Shooting at the Stars

I think this fictionalized account of the famous Christmas Truce of 1914 does an excellent job of summarizing for kids not only the background of World War I but some of the moral and philosophical issues of war.

Charlie is a young British soldier who writes home to his mom to tell her about the impromptu truce and Christmas celebration that day between British and German soldiers. On that day, the soldiers entrenched along the French-Belgian border met in the center of “No Man’s Land” between the two armies. They each buried their dead, and then found themselves wishing each other Merry Christmas. Before long, they were exchanging food and gifts.

They even started playing a game of football with an empty biscuit tin as the ball. show more [An actual match was played between the 133rd Royal Saxon Regiment of Germany and Scottish troops, with the Germans winning the match 3 to 2.]

At the end of the day the Major appeared and was furious at the men, ordering them to be ready to fire on the German trenches when he returned. Charlie writes his mother:

"…I suspect our side will spend the rest of the night aiming high above their trench, shooting at the stars.”

The book concludes with an Author’s Note, glossary, bibliography, and even an index, highly unusual in a picture book.

The author, who is also the illustrator (and one with many, many awards), has create a hybrid of children’s book and graphic novel, which will appeal to the older group of children to whom this book is directed (the recommended age group is 8–12). The epistolary style also contributes to the graphic-novel feel. The text mixes hand-lettering with standard text blocks, and the palette switches from luminous nighttime scenes done in blues, aquas and teals to more trench-and mud-appropriate colors for the daytime scenes.

Evaluation: This is an excellent book that will show kids the “human” side of war, and help raise up many discussion questions about war generally. show less

Moved me to tears. We must be continually reminded that most soldiers are ordinary people who are trying to serve their respective countries, not power-mad megalomaniacs or greedy tyrants. Often they're even conscripts, risking their lives for causes they don't even agree with.

This book shows that very well, imo, in the fictionalized depiction of the Christimas Truce of 1914. Non-fiction frames the story. The book is not for little ones.

I liked this book so much that I intend to purchase it. Incredible illustrations on high quality glossy stock paper, tell the historical story of WWI and the Christmas day when the firing of bullets stopped along the French and Belgian border when the British and German soldiers decided to stop all the fighting, if only for a special day.

As the British soldiers, weary and cold, looked across at the German trenches, they saw small Christmas trees, and heard the clear sound echoing across the way of the well-known Silent Night. Fearing it was a set up, there was a great deal of hesitancy. As both sides took an enormous chance, they met in the middle, each group buried their dead that were strewn in the battle field. Then, they shook show more hands and celebrated the holy day.

A loud, resounding order to stop was heard by the commanding officer in chief. Threatened with court marshal action for betraying their respective countries, sadly, the soldiers knew the day had to end.

Still, those who were there spoke of this day for years and years to come. show less

I like this telling of the Christmas truce across WWI trench lines because it is both warm and very honest.

This story is a fictional re-telling of a true story. This Christmas truce did actually happen. It would be an interesting way to allow my students to experience war from a personal perspective. I love that the soldier was writing and receiving letters from his mother. It made the story even more personal. The fact that they buried the dead soldiers first together was quite touching. I had not heard of this before and I know my students would find it just as interesting as I did.

I thought this was a great book, and I loved how the author wrote the book in a form of a letter from the solider to his mother. I also think this book is a great example of how humanity overcame in mist of chaos. I think the illustrator also did a great job and I loved how the font looked like someones actual handwriting. I think this would be a great read around Christmas for some of our upper elementary kids. I also appreciated the glossary in the back of the book and thought it would be beneficial for those learning a little bit more about the army ranking and other war like terms.

Wow. What a grand telling of the Christmas Truce of 1914. This story is told in the form of letters, written by a British solider to his mother. It is a story I can't wait to share with others. It would be the perfect paired selection for Social Studies lessons on World War I or humanity even in times of unrest.