Synopsis
As the enemy lurks in the darkness, Thomas struggles to stay awake through the night. He has lived through the terror of gas attacks and watched friends die by his side. But in the morning, Thomas will be forced to confront an even greater horror.
As the minutes tick by, Thomas remembers his childhood spent deep in the countryside with his mother, his brothers, and Molly, the love of his life. But each minute that passes brings Thomas closer to something he can't bear to to think about—the moment when the war and its horrific consequences will change his life forever.
Paula Rohrlick - KLIATT
It's the longest night of young Thomas's life, as he stands watch over the battlefields of France in WW I, and he spends it thinking back on his life and trying not to think about the terrible event scheduled to take place at dawn. Thomas is only 17; he lied about his age in order to follow his beloved older brother Charlie to war. He reminisces about their childhood, the death of their father, the despotic colonel who controls their family's fate, and his first love, Molly. He also relates the misery of training to be a soldier, and the horror of shelling, gas attacks, life in the trenches, and seeing friends killed. The worst is yet to come, however, for a cruel sergeant has brought Charlie up for a court martial for refusing to leave his brother behind when Thomas is injured—and at dawn, brave, merry Charlie, Thomas's guardian and best friend, is to be shot for cowardice. This simply told, skillfully written tale has a tremendous emotional impact. A postscript and author's note at the end tells about the injustice done to men like Charlie, and gives some background on the war. Morpurgo, the author of Kensuke's Kingdom and other books for young readers as well as for adults, was recently named the Children's Laureate of England. This fine historical novel, based on Murpurgo's interviews with veterans and research trips to the battlefields, should help to build his reputation on this side of the Atlantic. KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2003, Scholastic, 208p., Ages 12 to 18.