World War II. Hitler is threatening to take over the world. Eddie Carl thinks America should stop him-it's just plain right. But Eddie's too young to fight, and their farm in Illinois is a long way from the fighting. Ellisville, where the big news story is gophers in the graveyard and the new bank alarm. But then America joins the war and Eddie's brother Thomas goes off to fly a bomber. Suddenly the war doesn't seem so far away. And Eddie faces more grown-up problems at home: A fire that might be arson, Grampa Rob all stubborn and mean, Grama Lucy hiding something. And that redhead Sarah definitely likes him-unless maybe she hates him. Eddie's in the middle of it all, trying to figure out what's right. Let Thomas fight World War II. Eddie's war is right here in Ellisville.