How the Children Stopped the Wars

Wow, that was stupid. Fairy tale magical nonsense - a magic man shows up (his tears broke the moon, though not really) and convinces a shepherd boy to go stop the wars. He rides off (on one of his master's ponies) and collects kids all along the way, parents unable to keep them. Various hardships - but they're attacked by robbers _once_ (and trick them). They cross a mountain range, visit some friendly, helpful monks, encounter some people who try to trick or keep them but escape easily. (The sitting on the shore reminded me of the Children's Crusade, though that, being reality, ended much worse than this.). Then the whole train of hundreds (thousands? No numbers given beyond "too many to keep straight") of kids find "the war", walk show more onto the battlefield, and the soldiers start recognizing their own kids and poof, no more war. Everyone goes home, happily (one mention that some of the kids fell while the battle was still going on, not followed up). Yay magic happy no more war. Bleah. I don't think it would be a good story for kids (complex situations at points), but I suppose some might like it; no one who's old enough to think logically would find it worth reading, though. UGH. show less

very strange but enjoyed reading it