Review
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Title: Home and Away: A World War II Christmas
Author: Dean Hughes
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Fiction
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 169
Binding: Hardback
ISBN13: 978-1-62972-092-7
Price: $16.99
Reviewed by Kristie Wilkins for the Association for Mormon Letters
Christmas is approaching and the Hayes family finds themselves in the midst of a seemingly never-ending war. As their son Glen struggles to survive in the European theater of World War II, each member of the Hayes family at home finds themselves fighting battles as well. Mother, Father, daughters and sons must each face the most difficult conflicts of all — the trials of faith that rage in the heart and soul.
In his deeply moving new novel, “Home and Away: A World War II Christmas Story”, author Dean Hughes takes his readers on a journey to the heart and purpose of Christmas. Told through the eyes of the Hayes families’ sons Dennis and Glenn, the story reflects the experiences of the family both at home and away at the front. As each individual member of the family moves through the holiday season during this time of war they are confronted with trials that challenge their faith in themselves, in God and each other. Mr. Hayes struggles with addiction and the fear that his children are embarrassed by him, his 16 year old son struggles as well with the need to fit in versus acceptance and gratitude for who he is and where he came from. Norma, the mother, walks the tightrope of holding the family together while trying to maintain faith and courage for her son. Glenn, a soldier stationed in Europe during the height of the second World War, struggles not only to survive but also to find that same faith and courage in a situation that brings out the very best or the very worst in human nature.
The most touching element of the book for me was Hughes’ depictions of the powerful connection between mothers and their children — especially between mother and son. As a mother I have prayed and had some experience with the soul-deep heartache that comes from knowing your child is far away and suffering. It is difficult to balance worry over a child you cannot help with the need to care for the children in front of you who are also hurting and afraid.
Norma Hayes’ relationship with her children is moving on many levels. From her care for her daughters, too young to understand war, her gentle guidance to a son on the brink of manhood, to her fervent prayers for her son abroad, Norma exemplifies the selfless love of mothers. That love is reflected in the faith of her sons as they cling to remembrances of their mother and her teachings. That her son could feel her prayers and her presence while on the battlefield is a tremendous testament to the sacred nature of the bond between a mother and her children.
“Home and Away” is a Christmas story not only because it is set at Christmas time but because it exemplifies the themes of love, forgiveness, redemption, family, sacrifice which are at the very heart and purpose of the original Christmas story. Each character in the book is flawed, human and in pain. As we watch them work through their struggles individually and as a family, we can see the power of love and forgiveness triumph over fear and misunderstanding. Hughes’ characters are written with great depth and as they evolve the reader can empathize with so much of what they are going through because the characters are flawed, imperfect people and therefore relatable.
As the story concludes, our friends are left not at an ending but at a beginning. Mr. Hayes and his son Dennis have just reached a point of understanding and a new relationship is about to grow. Glen is home but injured in both body and spirit and the road to recovery stretches out infinitely ahead. Norma Hayes has her family returned to her but that family will never be the same. Her role as the binding force will be more important now than ever. In spite of the obstacles and trials ahead the Hayes family has learned something about faith, forgiveness and family that leaves us with a feeling of hope for the journey ahead of them.
Master storyteller Dean Hughes has been a favorite author of mine for many years. “Home and Away: A World War II Christmas Story” is a book I am thrilled to not only add to my own collection but to recommend to family and friends. Poignant and profoundly moving, this story will touch your heart this holiday season and remind you of how the very precious the gifts of love, forgiveness, family and hope were given to us all on a night very long ago in a stable in Bethlehem.