Historical Fiction

Tom's Private War

Robert Leeson, (Puffin, 1998).

It's the end of summer 1939, the last weekend of peace. In the village of Daneford Tom and his gang are enjoying their last few days of freedom before the new school term begins. They do not realise the seriousness of war. Instead they are full of excitement at the influx of soldiers living in a tented camp in the park, waiting for embarkation to France. In the recreation ground an anti-aircraft gun has been set up. Soon, however, the real war fades into insignificance as Tom becomes involved in his own private war involving William, the leader of his gang and erstwhile friend, and Scouser, an evacuee from Liverpool. The story is mainly concerned with the changing relationships between the three boys and how the conflict is resolved.

The 'private war' is set within details which give a sense of life at the time and how this is beginning to be changed by the impending world war. Blackout curtains are put up, the children see barrage balloons, an air-raid warden does his rounds and Tom has to get used to his gas mask.

The story could provide a starting point for looking at the Second World War with Years 3 and 4, and to set them thinking about how the war changed peoples' lives. Although Tom and his friends don't really understand what is about to happen and are excited by developments, their parents do realise the implications; his father had fought in the First World War. Their worries and the strain of making efforts to act normally are well portrayed. It would be useful to contrast this story with one set later in the war and accounts of real people's experiences.

Goodnight Mr Tom

Michelle Magorian (Puffin, 1981).

I choose this book to read for three reasons. One is that I noticed it had won a couple of awards, and the books I have read previously with a lot of awards I have really enjoyed. The second is that it was recommended to me by several people. The final reason is that I find books about the war really intriguing, whether it's about escaping from Colditz or the process of children being evacuated and getting used to the surroundings and people of their new lifestyle.

The novel is set on the brink of the Second World War, and the young boy called Willie is evacuated to a small village in the middle of the countryside. The story begins with a lonely old man called Tom being confronted by a small lady who talks him into taking the skinny child called Willie.

Willie has come from a poor and deprived house. His mum is a single parent and is always shouting at him and beating him when he has done nothing wrong. He was bullied at his old school and does not know how to write. Tom and Willie appear to be unlike each other in every way but during the course of the story Willie begins to build his confidence and learns to read, write and finds out he has an incredible skill for drawing. He meets a lot of new friends, his best friend being a boy called Zach who is a very bouncy, friendly boy, who later on has a tragic accident. A while through the story when Tom and Willie have been transformed towards each other and are well known characters throughout the village, there is a big shock. There is a letter from Willie's mum, to say that she is ill and would like him to go to London to meet her. This comes as a great shock to them both. The story ends happily when Willie and Tom are able to live happily ever after. The only bad person in the story is really Willie's mum because she makes him feel and think he's a failure in life.

I thought this was a brilliant book, and even though I'm not a great reader I found it very difficult to put this book down. I like it because it shows how people change and how their confidence can rise and drop suddenly when something happens. As you read into the book, you get swept into it and feel as though you're there. It also gives a vivid picture of the characters and scenery. The author has a brilliant way of catching the readers emotions and makes you want to pick up the book whenever you get the chance, and read as much as you can in the time you've got even if it is very little because you want to find out what's going to happen. The author has, what I find a very good of enabling the reader to put the events into real life. The dream Willie had when he was being closed in by walls and felt claustrophobic, I have felt the same. And the way he shows his pleasure in learning how to write and things like that.

Overall I think this is a fantastic book for all ages, and has perfected the balance between the happier and sadder moments in the book.

Reviewed by Toby, Year 8

TOP BOOK CHOICE

Put That Light Out!
Careless Talk
Make Do and Mend
Digging for Victory

These four titles form the Tales of the Second World War series published by Franklin Watts. They see the war from the very different perspective of the Pitt family who do not enjoy whale meat, boiled nettles or spam!. Delightfully humerous stories which offer an excellent contrast to the rosy, Blitz spirit, view offered by many other stories. They could quite easily form the basis of an historical fiction writing project for the study of genre within the literacy hour.