Reading Metrics
Description
Set in 1918 during World War I, the story follows John, a young boy whose father fights in the trenches in France while his mother works at a local munitions factory. When John's teacher tells him that he is at war with children in Germany, John struggles to understand how he can be an enemy to people he has never met. The book explores the impact of war on children living far from the front lines.
Quick Summary
This powerful story shows war through a child's confused eyes, making readers question what it really means to fight when you've never left home. The tension builds as John deals with school bullying, his mom's exhausting factory job, and the constant worry about his dad at the front. If your kid likes Number the Stars or The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, they'll be drawn into this emotional perspective on wartime childhood. Ideal for ages 9-12 in grades 4-8 who want to understand how war affects families back home.