Truce-Book Review

1.   BIBLIOGRAPHY

Murphy, Jim. 2009. TRUCE, New York, NY:  Scholastic Press, Inc. ISBN-13:9780545130493, ISBN-10:0545130492

2.   PLOT SUMMARY

This is an incredible non-fiction book about a truce that happened in 1914 during World War I. It was a vicious war with battles that were bloody from machine guns, and trenches “with swarms of hungry rats”. The heart felt story goes on to describe how two enemies came together with “friendly exchanges” of gifts one Christmas.  Their superiors told them “not to fraternize with the enemy” but they came together anyways and for over two weeks.

3.   CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Mr. Murphy tells of this war as if you were in the trenches with the troupes.  It was a sad story that was a portrait of death and hope for “peace on earth”.  The battles were described with details so you could envision how it was to be so close to the enemy that you could hear their voices singing the carols.  He paints a portrait in your mind of “beer and plum pudding” and men shooting riffles in the air to make their superiors think they were still at battle.

This type of picture book gave photo and illustrations of the men meeting in “No Man’s Land”, the trenches, men crossing barbed wire, and dying and sick soldiers.  Maps were also included in the text so you could understand the placement of the battles.

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT (S)

Newberry Honor: two times

School Library Journal: Best Book of the Year

5.   CONNECTIONS

*Other books written by Murphy THE GREAT FIRE and BLIZZARD!

* Research web page British Soldiers and the Christmas Truce.