David Almond's rendering of the end of the First World War with the perspective of the young child John was beautifully done.

John just wants the war to end. He keeps asking everyone and anyone when it will, including the King of France (though he is ignored). His mam works in the munitions factory building weapons for the war against the Germans, while his dad is out in the trenches. John struggles because he cannot even fathom his father's face it has been so long since he has seen him. He wouldn't even recognize him if he walked through the front door.

His teacher Mr. McTavish tells all of his students that they are "children at war". They are to fight against the enemy. To do so they must do their work, do their chores, and pray. John prays indeed, but he also dreams.

John dreams of a German boy named Jan. He has an unimaginable moment in the field where he meets Jan. He pictures them being friends because they are each the same. They want the war to end. Dreaming is what helps John get by each and every day. Hoping that soon the war will be over.

Outstanding work from David Almond and the illustrations by David Litchfield are crucial to the story for children to make connections to how John is feeling and all that he sees during these dreary days. This book is unlike others I've read as it has a huge focus on "I am just a child. How can I be at war?" I think students can find an easier connection to this since the boy is of close age age to the projected audience. This would also be a great book to accompany many other books about the war told through a child's eyes

More graphic than a middle grade novel should be, especially with the drawings, but the text was more juvenile. I just wasn’t feeling this one at all

Wow. That was a powerful read. Looking at war through a child's eyes, seeing how the fierce nationalism appears so frightening to a kid, how the fear and hatred of the "Other" can be so overwhelming, was so affecting. The themes in this book might be difficult for younger readers; reading with an adult might be a good idea, to help with context. There are so many things swirling in my head after reading this- for me, the main thing concerns John's mother, who works in a munitions factory making shells. He asks her about what she does at her job, and she explains the process of making the shells; filling them with shrapnel and resin, so that when they explode they will kill the target. Now, John figures out that the enemy has shells too, and his father could also be killed- this is bad enough. I started thinking about his mother, though- what must it have been like, to make these things every day, things whose purpose is to kill? That thought is hinted at later in the text, but it hit me hard in that moment, the way she deflected it so he wouldn't think about it.
This is a tough read, but an important one. It's a book I feel parents and children should read together. I know I'm kind of rambling here, but I'm still processing this book, it's having a profound effect on me. Read this, is really good, it'll hit you in the feels. Oh, and the illustrations were really good, they suited the story so well, and added the perfect atmosphere for the story.

#WarIsOver #NetGalley

Living in England during World War I, his father away fighting and his mother at work in a munitions factory, it’s hard for John to understand why he can’t be friends with Jan, a German boy his own age who he’s heard about from someone who had been to Germany before the war broke out. It’s hard for children, and even many adults, to understand the reasons for war. This book helps children think about and perhaps discuss with the adults in their lives the answer to this question: If the adults in a nation are at war, does that mean the children must be at war, too? I would suggest that adults read this book either with or before their children in order to have that discussion. The book is poignantly illustrated in black and white, which given the subject matter, seems appropriate, though perhaps a touch of color could have been introduced at the end. Beautiful artwork, nonetheless.

While it was well written, I found it to be too wordy. The illustrations are nicely done and really convey the picture the author is trying to tell. If the reader has no knowledge of World War I or II it is hard to tell when the story takes place. In an era where children do not appear to be allowed to be children, John is investigated for writing to a German child and get ridiculed for writing to the King and Archbishop of Canterbury. Children appear to have to be mini-adults and keep a "stiff upper lip." Without giving away the whole book it felt like John needed a way to retreat from the harsh realities of war and Jan was the way to do that.

Thank you to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for the opportunity to review this book.

War is Over by @davidjalmond I received thisdigital copy from @NetGalley in return for an honest review. This quickly read story is an enjoyable work of historical fiction told from POV of a young boy during WW1. He shows empathy, as he struggles to determine if he is at war too

I was not a huge fan of this book. I am unsure of the age group I am suppose to recommend this too. I cannot see many of my upper middle graders picking this up because of its size and lack of text, and I think the content is too heavy for younger students. The story was boring and confusing at best and downright dreadful at worst. Just not for me.

Hmmm, this is a tricky one.

Good things: The writing is so lovely and the illustrations are gorgeous and evocative despite their simpleness. I appreciate the author's message about the danger/cruelty of teaching children to hate and fear entire groups as "enemies."

Problems: I have no idea who the author thought he was writing to but I would never hand this to anyone under the age of 12; yet it's being marketed as middle-grade. I also think it's putting forth an over-simplistic idea of war. All of the people supporting the war were portrayed as violent, bigoted, and/or thoughtless; it seems to suggest that there is never a good reason for war/fighting. It's a bold stance to put forward using a character who will be of fighting age when Hitler embarks upon his campaign of subjugation and genocide.

Thank you to Candlewick Press and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This illustrated short story about World War I from a child's perspective is beautiful and haunting. John's father is away fighting at war and his mom is working now. Naturally, John does not truly understand the concept of this war. However, when John meets "the enemy" and sees that he looks just like him, the questions start to rise. A short book that doesn't need a lot of words to convey how John feels and what this war is doing to his family. The illustrations contribute quite well to the story. This is an important addition to any library.

War Is Over is a poignant story of a child's emotional response to war. The lyrical text is accompanied by powerful illustrations. This is a "must read" and should be included in every history classroom's library or when teaching empathy and perspective taking.

This was a really well-written story of what war can do to children. It is England during World War Two and John is trying to understand the war, and what role he plays in it. His father is in France fighting while his mother works in an a munitions factory. John wonders when the war will be over, when he will see his father again, and how he feels about the war and Germans. John, like many children who live through wars, wonder if he himself is at war. Through this story we see John sympathisize with a German boy named Jan, we see him dreaming of an end to the war, and we see him struggle to understand his role. The black and white illustrations add to the feel of the story and are well done. This would be a good read-aloud for 3rd-5th grade.

Taking place in the UK in 1918, War is Over asks a timeless question: why do we expect children to fight our wars? Not having a child's presence on the front, but the psychological war; the "us" and "them" mentality that permeates everything we do. John is a young boy whose father is fighting in the trenches of France while his mother works in a munitions factory. John's teacher tells - bellows, really - that the students are fighting alongside the grownups, fighting the enemy in Germany that includes the children of Germany. But John certainly doesn't feel like anyone is his enemy. When a classmate's uncle tries to speak to the children, telling them that they are children and NOT at war with anyone, he's attacked and taken away from the children, but he's touched something in John,  who sees a sketch of a young boy among the man's scattered papers. It's a drawing of a German boy named Jan, the same age as John. John imagines he and Jan become friends, and dreams of a better world where children are children, not enemies, and create a peaceful world together. 

This is a strong story of a sensitive boy trying to make sense of a world gone mad. It's a story that's as relevant today as it was in 1918, when the story takes place. David Litchfield's black-and-white illustrations are moody, evocative, packing strong emotions. Visit his website to see some of his work from War Is Over. Poignant and ultimately hopeful, War is Over is a story that will resonate with kids and adults alike.

David Almond's rendering of the end of the First World War with the perspective of the young child John was beautifully done.

John just wants the war to end. He keeps asking everyone and anyone when it will, including the King of France (though he is ignored). His mam works in the munitions factory building weapons for the war against the Germans, while his dad is out in the trenches. John struggles because he cannot even fathom his father's face it has been so long since he has seen him. He wouldn't even recognize him if he walked through the front door.

His teacher Mr. McTavish tells all of his students that they are "children at war". They are to fight against the enemy. To do so they must do their work, do their chores, and pray. John prays indeed, but he also dreams.

John dreams of a German boy named Jan. He has an unimaginable moment in the field where he meets Jan. He pictures them being friends because they are each the same. They want the war to end. Dreaming is what helps John get by each and every day. Hoping that soon the war will be over.

Outstanding work from David Almond and the illustrations by David Litchfield are crucial to the story for children to make connections to how John is feeling and all that he sees during these dreary days. This book is unlike others I've read as it has a huge focus on "I am just a child. How can I be at war?" I think students can find an easier connection to this since the boy is of close age age to the projected audience. This would also be a great book to accompany many other books about the war told through a child's eyes.

A beautiful illustrated historical fiction that tore my heart but also gave me hope.

War Is Over is set in 1918 at the Western Front of World War I. It is a story centered around a child named John, whose father is has left home to serve as a soldier at a war in France while his mother works in a munitions factory building weapons. Though most people around John shows hatred towards the Germans, John feels unsettled by this and dreams of a future of unity instead.

Commemorating the times of war in the WW1, this story explores the thoughts, fears and hope of a child during a war while subtly nudging our conscience to question morality. I love how the author sends the message of how devastating, violent and degrading a war could make us become but also counters it with a message of hope for unity. And instead of glorifying the brutal victory over the enemy and inculcating war into children, the author emphasises that we are all the same despite where we are from.

I am very moved by this simple children's story as the message is strong and gripping. However, I believe children will need some guidance when reading this through comprehensive discussions in order to interpret this story accurately.

Before I end, I must say that the illustrations were all very beautiful, bringing a different dimension to the story.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Candlewick Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced look at this beautifully illustrated #middlegrade book.

I felt humanity slowly restored where inhumanity had taken root.

It has been my observation that many middle grade (5,6,7,8) children are intrigued with books about the Great War and the wars that followed. War is Over by David Almond gives a glimpse into what it might have been like for children and their families at home in England during that time.

I will most certainly share this book with children to reinforce the most telling sentiment, "I am just a child. How can I be at war?"

Set in 1918, John has never met his father. His father is away fighting in the Great War. John Works in a munition’s factory. One day in the woods outside of town, John has a dreamlike meeting where he connects with a German boy named Jan. He begins to dream of a world that is free of war and at peace. From this, he realizes that his teacher is wrong, that he really isn’t at war with the children in Germany. Could this view of the world really happen? This story is well interwoven with parallels to today’s world. Filled with lessons of hope and fear, readers are given a glimpse into how war affects people. The illustrations are detailed and help to set the tone of the novel. Fans of historical fiction, David Almond, and stories of reflection may enjoy reading this book. Grades 7 to 12

Please note: This was a complementary review copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

#WarisOver

“Sir, we are children. How can we fight? How can we be at war?”

War Is Over is a children’s historical fiction story that takes place during World War One and follows the story of a little boy named John who really wants the war to be over. The men around him highlight the “glory” of war and try to convince John that he himself is at war, even though he is only a child. When he is given a picture of a German child, however, this belief begins to be challenged.

What I loved about this story:
1. The illustrations!: David Litchfield’s drawings are moody, black-and-white sketches that really set the tone of the story.
2. The figurative language & symbolism: I found the comparison between a missile and a rose to be really compelling, especially in relation to the message of the story. Also, the white feather was a truly beautiful symbol of resistance.
3. The concept: I really liked how this was a WWI story for children that focused on the effect of war on children. I felt that was something unique that set it apart (I just wished it could have been executed better).
4. The ending: Now, I won’t tell you too much about this, of course, but I will say that it gives one reason to hope.

What I disliked about this story:
1. Confusion?!: I was confused at many different parts in the story. There was a moment when something pretty unbelievable happened, and I thought it had to be a dream, but then it was never explained.
2. Stilted writing: I found this writing style to be incredibly jarring and hard to connect with--in many ways, it felt stilted. For example: “The women seemed tiny, indistinguishable in their blue uniforms, were diminished by the vastness of the machines at which they worked.”
3. No depth of character: Probably due to the length of the story, there was no time to really connect with the main character, nor was there much depth to the characters. They were either stereotypically horrible or stereotypically angelic, and I have seen other middle grade works do MUCH better with developing complex characters.

However, three stars is still a solid ranking, and I would recommend this book to others.


You can find my more detailed thoughts about this book on my BookTube channel, Perks of a Bookflower.
Here is the video where I discuss it: https://youtu.be/kgL7T_FsQHI
And I begin discussing it at (3:43).
Thanks to Hachette Children’s Group for access to this first U.S. edition through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

John's father is off fighting and his mother works in a munition's factory. All around him - his teachers and community members are telling him he is at war. But John doesn't feel like he is at war - he's just a kid. After seeing a conscientious objector with photos of German children and visiting the munitions factory John comes to realize even more that he is not at war and does not like it. He also decides that after the war he will go to Germany someday and be one that spreads peace.
A short tale but powerful.

In this picture book for older readers, the setting is England during WWII. John's father is away at war and his mam works in a munitions factory. As John sees how the war is affecting his family, friends, and classmates, he cannot comprehend the hostilities, nor the cruelty that is engendered even among civilians. He wonders about the fate of a German boy whose picture he's seen, and is appalled at the treatment of a pacifist man in his town. When will it end, he asks with increasing urgency. A beautifully told tale with evocative b/w illustrations.

From the author of Skellig.

‘Outside the dream, the war went on…’

Wow! What a gorgeous, uplifting, sad and poignant book all rolled into one. David Almond wrote this book to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the First World War and he has done an absolutely masterful job. War is Over is aimed at 9-11 year olds but I would extend this to 8-12 at least. It is accessible and engaging – children will love it.

When the story begins, John’s father is away fighting in France and his mum works at the nearby munitions factory – ‘the biggest munitions factory in the world’ - where warships, guns, bombs and shells are made. John can barely remember life before the war and hears about the devastation on a daily basis when fathers of his friends are killed. He realises that he can barely remember what his own father looks like. This first part of the book is quiet and sad. The illustrations are grey, black and cold.

Mr McTavish, John’s Headteacher tells him and the other pupils that they are all at war with Germany – even John – and describes a local man, Gordon, as a coward and a traitor as he refuses to fight. When Gordon is hurt, for refusing to hurt others, and the children hear his screams of pain, the reader gets a glimpse through John’s eyes of just how confusing and barbaric the situation is. John’s questioning, peaceful character is contrasted vividly with that of Alec, who plays at killing Germans and finds the trip to the munitions factory the height of excitement.

There follows an incredible moment. In the nearby woods, John comes face to face with Jan, a German boy from Dusseldorf. He later re-visits Jan in his dreams and finally, writes to him, to explain that he doesn’t feel as though he is at war with him. His letter is found and he is branded a traitor which leads him to ask some very difficult questions of his mum.

I don’t want to spoil the ending, so will just say that it is a very satisfying one. The mood entirely changes and I was left hopeful, perhaps with a little tear in my eye…

‘When the end came, it happened fast.’

Please don’t buy this on kindle – I urge you to go for the hardback or paperback versions, in order to fully appreciate David Litchfield’s stunning illustrations and to allow you to share them with the little people in your life.

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Candlewick Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.