Gordy's abusive father has been arrested, so as a last resort their mother moves her large family to her mother's home. Gordy is angry at his dad and at the world. He is smart but won't show it in his new school, compassionate but won't help others, and mature beyond his years because he had to leave childhood before he was finished with it. As a matter of fact, Gordy is beginning to show signs of repeating the cycle of abuse he despises in his dad. After several unfortunate incidents he and William, an overprotected polio victim living next door, form an unlikely alliance. One day Gordy's older brother returns from military service refusing to act heroic, and their dad shows up ready to move the family, ready or not. Strong main characters, a good sense of place, and a powerful anti-war theme mark this successful sequel to Stepping on the Cracks published in 1991. Hahn incorporates solid details to establish the year and describe the impact of national events, such as President Roosevelt's death and V-E Day. (Ages 10-13)

The sequel to the award-winning Stepping on the Cracks. “Sometimes heart-rending, sometimes funny, Gordy Smith will prove memorable to all who meet him.”—Booklist (starred review)
 
In Following My Own Footsteps, sixth-grader Gordy Smith comes to grips with the fear that he’ll turn out no better than his abusive father . . .
 
With his father now in jail and one brother hospitalized, Gordy’s mother has no choice but to take the family to their wealthy grandmother’s house in North Carolina. There Gordy meets William, a boy who had polio and is now wheelchair bound. Though they become friends, Gordy’s plans to help William fail spectacularly. Matters only get worse when Gordy’s father is released from prison and his mother is poised to give him a second chance. Gordy must decide where he belongs—with his dysfunctional parents or with the grandma who is more than his match in toughness, in courage, and in love.
 
“A cast of unforgettable characters inhabit this work, seasoned with WW II setting but utterly contemporary in its concerns. Hahn is in top form, proving through Gordy’s first-person narration that real love can triumph over all kinds of adversity, and often does.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“The complex characterizations, period setting and Gordy’s brave attempts to break a cycle of violence will hold readers’ interest.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“It’s a timeless social issue really, in any era, of having a dysfunctional abusive parent . . . A very good story showcasing complex friendships, familial relationships, and inner conflict, all set in WW2 America.”—Cats and Fiction