This is a based on a true story, historical fiction book for middlegrades and up. Barney and his mother are traveling on a train when it needs to hide in a tunnel to avoid bombing by the German planes overhead. With them in their car is a stranger who proceeds to tell them an amazing story about Private Billy Byron. This character is based upon a real soldier from WWI by the name of Private Henry Tandy. The story he tells is of his friend Billy and all the wonderous and amazing things he did in the war that earned him several medals. He also told of the German soldier "Fritz" as they were all called, that he let go at the end of the war. He did not want to kill one more person. Would his decision come back to haunt him?

This was a relatively quick read and one that I didn't want to put down once I got past the first chapter. The character of Billy was so well written, it was as if you knew him. This is a great story to read with children ages 10 and up. The discussions you could have, the predicting and alternate endings if things had been different are sure to elicit fantastic conversations and ideas. A must read for history students learning about the World Wars. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. ( )

Loved it. ( )

Really quick read about a bombing during world war II and a boy and his mum who are trying to get out of the city. Bombers continue to attack the train and it takes cover in a dark tunnel. During this time a stranger keeps Barney and his mum calm by tell them the story of Billy during World War I. While I suspected both of the twists, the story is compelling and based on a historical incident when Hitler was spared during WW I. ( )

Upper Elementary/Middle School

The story begins with the German bombing of London. When their house, and all those on their street, are destroyed, ten-year-old Barney and his mother must gather what few possessions they have left and travel by train to an aunt’s house. Right before the train pulls from the station, an older gentleman boards their train car…the only other person in their car. Barney recognizes him as the man who pulled him off of the rubble of his demolished house when he was wanting to dig down for his prized possessions.
During the trip, a German plane attacks the train. The engineer stops the train inside a tunnel to wait for the planes to leave. Barney, his mother, and the stranger settle in for a long wait in the dark tunnel. Barney is very afraid of the dark. The kind stranger has four matches, but tells Barney that they will be in the tunnel for a long wait and the matches will not last. To get his mind off of the dark, the stranger begins to tell them a story of he and his friend, a boy who he grew up with in an orphanage. They worked side by side when they left the orphanage and both decided to join the military to see the world…this was right before World War I.
The stranger tells how his friend became the most decorated soldier in World War I and how one decision that he made during that war may have changed the course of history.
I chose this book because I thought my upper elementary boys would like it (war story and very short – only 144 pages), but I think the girls would like this too. The author keeps you guessing as to whether or not this man was actually the “friend” that he spoke of and what he did during the first war that changed history. There is also a very surprising twist at the end that I didn’t see coming! This book is historical fiction, but there is information at the end of the book about the real people in the story and who the story was loosely based on. My only complaint was that the middle of the story did drag out a little as the stranger told about how and why his friend earned his medals; however, at only 144 pages, it’s still a quick read. ( )

Michael Morpurgo is a compelling storyteller and this is another excellent read with a great blend of fiction and historical fact. Written for middle primary school children it is a fascinating story about the soldier who didn't shoot Hilter at the end of WWI. The whimsical illustrations were a sweet addition to the book. ( )