Camp Fire Girls in War and Peace

In Short

Set against the backdrop of the Great War, this novel follows the Morning-Glory Camp Fire group, a collection of young women who channel their patriotism into civilian service. From tending "war gardens" and camouflaging boats to aiding the foreign-born and supporting the families of soldiers, the girls cultivate resilience and sisterhood. While the narrative is deeply rooted in the specific anxieties of 1918—including fears of sabotage and submarines—it endures as a sentimental yet sincere look at how collective ideals can provide stability during periods of profound national upheaval.

The Story

The narrative opens in the spring of 1918, amidst the immediate, visceral threat of the war. In a dramatic prologue, the Morning-Glory Camp Fire girls witness a training exercise in "Gas Valley," where they are confronted by the grim reality of chlorine gas and injured soldiers. This experience serves as a catalyst for the group; they resolve to take the war effort seriously, moving beyond their previous, more carefree pursuits. Led by the earnest Olive Deering and her friend Sara, the girls transition into a period of dedicated labor. They take up gardening, craft handmade goods for the Red Cross, and welcome a young Italian immigrant, Flamina, into their circle, helping her integrate through the Camp Fire ritual.

As the summer progresses, the setting shifts to a camp on the coast of New England. The atmosphere is thick with both natural beauty and the "poisoned breath" of international conflict. The girls encounter local characters, including the rugged Captain Andy and a young man named Atwood, who is working in the shipyards to support the war effort. The narrative is punctuated by moments of high tension, particularly when the girls suspect that a mysterious seal-hunter in the area is actually a German spy. Their suspicions culminate in a nighttime adventure where they witness what they believe to be clandestine signaling to an enemy submarine.

Throughout this period, the girls maintain a constant connection to the front through letters from brothers and cousins, including Olive’s brother, Iver. Their domestic life—ceremonial fires, singing, and embroidery—is constantly juxtaposed with the "baleful reality" of the war. They find inspiration in the arrival of army aviators, whose visit to their camp sparks a deep sense of wonder and reinforces their commitment to national duty. The arrival of an airplane, which they view as a heroic symbol of the age, further cements their resolve.

The story moves toward its conclusion with the Armistice of November 1918. The tension of the "night of pain" finally gives way to the hope of peace, marked by the birth of a baby symbolically named "Peace Europa." The final scenes bring a sense of resolution: the girls celebrate a Christmas defined by gratitude and the return of their loved ones. Iver returns home safely, and the Morning-Glory Group finds that their shared experiences—both the labor of the war garden and the vigil kept on the beach—have forged a permanent, unbreakable sisterhood.

How It Unfolds

The training ground The girls witness a harrowing gas drill in a valley near their home, which shifts their perspective from play to the reality of the front. This moment of shock binds the group together in a shared desire to contribute meaningfully to the national cause.

The summer of service The group establishes a coastal camp, balancing the physical labor of "war gardens" with the cultural integration of their newest member, Flamina. They struggle to reconcile the tranquility of the seaside with the persistent, lingering fear of enemy submarines lurking off the coast.

The shadow of suspicion Sara and Betty stumble upon a man using a mysterious device to signal into the dark, leading them to conclude he is a spy. This discovery forces the girls to act as amateur detectives, testing their courage and their ability to keep a secret.

The dawn of peace The narrative culminates with the signing of the Armistice, providing a sudden release from the collective anxiety of the previous months. The story closes with the homecoming of the soldiers, transforming the girls' earlier period of service into a lasting celebration of unity and relief.

The People

Olive Deering is the moral center of the group, a natural leader whose sense of responsibility is heightened by her brother’s presence in the war. She evolves from a girl of privilege into a resilient "Maid of France" figure, grounding her group in tradition and service.

Sara Davenport, with her fiery personality and keen observation, provides the group's "flame." Her alertness—especially regarding the potential spy—drives much of the external action, and she balances her patriotic fervor with a deep, sisterly loyalty.

Flamina, the young Italian immigrant, represents the group's expansion of heart. Her initiation into the Camp Fire rituals symbolizes the American ideal of the era, and her singing provides the emotional soundtrack to the group's efforts, helping them soften the hardships of their work.

Iver Davenport, Sara’s brother, represents the soldier’s experience. Though often absent, his influence on the girls is profound; he is the "observation post" whose bravery inspires the girls to "carry on" with their own smaller, domestic battles.

Captain Andy and Atwood Atwell serve as the link to the local community. Captain Andy provides the wisdom of age and the sea, while Atwood—the "Candy Kid"—demonstrates the transformation of the privileged youth into a laborer, mirroring the girls' own commitment to the home front.

In Its Own Voice

"Gas!" Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

This exclamation marks the sudden, chilling intrusion of the war into the quiet New England landscape at the start of the book.

"Yes! The brave Belgians! The women of England! The French--oh! aren't they wonderful!" Olive expresses the intense, fervent support for the Allied cause that defined the daily conversations and emotional life of the girls throughout the book.

"Now, I'll 'give her the gun'--open the throttle! And see me 'zoom'!" This quote captures the awe and modern excitement with which the girls greet the aviators, who represent a new, heroic aspect of the war effort.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the search for unity and "brotherhood" in a world fractured by conflict. The book argues that service, even when it manifests as humble gardening or embroidery, is a form of spiritual defense that keeps the "home fires" burning. It asks how the youth can maintain their innocence while confronting the reality of a world at war. By framing the Camp Fire rituals as a "Gospel of Peace," the book suggests that the preservation of community and the welcoming of the "other"—as seen in the inclusion of Flamina—is the most effective way to uphold the ideals of a nation. It is a story about the transition from the "fluffy" concerns of adolescence to the disciplined, purpose-driven life of a citizen.

Why Read It Today

This book offers a window into the specific, heightened emotional landscape of 1918. Readers who appreciate historical snapshots of the "home front" will find the descriptions of war gardens, rationing, and the societal obsession with spies and submarines both fascinating and quaint. It is a deeply earnest work, colored by the intense patriotism of the immediate post-war era, and those looking for a sense of the period's cultural values will find it rich in detail.

However, a modern reader should be prepared for the book's period-typical attitudes. The language occasionally relies on caricatures—particularly in its depiction of the "foreign-born" and the use of dialect—which may strike contemporary readers as dated or reductive. The pacing is also reflective of its time, preferring long, descriptive scenes of rituals and scenery over modern, tight-plotted action. Yet, there is a genuine warmth to the writing that transcends these limitations. For the reader who values the persistence of human hope during dark times, the book’s central message—that community and shared purpose can sustain us—remains surprisingly resonant. It feels like a time capsule, capturing not just the events of the Great War, but the specific, hopeful idealism that Americans of the time were trying to preserve for their own future.