VVMBookBlog

There’s an old movie on TV every once in a while and it’s called “The Bridge Over the River Kwai.” It takes place in Thailand during World War II after the Japanese have invaded. The Japanese are forcing the British prisoner-of-war soldiers to build the Thailand-Burma Railway, all while keeping them in horrible living conditions, usually in cages placed out in the stifling sun.

So now here’s Elephant Run about World War II with the Japanese threatening to invade Burma. Nick, 14-years-old, was living with his mother in London, but the Germans were bombing London and it was decided that Nick would be safer living with his dad on the family teak plantation in Burma. [Teak is a type of tropical hardwood and Burma is now called Myanmar.]

As soon as Nick arrived at the plantation, called Hawk’s Nest, Nick’s dad wasn’t around much and Nick could sense that something was wrong. And while out exploring a little on his first day there, trying to find out what was going on, Nick had a run-in with Hannibal, one of the elephants that are used on the plantation to harvest lumber. Because of the imminent danger, Nick’s dad was determined to get Nick and Mya, the daughter of one of the plantation workers, out of Burma to safety. And then the adventure begins!

Because Burma had been under British rule, some of the native Burmese people sided with the invading Japanese and turning against Nick’s father. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese and Hawk’s Nest became a headquarters building for the Japanese. Now what has going to happen to Nick, the loyal people in the village, and the elephants, including Hannibal, that had worked so hard for the plantation.  Burmese people were forced to work on airstrips and railways for the Japanese, as were the British prisoners-of-war (just like the movie!) but they were forced to live in horrible, and very unhealthy, living conditions.
Lots of twists and turns and surprises that kept me reading to the end. Again, I learned more about a time and place in history than I knew before, and it made the events in the “River Kwai” make even more sense. World War II truly was a “world” war when we realize just how many countries were affected by events during and after the war.

Theo has always been interested in space, especially now in 1977 when NASA will be launching the Voyager 2 space probe that will travel to Jupiter and beyond. His science teacher adds to his interest by asking each class member to come up with one thing or idea that would explain us to another space being.

His quest to come up with just the right statement leads him to try to explain some other mysteries in his life, like why his father never came home from fighting in Vietnam. Since it’s 1977, most soldiers from Vietnam should have come home unless they were POWs (prisoners of war) or MIA (missing in action). So maybe that’s the explanation! He doesn’t get any answers from his family because it’s a subject too painful for his mother to talk about. But how about his grandmother, JeeBee (Grandmother Bernadette)? Maybe she can help him out.

Readers interested in space and also readers interested in life after the Vietnam War will like this book. It’s a fast read but deep enough to help the reader feel Theo’s frustration and his mother’s sadness.

Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor & the Merrimac by Avi

Avi is a prolific writer. I once listened to him speak at a convention. He is dyslexic and had difficulties with reading in school. Maybe this is what makes him an incredible author. He wants his books to be entertaining, something people will enjoy reading. His latest book, Iron Thunder, is historical fiction set during the Civil War.

Thomas is the main character. His father has recently died fighting for the Union in the Civil War. Although he is only 13, he must take care of his family (mother and sister). He is forced to find work. Because he is small for his age and smart, he is given a job building the Monitor, an iron ship. Most people are making fun of this concept because few, if any, think that an iron ship will float. This is a secretive job because the North doesn’t want the South to know that they are building this ship (or at least they don’t want any details given to the south).

Although Thomas is working, he is only making 75 cents a week. A man offers him a dollar a week if he will share information about the boat. This is a difficult decision because he would make more than twice what he is making now, but he would be “ratting” out the North to the South. Since his father died for the North, he takes the dollar the first time he sees this man, but he doesn’t supply the man with information. Later the man will come back to get the information for which he has paid. Danger will come to him and perhaps his family.

This book is a fast-paced account of the building of the ship and the battle that follows. It is also a story of a teenager who makes tough decisions in a difficult time. Although this book is fiction, Avi researched the events to bring history to life.

What was life like back home in Illinois during World War II? I think we can get a good idea from the book On Wings of Heroes.

Davy’s life was going so well in his small town and then the United States got into the war against Germany. Within a very short time, everything changed. Davy’s older brother enlisted in the Air Force to be a pilot. And Davy’s father began reliving his war experiences during World War I. Lots of heroes in Davy’s life!

In order to support the war, US citizens were ordered to begin rationing items that were hard to get–sugar, coffee, oil, tires, etc., so that everyone had their share and to prevent people from hoarding these items. At the same time, citizens were asked to collect different things and contribute them to the war effort. This included items such as rubber, metal in tin cans, and even the fuzz from milkweed plants which was used as stuffing in life vests and suits for pilots (like Davy’s brother). We also experience the war as they did through the songs, slogans and posters (see book cover) used during the war to encourage those on the home front to be positive about the war’s outcome. This book shows how all of this was a part of their everyday life and urgently needed to support the war effort.

Richard Peck does such a great job of bringing an important time in the past, helping us really feel what was happening then, and making it funny all at the same time. Other great books by him include A Year Down Yonder, The River Between Us, and my personal favorite, Here Lies the Librarian!

Time Bomb by Nigel Hinton

This book takes place in post WWII London. Andy and his friends have found a hang out. The hang out is an old bomb factory. All four boys have difficulties at home and use this as a place to get away. They also have had a horrible experience with their teacher and principal which continues to haunt them. Escaping to the bomb factory gives them the sense that they can fight against those who wrong them. Time Bomb is really a coming of age book that discusses the difficulties adolescents face in day to day life. Andy’s dad is cheating on his mom. Manny, a Jew, still deals with prejudice even though the war is over. Bob stutters and his small for his age. Eddie has a horrible step-father and the ability to get into trouble easily.

Although the war is over, the aftermath still affects their everyday lives to some extent. When the boys discover a bomb, they decide not to tell anyone. It is their secret. Many secrets are kept in this book, but this may be the most dangerous.

Most readers will be able to find a little bit of themselves in these four boys. This book doesn’t have a lot of action and adventure, but it is a good read. The characters truly make the book interesting.