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what_emmy_read on Instagram: "I love a book that after reading I come away with new information. This was one of those books and despite having a history degree …"
I love a book that after reading I come away with new information. This was one of those books and despite having a history degree (though I didn't study much about the wars) this opened up a whole new aspect to the First World War that I never knew. At the start of the story we find Jack in 1998 visiting his Granny. After making a comment about war and 'goodies' and 'baddies' Granny Jess starts to tell Jack about her family in the First World War focusing on her dad, Fred . We then switch to Fred's story starting in 1914 when their family name was Müller. Fred's Dad had come over from Germany with his family as a child and was just taking over a bakery as war broke out. We follow Fred and his family throughout the war as they face prejudice, suspicion, bullying and violence just for having a German connection. For Fred's Father things get even worse as he is imprisoned in an internment camp at Alexandra Palace.In the current state of the world this book seemed like a really important read. It shows how people can easily turn their backs on friends and neighbours as they listen to propaganda and news reports. I felt a lot of empathy for Fred's family who really found their whole world changing and could do nothing to stop it. But still life had to be lived and despite the sorrow and hardship there are moments of joy to be had. I really enjoyed Fred's sister's story of how the war helped find freedom at a time where it was not readily available for women. I don't think I had heard of the internment camps before for people with German heritage and although this is a middle grade book it does not shy away from the horrors and despair war can bring. This is a book I will be passing on to Emmy and Reuben eventually because I think it's really important to remember what has happened in the past and to try not to repeat those mistakes again. Thanks to @bloomsburychildrens for sending this our way.#middlegrade #booksforww1 #keystage2reads #kidsbookstagramView all comments
