Through the Eyes of Innocents: Children Witness World War II

As a German child who experienced the horrors of World War II personally, Dr. Emmy Werner weaves together a lively collection of letters, narratives and interviews that makes for fascinating reading. Werner's book is far reaching in its scope, from British children sent into the country to avoid bombing to Japanese-American childen interred in U.S. camps to German refugee children. She leaves few stones unturned. Through it all, she remains amazingly unbiased and open as she connects these experiences into a cohesive work. Despite the horrors recounted, such as firebombing, starvation and poverty, there is an equal showing of hope, compassion and bravery. There are heartfelt glimmers of humor amid the painful recollections. It is a testament to Werner's own stamina to survive and become a giving adult herself that this book is as genuinely informative and captivatingly written as it is. One compelling collection Werner uncovers is a special correspondence between then General Dwight D. Eisenhower and a young girl from Dayton, Ohio. It opens a wonderful window into how an energetic yet hopeful young woman and and a beleaguered commander formed a unique friendship over thousands of miles. I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially to high school history teachers whose students are studying World War II.They will find the personal stories compelling reading.

Dr. Emmy Werner's lastest book, in her ongoing research into the resilience of children who face adversity, probes the experiences and impressions of children who lived through the terrors of World War II. With even-handedness she quotes Japanese children who survived the world's first atomic bomb, English children who saw and felt London crumble from their air raid shelters in their gardens, German youngsters who watched Dresden burn. Besides showing the devastating effects of wartime violence, however, she also tells tales of English POWs who treat burned German children, or German POWs who are kind to the children of the families where they are housed. Her overriding message is that individuals must--and do--care for others, regardless of national politics, right or wrong. This work, while full of sadness, is a heartwarming affirmation of hope.