Tag Archive | Puffin Books

The Other Edie Trimmer by Jacqueline Wilson

Feb22

Fabulous Tale

The Other Edie Trimmer by Jacqueline Wilson is a fantastic dual timeline and just perfect for ages ten years and over.

The novel is set in present day and Victorian England. It will educate you as you read about the awful conditions facing children and the poor in Victorian England. The landscape comes alive under the author’s descriptive pen.

We hear about the mudlarks, young flower girls and the appalling treatment within the workhouse. Families were split up as males and females were segregated. People were cruelly treated and food was scarce.

We witness children as young as five years old, scrambling through the mud. Children were not treasured as they should be.

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Fritz And Kurt by Jeremy Dronfield

Feb25

Never Forget

Fritz And Kurt by Jeremy Dronfield is a powerful historical novel for children aged ten years and over.

The novel is the true story of brothers Fritz and Kurt who lived in Vienna in 1938 as the story opens. They were Jewish and at the time 180,000 Jewish people lived in Vienna.

Hitler and the Nazis marched into Austria with very little opposition. Any that they encountered was swiftly put down. We see how daily life altered rapidly for the brothers who lived with their parents and two sisters. Friends soon became informants to the Nazis. Avenues were sought to send the children to safety but it came too late for Fritz.

The story follows both brothers – Kurt to America who bravely voyaged alone aged just eleven years old. And Fritz who was old enough to be sent on the transport to the concentration camps with the men. It was a truly harrowing and awful time.

The reader sees the close bond between Fritz and his father as they try to help each other and keep hope alive that there will be better days ahead.

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The Victory Dogs by Megan Rix

Jan2

Inspirational

The Victory Dogs by Megan Rix is an inspiring children’s historical novel and just perfect for ages ten years and over. It is a fictional tale but has its roots in facts.

The story is set in London during World War II and follows two pups, a cat and an old soldier. The camaraderie between them is beautiful to witness. The love and loyalty will bring a tear to your eye on more than one occasion.

The old soldier is not old in terms of years but he is a veteran of Dunkirk and he has seen things that have aged him. He clearly has, as yet, undiagnosed PTSD. He does not believe he is worthy of living amongst people and so hides in the shadows of the underground tube station. He exists in the dark but his heart is full of light. He is kind, good and compassionate to animals.

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Once by Morris Gleitzman

Dec28

Powerful & Heartbreaking

Once by Morris Gleitzman is a powerful and heartbreaking historical children’s novel that is suitable for over ten years old. It is the first book in a seven book series.

Once is set in Poland during World War II. It is written in the first person from the point of view of eleven year old Felix who is a Polish Jewish boy. His parents had sold books and he is a natural born storyteller.

Felix’s innocence shines through. He thinks the Nazis don’t like Jewish people because they (the Jewish people) like books. His innocence is heartbreaking as he puts an innocent spin on the activities he sees – the people have no clothes on because it is hot. As the novel progresses, his innocence is gradually stripped away.

We witness the bravery of Felix as he rescues a six year old girl who was left for dead, along with her parents. Ironically, it is only in the young and the innocent where there are no divides amongst them.

Felix is not the only brave soul. There are pockets of bravery amongst the fearful and the cruel.

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