Stay Where You Are And Then Leave
Gr 5–8—Boyne, much like in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (David Fickling Books, 2006), takes readers into the throes of war as seen through the eyes of a child. Alfie will always remember the day the fighting started because it was his fifth birthday, the day his whole world changed, the 28th of July 1914. Alfie's father, a milkman in their London neighborhood, enlists believing "the war will be over by Christmas." Four years later, Alfie is nine and the war rages on. Alfie begins shining shoes to help support his mother who works multiple jobs. Alfie believes his father to be dead until one day, while working, he discovers him in a hospital nearby. Sadly, the reunion is not the happy one Alfie expects. This is an excellent and approachable introduction to the traumas of war. All the characters are well developed and multilayered. Their thoughts and actions are authentic to the time and Alfie is no exception. His youth will not deter older readers since much of what is happening around him is so vivid. Detailed descriptions of character and place take readers into the heart of wartime Europe. There are some outlandish moments, including a scene with the Prime Minister, but this does not detract from the story or seem too incredible within the plot. This is not simply a book about the horrors of shellshock but also a comprehensive depiction of many different aspects of life during the World War I. Artwork not available at time of review.—Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY