Gordy Smith is a boy who lives in Maryland during World War II.  He’s a bully, but it’s partly because of the pressures he’s under because of his family.  His family is poor, and his father is a drunk who abuses him.  In the first book, a classmate of his discovers that he is hiding his older brother, who is an army deserter.

The first book in the series really focuses more on Gordy’s classmate, Margaret, who is trying to cope with her feelings about her brother being sent away to war. In that book, Gordy is largely an antagonist seen through Margaret’s eyes. Gordy mercilessly bullies both Margaret and her best friend, Elizabeth, until they discover the truth about Gordy hiding his brother, Stuart, the army deserter. The situation puts the girls in an awkward position because, while they realize that they should report an army deserter, they know that there would be serious consequences for Stuart. Unlike Gordy, Stuart is a pacifist and a gentler soul, who would not really be suited for the army and fighting and killing. The girls find themselves having to work with Gordy to deal with the situation.

Later, Gordy’s family moves in with his wealthy grandmother in North Carolina, whose practical approach to life helps to change Gordy’s life for the better.

After the death of his grandmother, Gordy moves back to Maryland again, but he has a difficult time because people there remember him and his family and their bad reputation, but he is determined to change his life for the better.

Books in the Series:

Stepping on the Cracks (1991)

Eleven-year-old Margaret is trying to have a normal childhood (as normal as possible) while her older brother is away, fighting in Europe.  Then, she discovers that the class bully is hiding his older brother, who has deserted the army.

Following My Own Footsteps (1996)

Gordy’s family goes to live with his wealthy grandmother.  Her practical nature and an unexpected friendship with a boy in a wheelchair change Gordy’s life.

As Ever, Gordy (1998)

Gordy returns to Maryland, but he has trouble living down his old bad boy bully image. Between people waiting for him to return to his old, bad habits and his old friends encouraging and expecting him to join him in the trouble-making they used to get up to, Gordy realizes that becoming the kind of young man he wants to be means being his own man and standing up for what he’s been working to achieve.