Read World War I Fiction Instead of Pouring Poppies

By Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

In the summer, a blood red flood of 888,246 ceramic poppies poured out of the Tower of London in the UK, an installation to commemorate the 888,246 British and Commonwealth soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War, which began a hundred Augusts ago.

Violence generated by ISIS and Vladimir Putin gave us a 100th August that was no less bloody.

A flower, no matter how red, is a poor substitute for a frightened kid pointing a gun at an equally frightened kid from a different country. There is a need to commemorate, because what we forget we will repeat, but I have a different suggestion: instead of pouring poppies, let’s try stepping into the shoes of someone like that frightened kid from a century ago – someone who was plunged into the midst of the first modern war.

I asked a number of my fellow children’s book enthusiasts to suggest the World War One books that had a powerful impact on them or their kids.

Linda Granfield is well-known for her own books on the First World War, including those about John McCrae, the Guelph Ontario born poet and physician who penned “In Flanders Fields” when he was an officer in the army.

Linda’s book, In Flanders Fields: The Story of the Poem by John McCrae, is illustrated by Janet Wilson and it was originally published in the 1990s. Fitzhenry & Whiteside did a subsequent edition in 2005 and this iconic picture book will be relaunched in a brand new edition this fall, so that it will be available for the 100^th anniversary of the poem’s creation in May 2015. Janet Wilson has painted a new cover image for this edition, and Dr. Tim Cook of the Canadian War Museum has written a new  introduction.

Linda is also the author of Where Poppies Grow: A World War I Companion (Fitzhenry & Whiteside 2006) which is a scrapbook-style book with vintage postcards, letters, posters and items, giving the reader a glimpse of day to day life during war from different perspectives. In addition she wrote Remembering John McCrae: Soldier, Doctor, Poet, (Scholastic 2009) and The Unknown Soldier, (Scholastic 2008).

A book that I love is another one of Linda’s recommendations, Private Peaceful (Scholastic, 2004) by Michael Morpurgo, about a British soldier stationed in France. The framework of the novel is the young private sitting vigil as he writes in his journal. It isn’t until close to the end that the reader gets a sickening realization of what he is sitting vigil for. About this novel, Linda says that it is “A short, well-written gem of a book that can’t be put down once you begin reading and cannot be forgotten after you’ve finished. Morpurgo saw a gravestone in France for a real Private Peaceful who died in the First World War and the book was born.” Linda recommends it for grades six and up, and I agree with her. The uncluttered and direct style makes it particularly appropriate for young teens. Linda Granfield says that another good book for high school readers is Birdsong, by Sebastian Faulks (Vintage 1994).

Kathy Kacer is also a Morpurgo fan. “I read War Horse (Scholastic, 2007) by Michael Morpurgo back in the 1980s – way before the play and the film. A beautifully written book!” Kathy has a new book coming out this fall called The Magician of Auschwitz, published by Second Story Press. It’s a true story, set during World War II.

Ed Butts, whose most recent book for juveniles is Behind the Badge: Crimefighters Through History, (Annick Press, 2014) recommends Desperate Glory: The Story of WWI, by John Wilson (Napoleon Publishing, 2008). Ed comments that this book “is a very good treatment of Canada’s role in the First World War for juveniles. The text gives a good account of the war and the times. Well illustrated with pictures and maps, though a few of the photos might be gruesome for some young readers.”

John Wilson has carved a niche for himself with war fiction that is particularly appealing to boys. His other First World War titles include And in the Morning, (Key Porter, 2010, 2003) and Shot At Dawn, (Scholastic I Am Canada series, 2011). Rachel Seigel, Sales & Selection Strategist at EduCan Media recommends John Wilson’s brand new Wings of War (Doubleday 2014) because it “is a good middle-grade read.”

Lizann Flatt echoes Rachel. “I really like Shot at Dawn by John Wilson.” Lizann also recommends Flying Ace (Scholastic, 2007) and The Trenches (Scholastic, 2006) both by Jim Eldridge, and part of the “My Story” series. “They captured my son’s interest and kept him reading. Dramatic and action packed stories based on real incidents, and included good non-fiction back matter.” Lizann’s own latest book is Shaping Up Summer (OwlKids Books, 2014).

Suzanne Del Rizzo, illustrator for Skink on the Brink, bases her recommendations on what her sons like as well. “My eldest is a Jim Eldridge fan. And The Madman and The Butcher by Tim Cook (Penguin 2011) is one that he enjoyed.”

Rachel Seigel also highly recommends Hugh Brewster’s two non-fiction Vimy Ridge books “because they are the only Canadian kids’ books on the subject.” Brewster’s first book on the topic was At Vimy Ridge: Canada’s Greatest World War I Victory, (Scholastic, 2006). His second is brand new this year From Vimy to Victory: Canada’s Fight to the Finish in World War I (Scholastic, 2014).

Rachel also says, “On any teen list I include Timothy Findley’s The Wars, which I read in high school and have never forgotten. Sydell Waxman, author of Believing in Books: The Story of Lillian Smith (Napoleon, 2004) echoes Rachel’s sentiment: “Timothy Findley’s The Wars remains with me always.”

Arthur Slade is the author of my hands-down favourite World War One novel, Megiddo’s Shadow, (Harper Trophy, 2006) which was inspired by his own grandfather’s experiences as a trooper in Palestine. Many Canadian writers cited Art’s novel as one of their stand-outs. Janet McNaughton says, “Though most of the book is set in the Middle East it’s such a Canadian book. I’ll never forget the ending, when Edward returns home to the Saskatchewan winter, so grateful for the cold and snow after the hellish heat of the Jordan Valley. It’s a wonderful read.” Janet’s most recent book is a 2014 Scholastic Dear Canada novel: Flame and Ashes: The Great Fire Diary of Triffie Winsor, St. John’s, Newfoundland, 1892. Rebecca Upjohn, author of The Secret of the Village Fool (Second Story Press, 2012) says “Arthur Slade’s Megiddo’s Shadow is brilliant. I want to put it in to every teenager’s hands.”

Art Slade himself recommends Generals Die in Bed by Charles Harrison. Originally published in 1930, it demolished the illusion of war as a glorious thing. Art also recommends the Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker (Hamish Hamilton, 2014). “Those three novels in that series broke my heart.”

For Heather O’Connor (author of an upcoming sports book called Betting Game) her stand-out book was not about a soldier, but about a sister on the homefront: Jean Little’s 2003 Scholastic Dear Canada diary novel, Brothers Far from Home: The World War I Diary of Eliza Bates. Heather says, “The first-person narration by someone the reader’s age makes the events come to life.” Heather also recommends Jean Little’s post-World War I diary novel, If I Die Before I Wake: The Flu Epidemic Diary of Fiona Macgregor (Scholastic, 2007), because it “tells young readers about the second tragedy that took even more lives – the Spanish Influenza.”

It was also a girl’s story that captivated Helen Mason, author of the Creative Careers series from Gareth Stevens Publishing. “I enjoyed Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (Bantam, 1985) when I was young,” she said. “The book talks about war from the point of view of those left behind. We see Rilla (that would be Anne of Green Gables’ youngest daughter) grow from a fifteen-year-old to a young woman as she takes on various responsibilities that include raising a war baby.”

Karen Autio highly recommends Super Spies of World War I by Kate Walker and Elaine Argaet (Smart Apple Media, 2004). She says that it is great “for children to read with its intriguing window into espionage and how secret agents got away with their spying.”

Karen’s most recent book is a World War One novel: Sabotage (Sono Nis, 2014), the third book in her trilogy of Canadian historical novels, the courage and wits of siblings Saara and John Mäki are put to the test when German spies attempt to sabotage Canada’s war effort in Port Arthur, Ontario, in 1915.

Young readers who dip into the above list of books may find themselves entertained and enthralled, but they will also better understand the horror of war.