The Button War by Avi
I received an advance digital copy of this book via www.netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review. I was in no other way compensated for this review and it is my true and honest opinion.
In The Button War by Avi, a group of boys from a remote Polish village are caught in a game that goes too far as World War I comes into their lives in a real and frightening way. They learn things about each other and about the world around them as they come to terms with the idea that none of their lives will ever be the same again.
I enjoyed reading this book but it was jarring for me to read for many of the same reasons that The Hunger Games and The Lord of The Flies were jarring. Seeing the boys in this story become hungry for power and do unspeakable things to get that power was hard to read as a mother of a young boy. I wanted so desperately to speak to them and change the course of the story but all I could do was watch as it unfolded.
Middle School readers will enjoy this one. The best friends storyline and graphic descriptions will be a big hit with that age group. However, with realistic depictions of war and death, including the deaths of children, The Button War may not be appropriate for younger readers. I would recommend it for kids from 5th to 8th grade. It would make a terrific read-along option with Lord of The Flies or The Hunger Games as there are many themes that run between the three books.

I've read several books by Avi over the years and enjoyed them all. This one grabbed my attention because I remember watching a film years ago about young boys who collected buttons to win a dare. I searched and found the movie and discovered the book the movie was based on. I don't remember anything more about the movie. Will need to watch it again. I was interested to see if Avi's book was a retelling of the movie. My guess is the movie and book are different, although the movie probably planted a seed in Avi's imagination. As an adult I enjoyed the book but wouldn't suggest it for a young reader. Maybe a teenager, especially if a parent or educator read along and discussed the book.

This was a really good middle grade book centered around wartime happenings. The author did not hold back whatsoever and in doing so the trauma and reality of war is inescapable. The method in which he approached telling a story set during WW1 was original and very engaging. Using the competition of achieving the better button no matter the cost showed how even young children are susceptible to the same struggle for power that often leads to war. The only issue my daughter and I had was sometime the dialogue in what I assume was an effort to sound less prose based came off as a bit choppy and sometimes stilted. There are some incredibly unlikable characters in this novel but it did not deter from finishing the book. At the end my daughter was left with a response that bordered on throwing the book across the room but she did actually enjoy it and we read it together in just a few days.

This is a forceful and moving book, the writing style is easy enough for a middle grade reader, but the story being told will appeal to the more mature reader too. The author has done, a really great job of setting the scene, and shining a light on the stark reality of the war.

The characters are well rounded, and the communication between them is believable. As the book moves forwards to its conclusion there is a real sense of impending doom that really kept me interested until I finished the book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Publishers for the opportunity to review this great book.

A heartbreaking look at war through the eyes of a child, the Button War is set in a small Polish village where the Great War is about to have a devastating impact. Twelve year old Patryk and his friends have lived under Russian occupation for all of their lives, but one tragic day, the excitement of seeing their first airplane turns to terror when it bombs their village. Soon the Russians flee the oncoming German army, and one set of occupiers is traded for another. While a war that will shake the world is taking place on their doorstep, the boys are immersed in a war of their own, a hunt for military buttons, with the boy who finds the brightest and best becoming "king" of the gang. When one war bleeds into the other, the consequences are tragic.
This is a powerful and moving book, and this is reflected in the stark cover art, The writing style is simple enough for a middle grade reader, but the story being told will appeal to the more mature reader too. The author does a really great job of setting the scene, and shining a light on the stark reality of the war. The characters are well rounded, and the interaction between them is absolutely believable. As the book moves towards its conclusion there is a real sense of impending doom that really hooked me as a reader.

A haunting novel that takes WWI as its backdrop, but its issues are universal More importantly, this book fills a gap in YA novels -- while there is a plethora of WWII fiction on the market, very little attention has been given to the Great War.

A gang of boys in a small Polish village find themselves caught up in the conflict of the First World War, daring each other to steal soldiers' military buttons. The themes of bullying and peer pressure transcend the historical context, but those without knowledge of the Great War may find it difficult to understand some of the plot implications (a bit more background would have been welcome). While not a perfect novel, "The Button War" is a page-turner that explores a war too often ignored in America.

Childhood is a time of learning such concepts as social order, obeying rules, and how to interact with compassion and understanding. A part of that process is through the playing of games. They seem so innocent on the surface, but they can be more complex and sometimes dangerous. A small group of friends in Poland during World War I played a game of taking buttons from soldiers as souvenirs. They soon learned that their harmless game could turn deadly.
The Button War by Avi is a well written story filled with vivid details that draw the reader into the world of a group of boys who live in a simple rural village caught in the middle of opposing factions in a war they try to understand. Avi description lets the reader experience the feelings of these villagers and the details of the horrors they endured unfold methodically. This novel’s lessons about loyalty, false values, and survival are enduring. I highly recommend this book to young adults and older.

Received an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.

I had forgotten Avi but man, did I read a bunch of his work when I was a middle school history nerd. Now as an adult history nerd, I was excited to revisit a favorite childhood author. "The Button War" is a brilliant little character study set in a small Polish village in World War I. A group of friends start a competition to find the "best" button pilfered from the uniforms of occupying soldiers and as their contest ignites, their peaceful village gets caught in a struggle between warring nations.

Avi does a wonderful job of writing from Patryk's point of view. At 12, Patryk is smart enough to know big things are happening around him but is unable to grasp the magnitude until it's almost too late. He's the moral compass among his friend group, in a way, but struggles with standing up to the other strong personalities. He wrestles repeatedly with right and wrong in the moment and right and wrong in The Grand Scheme.

Without a strong knowledge of World War I, I don't exactly know what was actually happening at this time and the book doesn't give you a firm place of time and world politics... you're with Patryk and his friends and you know what they know. The ending comes fast and is uncertain in a great way that leaves you satisfied but wanting to keep following Patryk's story.

I think I want to read some more Avi.

The latest historical fiction from Avi takes place in a small village in Poland during the early twentieth century. Patryk and the other boys his age attend school, work with their families, and play in the woods nearby. They are familiar with the Russian soldiers barracked in the village and many of their neighbors don't even know the names of the nearest large cities, because they have never traveled anywhere. When one of the boys begins a competition to collect the best buttons from the soldiers, Patryk knows that it is wrong, but feels he needs to win the dare to prevent the other boy from getting the upper hand. As the balance of power shifts back and forth between the Russians and the Germans, the villager are caught squarely in the middle and things spin out of control in the game and the village.

As usual, Avi mixes the setting, both geographical and historical, with the social and personal interactions of the characters. The seemingly small distinctions between the boys play into the story, creating tension and ratcheting up the competition between them, while the affairs of the outside world trickle down to their small corner of the world. This is a tale that touches on the impact of war on civilian life, the foolish choices made during adolescence, and what to depend on when all else changes.

Recommended for middle grade readers interested in historical fiction, fans of Avi, and for upper elementary classes studying World War I.

I'm going middle of the road on my star rating because this is a title I REALLY want to read. I'm going to have to buy this one now that it's out. I wasn't able to open up the copy here on Net Galley.

Most historical fiction these days centers around World War II; so I was pleasantly surprised to find this middle grade novel set in a small village in Poland during World War I. Patryk, the main character, and his village are stuck between two dangerous extremes: the Russian army that has occupied his home for years and the newly invaded Germans. The author does a fantastic job of giving young readers (and adult readers) a glimpse into this precarious position. The community is torn between a strange allegiance of familiarity with the Russians and the "liberation" offered by the Germans.

Another positive of "The Button War" is the portrayal of childhood in the face of war. Children are meant to play, imagine, and run carefree—but the harsh realities of war rob them of this innocence. "The Button War" illuminates the struggle of these boys to hold onto friendship and the simplicity of life before invasions, bombs, and bullets.

"The Button War" is dark. Like, really dark, especially for a middle grade novel. The antagonist, Jurek, leads a difficult life for one so young; the trauma of his life leaves him abrasive and scarred.

Novels set in wartime offer children small glimpses into the unfairness and random nature of death. Typically, these glimpses teach, instruct, and honor through the bravery and courage of their protagonists. However, I didn't see much of that in "The Button War".

I wanted so much more from Patryk, Jurek, and the rest of the boys. If this were an adult novel, I would almost be okay without many honorable characters; but, for a children's book, there needs to be someone they can look to and say, "That's who I should emulate"—even if those qualities are shared amongst several characters.

Young boys (and some girls) would love this novel for its friendship, suspense, and of course, war. However, because of the lack of honorable character traits, I would recommend lots of good questions and conversations on the part of parents, teachers, and caregivers. Kids should be learning how to be people of integrity and this novel could point to that with some adult help.

Thank you to Netgalley, Candlewick Press and Avi for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Patryk and his buddies. They live in a small rural town in Poland, surrounded by a large forest. Their village has one schoolhouse, one church, and one bridge that leads into town. The nearest city is maybe a five hour walk. Nothing much ever happens in their town. The boys like to hang out at their favourite spot by the water pump in the middle of town. They play games, share gossip and race around getting into minor scrapes but what they love best is to dare each other. Most of the dares are harmless, more naughty than dangerous, just trying to one up each other in a constant competition. In this group of seven, each of the boys are different. One is rich, one is dirt poor, one follows the church and one is smart in school but as you get to know them it is their character traits that stand out and defines their status within their group. Jurek doesn’t have any parents and lives with his sister, who barely takes care of him. He has the most freedom to run about town, but has the biggest chip on his shoulder, always trying to prove he is the best. He has a mean streak and often pushes the group into doing things they aren’t comfortable with. Jurek claims that he is the king of the forest. Patryk would like to stand up to him, but often falls short of the mark. Once Patryk found a shiny button in their secret spot. Jurek got so mad, thinking someone had something better than he did, he took the button from Patryk and threw it into the forest. Patryk was really sad about losing his button.

One day Patryk is walking to school when he hears a horrible clatter and sees a strange mechanical bird in the air. Before you know it, a bomb drops on the schoolhouse. This is the first time he has seen or even heard of an aeroplane. It is also the first time he witnesses someone dying right in front of him. Soon, the Russian soldiers come into their small town disrupting normal life. Jurek has procured a button from a soldier’s uniform trying to say how much better his is than Patryk’s was. This gives him a great idea. He announces to the group that they will have a dare, a contest - who can get the best button. It is dangerous because they are not allowed to ask for it, they must steal it. So starts the button war. When the German army invades their town, the stakes for new buttons are raised. But war has come to the small town and the boys have bigger problems than hunting for buttons. They want to stop but can’t. If Jurek wins he will make all of their lives miserable. What the boys don’t realize is that the hunt for the buttons will create a turn of events that none of them are prepared for.

Avi has done it again. He has written an exciting novel that will pull you in and keep you reading right to the end. I really enjoyed it and I think that middle schoolers will really love reading this novel. I won’t say “boys” because although I think males will really respond to this book, I am a girl and I loved it and when I was that age, I would also have loved it. It has so much drama. First you have the button war and how the stakes are raised as each new army comes through their town. The backdrop of the war ripping through their home and seeing how it affects the boys’ lives, who are so removed from civilization and lead a simple life, gives a sense of how devastating war can be without getting too graphic. Oh, but don’t worry, lots of gross stuff to keep kids interested. Of course, the relationship between the boys is the most relatable. It is something every child can understand. You have seven different characters, leaving lots of entry points for kids to jump in to. Patrick’s struggle is real. He want to challenge Jurek the bully, doesn’t like to be called a coward, and gets suckered into doing things he doesn’t want to do. How many times was I, as a kid, talked into doing things I didn’t want to do, especially when I hung around kids who my parents didn’t approve of. Patryk also feels a moral obligation towards the rest of the group not wanting them to be at the mercy of Jurek. He knows he is the strongest and has the best chance to beat him. When real bad things start happening it is interesting to examine people’s behaviour - when do you stop listening to your inner voice, what happens when you ignore it and go against your better judgement, how far will you be pushed before you make a stand, I mean there are millions of interesting questions that come up with the themes Avi puts forth. A very well written, action packed read with drama and unexpected events, one I really enjoyed.

Another book where I really wish we could give half stars. This one's good but not especially memorable. A wartime tale of young boys in a small Polish village, torn between German and Russian soldiers. Good historical context, characters could have been more fully developed, I thought. Meant for a younger audience so that’s understandable.

Basic Plot: It's August 1914 in a small village in Poland. The Great War has begun, but Patryk and his six friends are caught up in their own Button War... to see which boy can find (read: steal) the best button from the uniforms of the various occupying soldiers. Little do they know that this war is going to have deadly consequences.

WHAT’S COOL…
1) Thank-you, Mr. Avi, for putting "August 1914" before the first chapter. It set the scene right off the bat. I knew exactly what time period I was reading about.

2) I love learning something new. This story takes place in Poland at the outset of the First World War. The inciting incident involves an aeroplane dropping a bomb. Now, I always associate bombs with WWII, not WWI, so I found this an extremely interesting plot point. (And I did some research. Yes, bombing did happen during WWI.)

3) The bickering between the boys. I love how this is portrayed, especially early on in the book. I reminded me of Stand by Me... the Polish version! The sausage-eating Wojtex... Drugi, the one who asks all the questions... Jurek who keeps telling everybody that he's the descendant of King Boleslaw... and the narrator, Patryk, who's trying to keep everything balanced.

4) The buttons! Maybe because I've always had a thing about buttons, I loved the collecting and the descriptions.

5) I love how the button contest echoes what happening with regards to the Great War. The boys are vying to be Button King, just as the nations of Europe were going to war to be king of the world. You have Jurek, the bully who will stop at nothing to be king, dragging the rest of the boys into the Button War, whether they want to or not. And then, really bad things happen.

6) The foreshadowing is just... wow. I didn't catch all of it, but peeking back at earlier chapters after completing the book, I definitely saw various instances of foreshadowing. Like the the mention of the Cosacks... And the fierce look in Jurek's eyes after Patryk throws away the first button.

7) The ending is very sad. Although, it's not necessarily an "unhappy" ending. The last quarter of the book or so, there's a lot of bloodshed (off screen). Jurek's claim at the very end is troubling; sad because it's also so empty. Like, doesn't he realize what has happened.

WHAT’S NOT COOL…
1) The super short chapters. Argh! I don't understand why authors choose to write super short chapters.

2) I found the names to be difficult at times. I could not always remember who was who. This might have been partly because of all the Polish names I wasn't familiar with, but it's also because there are seven boys. And not all the boys are as important to the story as the others are, so it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who.

FINAL THOUGHTS
My rating is 4 Stars (out of 5) – I really enjoyed this book, if "enjoyed" can be a word to describe it. The book deals with some very troubling aspects of war. Actually, come to think of it, it has some overtones of Lord of the Flies. Very interesting on the historical side of things and I would recommend this to anybody who wants to read something something a little different about World War I. Definitely this book is meant for a more mature reader.

A quick read that immerses you in the time period and what it was like to be a Polish kid caught in the middle of the fighting in World War 1.

Avi’s works have always been well written from a kid’s perspective, something that’s surprising difficult to capture many times–the questions, the moral dilemmas, and especially, the conversation tones. Patryk, the narrator, has a voice that successfully expresses all these notes. While the questions as to why things were happening might have seemed over done to some, to me it just showed how quick questions run through minds before settling on one question, or none at all.

Patryk is friends with a group of boys who decide that collecting buttons from the uniforms of the troops (Russians, Germans, French) who are fighting over their small Polish village. What starts out as a simple reckless competition–Patryk knows it’s wrong, but his arrogant friend, Jurek, is just such an @$$hole that Patryk can’t imagine him winning–turns darker and darker, until Jurek becomes so determined to win that he (possibly) does something unforgivable. The end (and even some bits in the middle) might be considered too dark and violent for some readers, especially considering this is children’s/middle grade. However, it’s not much worse than many other kids books that focus on the world wars from a young perspective, and not sugar coating the history is always a plus in my book. Serious questions and actions such as these come up at every age, especially in a war-torn village, where no one is quite sure why they’re caught in the middle.

There are very few Blatant Historical Facts in this, and I agree with some other reviews that pointed out it wasn’t very obvious that this was based on real events. A historical note at the end of the book, describing the conflict of WW1 and the reasons why the village was being fought over, would have been very welcome, especially seeing as so many children’s/middle grade books focus on the Second World War, not the First, so kids might not have gained the historical context of this war from other books.

Otherwise, it was well written, fast paced, and captivating, and I would most definitely recommend it to kids who are interested in history and the effects it has on everyday people.

"What's the war about?" We were silent. No one knew the answer.

I so wanted to like this middle grade historical fiction book set in Poland during WWI. But the characters were just horrible. Patryk, our MC, is a very weak character and a bit of pushover. He and his friends are the epitome of meek followers. They seem more concerned with the going along with Jurek's rules than their own safety and the lives of their friends. Jurek was a bully and slightly unhinged. There was seriously something wrong with him. He creates a dare type game to see who can get the best button (from the soldiers stationed in their city). He much resembled a sociopath and I honestly couldn't stand him. I didn't like any scene that he was in even though I knew he was to play the part of the villain.

I did enjoy the parts that looked at the war coming to their town. In one aspect everything changed when the first bombs were dropped on their town, but as children, who's worlds greatly revolved around themselves, much went on the same as always.

Appropriate historic fiction for middle school readers, a little dark in theme. Patryk is a young boy with friends who, as most adolescents will, hang out together. It is 1914, WW1 is close and nations are getting hostile. Their little town is ruled over by Russian soldiers. One of the boys, Jurek, has a button that he has stolen from a soldier. The boys decide to collect as many buttons as they can and the best button finder will earn the title of king. As the war escalates, and German soldiers take over the village, so does the button contest, with deadly repercussions. As the peace of the town slowly erodes, so do the friendships of the boys.
A dark tale of war and violence. Avi creates a vivid portrayal of a war torn town from the point of view of young children. A good choice for readers who enjoyed “The Boy in Stripped Pajamas”.

Patryk lives in a small Polish town in 1914. The Russians have been in control for a number of years, but rumor has it that German soldiers are on their way. When a new fangled aeroplane blows up the school, everyone knows that war is on its way. Jurek, whose family is poor, becomes interested in buttons from soldiers' coats after finding one in an abandoned castle in the woods. He makes up a contest, with a cane as the prize, and says that whoever has the most interesting buttons will be the king. Patryk's friends, boys of the same age but sometimes different backgrounds, all go about getting buttons in a variety of dangerous ways. Some take the buttons off uniforms that a sister is laundering, others cut them off clothes that are hanging on the line. As the war closes in, buttons are even taken off of dead soldiers. There are seven boys at the beginning, but as both "wars" continue, some are killed in various altercations with the military, and it is even suspected that Jurek has killed one. Is he really unbalanced? Patryk's family eventually decides they must leave, but Jurek and the button war stay with Patryk in disturbing ways.

Strengths: There is not a lot of writing about the area that was and became Poland, especially during this time period. The details about life at the time, and the description of the village, are very interesting. I also liked the way the boys played together. It might seem silly to some, but I can remember going to weddings with my cousin and being obsessed with removing decorative bells and things from the wedding cake when we were about ten. There is something about small objects that appeal greatly to children, so I had no trouble believing that this fact, along with the aspect of daring ones' friends, would motivate the boys to put themselves in unreasonable danger to obtain the buttons. Intriguing story.

Weaknesses: There needed to be a lot more information about the history of Poland and about what the political situation was at the time. I required a half hour conversation with a history major friend to pin down important details.

What I really think: Debating purchase. It was an interesting book, but was lacking some important information, and I'm not sure how well it would do with my readers. At best, it would require hand selling, since the cover really doesn't indicate that it is a book about WWI.