We just took a less then 24 hour trip and drove 3 1/2 hours to visit family for our family Christmas Sing-a-long. I hate missing it, so I asked my husband if we could go and he said yes. My grandma’s health isn’t great I would hate to miss the party if it could be her last. We are home now, but I got to read a really really good book on the way. Home and Away by Dean Hughes and published by Shadow Mountain. 
Home and Away: A World War II Christmas Story
Home and Away by Dean Hughes is a sweet World War 2 Christmas story. The book is short, simple and a very fast read. You could easily read it in one day. It follows the Hayes family in Ogden, and also their son who is a paratrooper in World War 2. The mother Norma always tries to make Christmas a special time for their kids but with a son away at war and money being tight, she knows it’s going to be a hard year. The Hayes family is made up of Glen the oldest son who is on the front lines in Europe, Dennis a 16 year old son that is a hard worker and has a great respect for his mother, 2 younger daughters and a husband and father who is going through his own struggles. The story follows Dennis as he longs to have a relationship with his father and is determined to buy something special for his mother for Christmas. They long for the day when their brother and son Glen can come home from World War 2. I don’t want to spoil the story so I won’t tell you all that happens but the story is filled with forgiveness, love, friendship, and hope.
The story helped me get a small glimpse of what so many families have had to go through when their children are away at war. I can’t even fathom the emotions that come when your child will not be home for Christmas.This sweet Christmas story teaches us that no matter what we have to keep pushing forward in life and loving those around us despite the hardship and trials we go through.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. I’m going to read it to my children at night before they go to bed.
