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Once Upon a Town - The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen
by Bob Greene
William Morrow
ISBN 0060081901
Published May 2002 - Hardcover - 272 pages

Having driven through North Platt in Nebraska, because I was lost, and never thinking I'd hear about this place again, I was delighted to find this little gem at the library.  Was I in for a surprise!  What a truly marvellous story about the goodness and kindness of the human spirit during WW2 when the American soldiers' train passed through this town.  They must have thought they'd found a piece of heaven.  I loved the characters Mr. Greene researched and describes, and by the end of the book, I felt as though I would like to go and see it for myself.  Pity the station doesn't exist anymore but the story is nevertheless a wonderful one.  A feel-good read that won't take you long.
See my reviews of two of Mr. Greene's other books, Late Edition: A Love Story and And You Know You Should Be Glad - A True Story of Lifelong Friendship.
Conclusion - Great factual story about the past - try it.

"Once Upon a Town is the story not just of the North Platte Canteen, but of what, in my opinion, was "the best America there ever was."  The generosity and love of their fellow countrymen shown by the people out on the Nebraska plains during World War II offer us a moving and lasting lesson about how we can be a better country today.   Thanks again for your very kind words."   Bob Greene