Book Review: A War of Her Own by Sylvia Dickey Smith

Summary: 

A War of Her Own is a novel set during World War II in the summer of 1943 in Orange, Texas, a sleepy little town overrun with tens of thousands of new workers.  With jobs galore at the wartime shipyards, the workers are rich with cash, eager for excitement, and looking for a good time.

In the midst of this, Bea Meade, mother of an infant son, finds her life shattered when her philandering husband announces he is leaving her for another woman.  to make ends meet, Bea takes a job at one of the shipyards as a riveter.

Life is good for everyone in Orange---except Bea, who has to fight her battles against a no-good husband, the prejudice facing women in the workplace, and the mysteries of her past that keep her awake at night.

A War of Her Own offers a story of wartime passions on the homefront as Bea seeks to discover who she really is. 

Publication Date:  September 2, 2010
Publisher:  Crickhollow Books
Age Group:  Adult
Pages:  280

Review: 

Historical fiction is my favorite genre.  I am also a big fan of Sylvia Dickey Smith (Dance on His Grave, Dead Wreckoning).  So it was with great excitement that I sat down to read Sylvia Dickey Smith's new novel: A War of Her Own, set in Orange, Texas in 1943.

I was expecting a story about a strong woman in that "Sylvia Dickey Smith style": lots of background information, great supporting characters, a page-turning mystery, and a woman realizing she doesn't need a man to be complete.  I was not disappointed!  A War of Her Own had all of those elements and more.  This was my favorite Smith book to date, and the most emotional, heart-rending story I've read in a while.

Yes, this novel is set in WWII times, but this is not a "war" story---it's a story about love, family, self-discovery and self-empowerment with a war going on in the background.  I can tell that Smith did a lot of research for this book.  I really appreciate that, especially the attention to detail all of her books employ.  I don't like a book to preach or teach to me, but I do like to learn a little bit while reading and this book does just that. 

I never thought about how Orange being a major shipbuilding area due to the location, and how after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the population exploded from 7,500 to over 65,000 due to the increase in shipbuilding jobs.  People had money due to the good jobs, but there was nowhere to live---people were literally living in the streets due to the lack of housing!  I also never thought about women taking many of those jobs since so many of the men were fighting. And these weren't "women's jobs"---women were doing heavy labor right alongside the men.

But my favorite thing about A War of Her Own was Bea's story and growth.  She lives under impossible circumstances, but manages to flourish despite her hardships.  I was so emotionally invested in Bea's story that I read the book in one sitting: I knew I couldn't go to bed without finding out how Bea's story ended. Below is my favorite quote from the book:

"Perhaps it was impossible not to hate or to love God, or anyone else, when you had no idea who you were."

Fans of The Help, fans of historical fiction, or people wanting to read about a strong woman will love A War of Her Own. 

Just One Gripe: 
I wanted more details on the love story.  

The Best Thing About This Book: 
I loved the character growth.  Bea changes so much from the beginning of the book to the end.  I loved taking that journey with her.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
Probably not.

Score: 

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Setting/Imagery: 5/5

Originality: 5/5

Ending: 5/5

Total Score: 25/25