Jim Kay

I rarely read short stories, but requested an Advance Copy of this book, because I am trying to include books about World War I in my book selections this year. So glad I did! This book is one of my best reads so far in 2015 and is the kind of book that lingers with you long after the last page is finished. The objects and the authors' choices of perspective gave the collection a great deal of variety, and yet the book was bound together by strong emotion and by recognition of the sacrifices show more required by soldiers and families during the war. Illustrations by Jim Kay evoke the shattering desolation of the battlefield. This book would be terrific to use in middle school or high school classes for either Language Arts or History! I'll close with one of my favorite passages, from David Almond's story about a soldier's writing case, "A World That Has No War in It":

"Do that, children. Use John's pencil. Use your pens. Write a world that has no war in it. You're young. Be brave. Be proper heroes. Write a world that's better than the world before."

Read this book! show less

This is a fantastic collection of short stories. The idea of them all relating to an object from WWI allows for a tremendous diversity of stories — time periods, characters, voices, messages — without it feeling disjointed or disorganized.

The artwork is gorgeous, dark, and brooding, and somehow gives the book a modern feel without be inappropriate to the time period.

I found that some of the stories were a bit hit and miss for me, but hey, it's a short story collection, so that's to be show more expected. But a lot of them (like the one about the Harlem musician) will be sticking with me for a long time. show less

This book is meant for Young Adult readers but I found it very thought-provoking even though it has been a long time since I was young. Various writers were asked to write a short story inspired by items from World War I which started in 1914, over 100 years ago. I think this is such a great idea to acquaint young people with the sacrifices and horror and heroism of war.

One of the items was a small tin that was filled with items such as cigarettes or candy which was sent to each soldier for show more Christmas 1914. Seventeen-year-old Princess Mary set up a fund for these boxes. Tracy Chevalier wrote a wonderful story about one particular box that made its way to the front lines. This story really resonated with me because I have one of these boxes. A friend gave it to me when I had my first real job after finishing university. I used it to hold my business cards when I was working and now that I am retired I keep postage stamps in it. I never open it without thinking about the hands that must have opened it in 1914. I presume since it ended up in Winnipeg that the soldier must have made it back home safely but Chevalier's story does say that lots of men sent them back to their families while they were still at the front. So I will never know its history but it is a constant reminder to me of "The Great War".

My only quibble with this book is that it contains no stories about Canada even though Canadian troops fought in all the major battles in France and Belgium including Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele and over 65,000 Canadians died. There are stories about English, Irish, Australians, French and even the Americans who didn't come into the war until 1917. I know we have lots of great writers in Canada so that can't be the reason for the omission. For anyone interested in the Canadian viewpoint I can recommend Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery. I also saw recommendations online for Lord of the Nutcracker Men by Iain Lawrence and Charlie Wilcox and Charlie Wilcox's Great War by Sharon E. McKay. Finally I give you the famous poem by Canadian John McCrae, In Flanders Fields:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. show less

As soon as I finished this collection of short stories I wanted to read it again. I actually kept picking it up and glancing through it, sadly wishing I hadn't devoured it so fast. I enjoyed the writing and the concept of writing one story based on a single object from the war was brilliant. I felt as if the book did a good job memorializing those who lost their lives and remembering those who served and returned. Some books you read and then pass on, this book you read and keep so that you show more can read it again. (It also gave a boost to my creative writing muse, so other writers might also enjoy the collection from that perspective.) show less