"‘Another major contribution to the sociology of childhood by two pioneers in the field. Drawing from a rich variety of previously untapped resources, including children’s own accounts of their lives during the Second World War, Mayall and Morrow document the extensive labour and other contributions to the war effort made by English children. Though focusing on a particular period of crisis... You Can Help Your Country makes a strong case for enabling children to speak for themselves, and to participate more fully in socially useful activities.’
- Sarane Spence Boocock, Rutgers University
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"‘Mayall and Morrow have performed an enormous service, not only in broadening our perspective of children to include their economic and social contributions to the war effort... but also in exploring both the nature of childhood” and the ambiguity surrounding adult–child relations at a time of national crisis (and beyond). Where the evacuee was confined to a specific social (children’s) space, the child worker, in vacating the classroom, implicitly frequents “adulthood”. In raising questions about the nature of children/childhood, this is a timely, relevant and accessibly written book, and is an ideal text for students in education, history and sociology.’
Professor Harry Hendrick, University of Warwick"