Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce

 genre: historical fiction

Emmy is so confident in her desire to become an ace Lady War Correspondent that when she sees an ad for a typist at a big London newspaper, she interviews right away and accepts the job. Only problem is that she didn't SUPER pay attention to what kind of job it is - and it turns out that it's not actually a newspaper job at all.  It's a job at Woman's Friend magazine - no exciting bylines or actual news, really. Just recipes, short stories and letters asking for help - and because of the strict moral fiber of her editor, most of these letters can't even be answered in print!  Emmy's got a big heart, though, and some of the letters sent into to the magazine really seem to need an answer.  What's a woman on the homefront to do in that situation?

Set earlier in World War 2, this book never leaves London and the surrounding area.  It's about a young woman trying to live her life with her best friend as bombs drop around them.  It's a story of fire brigades and volunteer call centers, rations and fast friendships - and about how the old way of doing things doesn't quick seem up to snuff - especially when Hitler's luftwaffe makes it clear that any day could be your last.  I liked Emmy's spunk.  The plot didn't go quite where I thought it would and I liked that as well.  The romantic thread is so thin it almost isn't there but it's squeaky clean and a really enjoyable story of friendship, duty and finding your place in a world at war.