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Original poster

Good WW1/2 related book for DS, Y9, to read and review, pls.

33 replies

Erebus · 09/11/2012 18:09

DS1 has to read a WW1 or 2 related book over 5 weeks and review it. He mentioned "All quiet on the Western Front", Anne Frank's diary (no!), they've studied "Hitler's Canary" already, and there's "Boy in the Striped Pyjamas". I gather there are several Michael Morpurgo ones ("Waiting for Anya").

Any other ideas? I thought of "Schindler's Ark" (List!). Do you think that would be OK for a reasonably clever 13 year old?

TIA

OP posts:
Roseformeplease · 09/11/2012 22:07

Last Train from / to ???? Kummersdorf. Totally brilliant - 2 children, both German but on different sides fleeing the arriving Russians at the end of the war. Surprisingly rarely read but pupils at my school love it.

northcoastmum · 09/11/2012 22:06

Private Peaceful by Morpurgo is good - quite 'simple' but v moving, deals with someone being executed for deserting in WW1, so might be a diff angle.

Or Spies by Michael Frayn

Should be able to think of more...

fortyplus · 09/11/2012 22:04

I remember enjoying Neville Shute's 'Pied Piper' at about age 11/12

PandaG · 09/11/2012 22:01

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society? Quite gentle but still thought provoking

Alone in Berlin - Hans Fallada - I didn't like it but others in Bk gp did, and fine for a Y9 iirc

fruitpastille · 09/11/2012 21:43

The Silver Sword by Ian Serallier (sp?) is v.good. Not really a challenge for a good Y9 reader but not 'easy' either. It's about 3 child refugees in Europe trying to find their father. V.moving in parts but quite exciting too.

Original poster
Erebus · 09/11/2012 21:40

The ishoo with AFD is that DS has already 'done' it in Y6, tbh, along with the rest of his cohort.

I confess we try to 'use' these opportunities to introduce DS to some maybe less 'obvious' influences (like, for a recent, modern artist, in Y5, instead of Hockney etc, DS2 did Sidney Nolan to allow him to 'explore' his Australian heritage!). But I think the story of Gallipoli might be too 'out there'!

Warhorse- mm, DS1 doesn't 'do' animals!! DH came up with that. ThoughDS's response has been a bit' doesn't something nasty happen? I'm not doing that!' which leads us to say 'welcome to war, son!'

Currently he's 'exploring' "Hunt for Red October"- cos he now says 'it's any war'... D'oh.

But thanks for the input!

OP posts:
mumsneedwine · 09/11/2012 19:27

Why not Anne Frank's Diary ? Mine read it in year 6 and were totally drawn in by it - it's a great commentary of being a teenager in war. We've been to Amsterdam and been to her house so very real. Could do War Horse (bit young ?). Or Goodnight Mr Tom.

LizzieVereker · 09/11/2012 18:16

Schindler's Ark has quite a dense prose style but is v good. If you want something challenging, how about Regeneration by Pat Barker, or Birdsong (might be too rude for a Year 9). When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit or I am David are good, and easier reads.

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