Five Children on the Western Front

Saunders, a childhood fan of E. Nesbit's Psammead stories (Five Children and It and sequels, 1902-1906), imagines the Pemberton children some years after their last adventure -- now young adults during World War I. The Psammead reappears in 1914, just as Cyril, the eldest, is heading off to war, and it stays with them for most of the war's duration. Still curmudgeonly and vain, it engages all the siblings, but especially the youngest ones (the Lamb, now eleven, and a new sister, Edie), in its quest to move to its proper place and time -- something it can't do until it is genuinely remorseful for injustices inflicted in the past. Saunders's brisk pace and casual warmth echo but don't artificially imitate Nesbit's breezy style; the result is an emotionally resonant, engaging story of personal growth (the siblings') and moral education (the Psammead's). With issues of social and gender inequality and a compassionate take on the ruins of war, it's historically convincing, thought-provoking, and sensitive to Nesbit's interests. It's also occasionally funny -- Saunders has a nice sense of family wit, comic irony, and the Psammead's stately incomprehension. ("Have a nice time at the amphitheater," the Psammead says as the siblings leave to see Peter Pan. "I hope your chariot wins.") An impressive achievement in many respects. deirdre f. baker

Saunders imagines the Pemberton children from E. Nesbit's Psammead stories as young adults during WWI. The Psammead, still curmudgeonly and vain, reappears in 1914 and stays with the siblings for most of the war's duration. With issues of social and gender inequality and a compassionate take on the ruins of war, the book is historically convincing, thought-provoking, and sensitive to Nesbit's interests.