. The United States is in the midst of a World War fighting to free countries from tyranny, but in this small corner of western North Carolina, freedom is not available to everyone. The reader is introduced to Will Wallace, who wants nothing more than to work with his father as a lumberjack, play baseball on one of the local “colored” teams, and plans his life with the Lena Horne look-a-like Dena Miller. But, just as curveballs are pitches designed to disrupt the batter’s timing, Will will be thrown some curveballs that will disrupt his life in ways he never imagined.
While drafting the review, I thought about how timely this book is in light of some recent current events and how these events relate to the story of Will & Dena. There are several states that are looking to change the way African-American history is presented, and bullying is a growing concern in our schools. As we watch Will mature into a man, it will be several bullying incidents that will change the path of his life, and this story is rich in the history of the contributions of the African-Americans soldiers in WW II and the battles that were fought not only against the foreign enemy but another enemy – Jim Crow. And while, in recent years, we have learned more about the role of African-American soldiers in Europe, I enjoyed reading about the 366th Infantry Regiment involvement in Italy, and hope more of these stories will come to light.
I enjoyed this storyline and really appreciated how Will’s father out negotiated the white power brokers because they thought he would not understand the value of what he was getting. Despite being a sports enthusiast, the detailed inning by inning plays at the beginning of the book slowed the story down, but the story quickly picked back up. I also wish the book had a better title as I feel male readers, and some female readers, will hesitate to pick up the book because of the title.
This would be a wonderful book for young black males to read and discuss as there are lessons in growing up that they can relate to. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading stories about the WWII era and learning about more about the complex history of the United States.
This book was provided by the author for review purposes.
Reviewed by Beverly
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Beverly Jackson is is a recent transplant to the Charlotte, North Carolina area. She is an avid reader, and there are very few times you will catch her without a book. Several years ago, she changed her dining room into a library with wall to ceiling bookshelves. She loves sharing her enthusiasm for reading with others and writing book reviews is a way she shares her thoughts. For the last twenty years, she has worked in the technology field for an international consulting firm, but is easing her way into retirement. Her biggest accomplishment is raising two daughters to be productive citizens of society, and they have blessed her with five wonderful grandchildren. Some of her other interest are traveling, watching sports and practicing yoga. And her latest toy is her Kindle which allows her to carry around her library in her purse.
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