Super Short Summary

The Dollmaker by Harriette Simpson Arnow, first published in 1954 and shortlisted for the 1955 National Book Award, is an American historical novel set during WWII. It follows Gertie Nevels, an independent young woman from Kentucky, who moves with her family to Detroit after her husband Clovis decides to join the army and work in city factories. Torn between her dreams of owning farmland and supporting her family, Gertie struggles to adapt to urban life while trying to keep her family united. Sensitive topics involving familial grief and the loss of a child are portrayed in the book.