Gr 3–5—A narrative take on the real stories of children who faced war. Students will learn a brief synopsis of each conflict—the dates, location, and countries involved—but the main focus of each title is on the child's bravery in the face of danger and bloodshed. Using dialogue and descriptive details, the accounts are engaging but simple—the concept of a lost childhood is not really touched on in any depth. The volumes' texts and illustrations skew younger, though the protagonists are ages 11 and up. The unsettling nature of young people firing cannons and pulling triggers is given a puzzlingly light treatment with picture book—style artwork and happy endings.
VERDICT An additional purchase wherever narrative nonfiction circulates well.
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