In the summer of 1943, adventurous twelve-year-old George is growing up in a bustling, northern Michigan copper mining town. As the ninth of ten children born to Finnish immigrant parents, George is no stranger to a life of struggle. But when draft cards order his two older brothers away to fight in World War II, he faces hardships much greater than the usual supply shortages and food rations.
Even with his increased responsibilities of chopping mountains of firewood for winter, shooing poop flies while pumping the outhouse, and harvesting potatoes until he's nearly picking them in his sleep, George still finds plenty of time for boyhood adventures. He makes friends with a runaway orphan, earns extra money by taking on a paper route, spends his days fishing and exploring in the woods, plays hockey on the town ice rink during the cold winter months, and even lands in bed with a nasty case of the mumps.
Spring can't come fast enough! George hopes the warmer weather will bring better health and the end of the war. The only problem is, even if the war ends, George's brothers may not make it home...
With a classic narrative and plenty of heart, When War Knocks is sure to appeal to fans of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.