Legion
of Honor
Book
One
Giulia Goes to War
An
eBook by Joan Leotta
Published
by Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.
Reviewed
by Linda Goodman
This
enchanting historical romance novel has everything needed to capture a young
girl’s heart: forbidden love; intrigue; and interesting historical data. Set
during World War II, Giulia, its young heroine, leaves her sheltered life with
her staunchly Italian family in Avocatown, Pennsylvania to support the war
effort by working with her cousin Carmie and her friend Helen at a shipyard in
Castle Hayne, North Carolina.
Giulia
must pass tests to get the job she wants and receives such high marks that she
is assigned to a top secret project in an area called the “live wire.” This is
where the intrigue comes into play – a German spy is desperately trying to
infiltrate the “live wire” and steal information about the secret project.
Giulia, of course, becomes the means to his end. At least, that is his plan.
Young
ladies supporting the war effort are also expected to attend the USO dances,
where they are warned not to share more than a few dances with each soldier. All
three girls find love, but Giulia suffers the misfortune of falling for an American, knowing
that her parents want her to “stick with her kind” and marry an Italian.
Giulia’s
love affair with John is all the more tantalizing for its chastity. Their
handholding is as passionate as a kiss, their fervor all the more desperate
because of the secrets they must keep.
Teens will enjoy the book as much as adults. When
I was in the sixth grade, my English teacher used to give me teen romances to
read as a way to keep my overly serious mind from dwelling on somber topics. I
can see Mrs. Mabry giving me a paperback copy of Giulia Goes to War (no eBooks
in 1963). I can just as easily see myself taking it to bed with a flashlight,
eager to find out what was going to happen next without rousing my mother in
the next room.
Leotta
confesses to taking some liberties with history. Avocatown, for instance, is a
fictional place similar to small coal towns near Pittsburgh. Dishes served in
the book are real, however, and can be found in the Desert Breeze cookbook.
The blend of history and imagination is so skillful that the reader forgets
that the characters are not real. In fact, they are real enough that they
linger with the reader well after the book has been read. This is the mark of a
gifted writer.
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