Stepping on the Cracks

Use these links to supplement and complement students’ reading of the work and to increase their overall enjoyment of literature. Challenge them to discern parallel themes, engage through visual and aural stimuli, and delve deeper into the thematic possibilities presented by the title.

Recommended Texts for Pairing

The Watcher by Joan Hiatt Harlow

• Middle grade novel set in 1942 in which Wendy, an American girl, is kidnapped by her mother who is a Nazi spy, taken to Germany, and forced to support the German war effort. Offers a touching and suspenseful look at life in Germany during the war and acts as a counterpoint to the American war effort portrayed in Stepping on the Cracks.

Hitler’s Daughter by Jackie French

• School children in Australia wonder if Hitler had a daughter, what she would be like, and if Hitler’s evil would be her responsibility. Explores ethical conundrums.

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

• YA novel about a young Black woman in the 1940s who wants to become a pilot like her father. But to be a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilot) she must hide her African American heritage. Addresses themes of moral ambiguity and identity.

Other Student Resources

History.com

• Features a wide selection of articles and videos on many aspects of the war, from Rosie the Riveter to personal accounts of D-Day.

World War II: Visual Encyclopedia

• DK’s eye-popping visual reference book covers all aspects of WWII and includes photographs, maps, first-hand accounts, and statistics.

The Andrews Sisters perform Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

• Excerpt from the 1941 film Buck Privates. The video gives viewers a sense of the music of the era and the popular attitude towards the war. The song is mentioned twice in Stepping on the Cracks, highlighting Elizabeth’s high-spirited personality.

WWII News Broadcasts

• Actual news audio clips from the war era help students understand how important radio was as a form of information and entertainment.

Teacher Resources

The National WWII Museum and the Wright Museum of WWII

• Both sites have extensive educator resources including worksheets and activities for middle grade classes and ideas for remote learning.

Domestic Violence, Child Welfare, and the School System

• Offers resources that help educators teach students who are affected by trauma and family violence.