A Million Shades of Grey by Cynthia Kadohata

This is the UK cover from Simon and Schuster

This is the US cover

This story opens in 1973 in the Highlands of South Vietnam. The war is all around the village of Y'Tin but somehow his family are going on with their daily lives. Y'Tin's father is working for the US army as a tracker and his son has this skill too but all Y'Tin wants to do is look after the elephants - especially Lady. Jump forward to 1975. The US army have left and Y'Tin is now an elephant keeper but the war is not over and there are discussions among the adults about the desperate need to leave before the soliders from the North and the Viet Cong arrive. Then comes the terrible day when the soldier do come and T'Tin and his friends are captured. He desperately hopes his mother and father and two sisters have escaped. The following few days are utterly dreadful. People from his village are shot; their houses are burned down and the boys from the village have to dig huge grave pits. Somehow though, Y'Tin and a friend do manage to escape and deep in the jungle they are reunited with their elephants. Sadly though, there is more trouble ahead. 

You can read the blurb and a book extract on the publisher page. And here is the author page. A Million Shades of Grey was published in 2010 but it is still available.  I also found this list of five middle grade novels also about the Vietnam War. If you select the label either Vietnam or Vietnam War from this post you will find some picture books that are well worth exploring too. 

A fascinating window into post–Vietnam War history and a wonderfully intimate character study. Kirkus

Though the setting might be unfamiliar to young readers, Kadohata does a good job describing it without overloading her narrative with political details. Y’Tin’s inner monologues make it easy to sympathize with his character and to understand the events in his life. ... some of the more violent scenes and allusions to war crimes might be difficult for readers ... Historical Novel Society

If you have students in your school studying the Vietnam War then this book should be added to their wide reading book list. It gives another perspective on that conflict and is set just after the US army have left and the North have begun their invasion. Reading this book (for ages 11+) will take some reading stamina because the action doesn't really kick in until around page 75.

If you are interested in reading other books about care of elephants and the special bond that forms between these huge creatures and humans look for these:

The Magician's Elephant

The what on earth institute of wonder

The Elephant in the Room

The Great Elephant Chase

Singing with elephants

The Girl who Stole an Elephant

I picked this book, A million Shades of Grey, in a library because I previously enjoy two other books by Cynthia Kadohata - Kira-Kira and Weedflower. A couple of years ago I read this one:

Half a world away

The Librarian's Stories by Lucy Falcone illustrated by Anna Wilson

Take your time with this book - you might notice the spots of colour on the cover. The boy is looking at a lady sitting on a park bench. It is clearly cold because they are both wearing scarves. Then look a little closer. Right in front of the boy is a fence of barbed wire and worse in the background you can see soldiers and a tank. But the boy is smiling and so is the lady on the seat. Is she the librarian?

Now turn inside and compare the front and back end papers. This will give you a strong sense that this story is sure to have a happy ending and that things do change for the people in this community. Now turn to the next page - it is filled with alphabet letters all floating into a dark sky. This image continues over to the title page where we see the young boy from the cover reading a book and significantly walking away from a pile of barbed wire towards some yellow flowers and a small bird. 

The story then opens with a wordless spread. The boy can be seen celebrating his seventh birthday near the city library. Then the scene switches and men arrive with cannons and the library is destroyed. All of those alphabet letters from the previous pages are exploding out of the library which is also on fire. 

"The town I live in is filled with people who are scared - like me. Our lights are out. Our water has stopped running."

In the street the boy sees a lady, the librarian, sitting on a seat reading aloud. 

"Her words carry me back ... to my birthday. Before everything changed."

The beautiful ink and watercolour illustrations are dominantly in grey scale to show the doom and gloom of the town during wartime, but the pops of colour help create a glimmer of joy as readers are taken through the hardships of day-to-day life. The librarian on the bench is seen wearing a bright pink scarf so she is easily visible. Anna Wilson cleverly makes the librarian’s words swirl and flow across the pages as if reaching for anyone who will listen. Readers can see words such as ‘remember’, ‘music’, and ‘stars’, indicating that the stories that are being told are happy and encouraging. Canadian Review of Materials

How lucky was I to find The Librarian's Stories. I was looking for a magazine in a newsagent and I spied a box of picture books almost hidden on a low shelf! I saw The Librarian's Stories - I think I have either seen this in library or read about it somewhere - then came the bonus - it was only AUS$5. I guess it is officially a remaindered book since it was published in 2020.

This story was inspired by Vedran Smailovic known as the cellist of Sarajevo who played his music for 22 days to mark the deaths of 22 innocent people killed after the bombing of a bakery during the Bosnian war. A second theme, as explained by Lucy Falcone, is to honour the thousands of libraries that have been destroyed over the centuries. Watch the trailer. And you can see inside this book here. 

"Millions of books have been burned in the senseless violence of war. Many rulers in the past, and the present, feel threatened by stories, ideas and knowledge. They know that books can change people. They know that books can change the world. To them, this is dangerous. They don't want people to learn, to understand, to think for themselves. They don't want people to remember their history."

Companion titles:

The Lady with the Books

Nour's Secret Library

Vanishing Colours

Tomorrow

I previously talked about this book illustrated by Anna Wilson:

Love Birds

The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier

Publisher blurb: Although the silver sword was only a paper knife, it became the symbol of hope and courage which kept the Balicki children and their orphan friend Jan alive through the four years of occupation when they had to fend for themselves. And afterwards it inspired them to keep going on the exhausting and dangerous journey from war-torn Poland to Switzerland, where they hoped to find their parents.

If you are not familiar with this famous book you can read a full plot summary here. 

This is another title in my series where I am reading and re-reading classic children's books.  I really thought I had read The Silver Sword first published in 1956 but reading it this week none of the plot resonated with me. In my memory this was a solo journey by the boy with the tiny paper knife sword but in fact it is a journey of four children and the determination and kindness of young Ruth is so beautifully explained I am sure I would have remembered her from this book. 

Here are a few of text quotes:

"There was no time for Ruth to dress properly. She put a coat over her nightdress and would a woollen scarf round Bronia ... (Edek) picked up the sobbing Bronia and led the way upstairs. He was wearing his father's thick overcoat over his pyjamas, a pair of stout boots on his bare feet and his rifle slung over his back."

"They must have gone fully a hundred yards when the first explosion shook the air. A sheet of fire leapt up from their home into the frosty night sky. They fell flat in the snow and lay there. The roof shook, the whole city seemed to tremble. Another explosion. Smoke and flames poured from the windows. Sparks showered into the darkness."

"Edek had been their life-line. Food, clothes, money - they depended on his for all these. In the city he had made a home out of a ruin. In the woods no tree gave better shelter than the oak he had chosen. And after dark, when the wind blew cold and the damp oozed out of the ground, none knew better than he how to keep the fire in untended till dawn, so that the glow from the embers should warm them all night as they slept."

From Penguin: Ian Serraillier (September 24, 1912 - November 28, 1994), was a British novelist and poet. Serraillier was best known for his children's books, especially the Silver Sword (Novel) (1956), a wartime adventure story which was adapted for television by the BBC in 1957 and again in 1971. ...  He became an English teacher, first at World War II. It was during this period that his first published work appeared, in the form of poetry for both adults and children. In 1946 his first children's novel was published. It was followed by several more adventure stories of treasure and spies. His best known work, The Silver Sword, was published in 1956 and has become a classic, bringing to life the story of four refugee children and their search for their parents in the chaos of Europe immediately after World War II. As well as children's novels and poetry, Serrailler produced his own retellings of classic tales, in prose and verse, including Beowulf, Chaucer and Greek myth. Together with his wife Anne he founded the New Windmill Series in 1948, published by Heinemann Educational Books, which set out to provide inexpensive editions of good stories. 

If you read this book with a group of students (as many schools still do) it would be good to use one of these as a comparison text:

We are Wolves

Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief

The Treasure Box

The Angel with a mouth organ

Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan

Take a look at the labels I have assigned to this post - curiosity, friendship and fear.

Safiyyah lives in the mosque in Paris. The German army have marched into the city. Luckily, they are not persecuting the Muslim residents of Paris and people are still able to attend the mosque. Safiyyah's father works at the mosque and her family live in one of the apartments. Everyone is living in fear. Safiyyah has two dreadful encounters with soldiers on her way to school and on her way to deliver medicine to an elderly Jewish man. 

Safiyyah's parents, especially her father, are smuggling Jewish people out of the city. Safiyyah becomes a messenger, so she has even more reason to be dreadfully afraid. Luckily, she is an intelligent girl and also luckily, she is incredibly curious. This means she finds out many more details about the rescue of Jewish people who are using the mosque so they can then escape to safety. She knows many more details than her father would have ever planned to tell her. Near the end of the book this information becomes vital as the men including her father are detained in the main prayer room and it is now up to Safiyyah to help over fifty people urgently escape. The tension in this book is so real and certainly keeps you turning the pages.

As with all the best books for Middle Grade and Upper Primary readers about the events of World War II, this book is told as a first-hand account from the point of view of a young child. I have added a few others at the bottom of this post including some special picture books that I used to share with my Grade Six students.

'Safiyyah's War has the soul of a classic & the urgency of a story for our times. A tale of tolerance, unthinkable bravery, and heart-in-mouth true events. I loved this book' - Kiran Millwood Hargrave

'All at once, Safiyyah's War broke my heart and filled me with immense hope. With its unforgettable characters and exquisite storytelling, this really is an extraordinary book' - A F Steadman

'Safiyyah is a protagonist I was rooting for all throughout; a lovely, kind-hearted girl whose story filled me in turns with despair and joy. This book shines through with kindness and empathy at its very heart' - Nizrana Farook

This is a high-octane venture suffused with sheer terror that Safiyyah’s family’s activities will be discovered by the wrong people. There are two important relationships which stand out, particularly the evolution of Safiyyah’s interactions with her father and of her growing respect for him and his work. The other one is with her beloved grandmother, Setti, who exerts a calming and wise presence and has some of the most profound ideas of the novel. Historical Novel Society

This is both a gripping and moving novel. Hiba Noor Khan brings her detailed research to life and introduces us to many less familiar aspects of occupied Paris. The plot is full of suspense and builds to a thrilling climax. Safiyyah is a courageous and compassionate heroine who reminds us that anybody can make a difference. Just Imagine (read this review for more plot details)

Listen to an audio sample from chapter one page 3.

Companion book:

Beyond Belief

You could type any of these titles into my search bar - all of these would be fabulous to share with a reader aged 10+ who has read Safiyyah's War or who has an interest in the events of  World War II.

Spies in the Sky by Beverley McWilliams illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

 

Before you read this book I suggest you might try to find these picture books and also do some reading about the Dickin Medal. 

32 pigeons received the Dickin Medal–the animal equivalent of a Medal of Honor–for their service in World War II.

Here is my post about War Animal Remembrance Day - 24th February. 

Lofty's Mission

And after reading Spies in the sky try to find this one:

I Spy A Bletchley Park Mystery

And for a different perspective on animals and war this is another terrific story:

The Umbrella Mouse

Royal Blue is a racing pigeon. He comes from a long line of champions but he is living through the dark days of World War II and so his destiny is to do more than race, he is needed for the war effort. Blue is taken from his comfortable loft and sent to an army base where he is given training from aircraft. He will be used to take messages back to the UK if a plane crashes or lands in enemy territory and later he is used in Fance as a way to gather intelligence about the movements of the German army. 

"Between April 1941 and September 1944, pigeons were parachuted in baskets into the occupied territories of France, Belgium and Holland. Attached to their baskets were questions to gather information from those living under occupied rule. This scheme was called Operation Columba. Of the 16,000 used in this campaign, less than one in eight returned."

You can read chapter one here. Here is a link to the teachers notes. 

I adopted a rescued pigeon around 10 years ago and while I was searching for a name, I came across a list of pigeons awarded the Dickin Medal for their service during World War Two. I knew pigeons had played a part in the war, but until then I was unaware of the National Pigeon Service or how many lives were saved by these remarkable birds. The more I looked into the history, the more fascinated I became. I wrote an article called ‘Feathered Heroes’ for The School Magazine, and I knew then that I would love to develop the ideas into a children’s book. Beverley McWilliams (Novel Insight subscription needed to read this article). 

Spies in the Sky is another moving and eye-opening tale based on a true story, this time focussing on the brave pigeons tasked with carrying messages during World War II. The story is told directly from Royal Blue’s perspective, immersing readers in his experience and inspiring deep empathy for the bird. McWilliams clearly has a sincere love for her subject, and it’s brilliantly contagious in this compassionate tale. You can’t help but come away with a heightened respect for and understanding of pigeons and the enormous sacrifices they have made to aid humans in need. Better Reading

It is clear Beverley McWilliams did a huge amount of research for her book. I recently listed to a radio program where they talked about the way Pigeons were launched out of planes high in the sky inside paper bags. This is not mentioned in Spies in the Sky but I found it fascinating. 

Even though the Army had designed special drop boxes for pigeons, it was discovered that they could be released from planes in thin, paper-like bags and survive just the same. A slit was cut into a bag, the pigeon placed headfirst, and then thrown from high altitudes at 375 miles per hour. The bird would emerge from the bag and fly down to a better altitude before returning home. Military Person.com

Image Source: National Air and Space Museum

I wonder why Martina Heiduczek is not named on the cover or title page.  She has added some terrific illustrations to this book.

In 2022 I read another book The Reindeer and the Submarine by Beverley McWilliams (Pantera Press). I found Spies in the Sky was easier to read and more engrossing and I think Beverley McWilliams newest title we see listed as a CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Notable title for 2024 - Younger Readers. 

Hero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes

The setting for this book is Italy in 1944. Florence is occupied by the German army but the Italian resistance movement are hard at work rescuing captured prisoners and sabotaging the Nazis. Paolo is a young teen. He just cannot cope with being kept at home so each evening he takes his bicycle and he rides for hours over Florence and the surrounding countryside. His mother is English, not Italian, so she has to be extra careful and her beloved husband has left to assist with the fighting. She knows about Paolo's night time riding but she is not sure she can stop him.

One evening Paolo is stopped by some men and they give him a cryptic message for his mother. Paolo has had no idea his mother has previously helped the Partisans. On his night ride he decides he should join the freedom fighters but when he does catch up with them they attack him. Luckily he is rescued by their leader - the mysterious Il Volpe (the fox).  Little does he know their paths will cross again and even though the most dreadful things have happened Paolo can indeed be a hero on a bicycle.

"The sight of his mother in conversation with three armed men gave his stomach a lurch of fear mixed with excitement. He was pretty sure who they were. The Partisans. The men whom he had admired so much for so long but had never met until last night. And now here they were, armed, in his own back garden. He couldn't imagine why they were here or what business they could possibly have with his mother."

Two young men are hidden in the family cellar over night. Late the next night Paolo takes them to the next safe house but they have been betrayed and there is an ambush. One man is taken prisoner and Joe, the Canadian, is badly hurt. 

"He motioned for Joe to follow him but, looking back, he saw that Joe was not in a good way. He was staggering, and blood had soaked through the left arm of his jacket and was dripping down his hand. ...  The way home was the worst journey Paolo had ever made. He took the back streest out of the city dreading at every turn that they would fun into anther German patrol."

I first read about this book back when it was published in 2012 but I didn't read it back then (it is still in print and there is an e-book version). Luckily for me there was a copy for $1 at our recent Lifeline Bookfair. I have been grabbing time to read this book over the last few days but be warned this book does contain some distressing scenes and at times I just had to put it down and take a breath. I was sure Shirley Hughes would keep me and the family (mum Rosemary, Constanza and Paola) safe but, as a said, at times, the tension she created was so real and so frightening. I would recommend this for readers aged 11+ and Young Adults. 

Taut, tense and vivid, this book will bring out the hero in any young boy or girl. You can almost hear the tanks rolling by and the fighter planes zooming overhead. And it’s a nice surprise to discover that Paolo is not the only hero found in Florence. The others might catch you unaware. The story is dramatically told, with warm and believable characters. Hughes captures the fears and frustrations of a young person thrust into war. Historical Novel Society

The first novel from much-loved author and illustrator Shirley Hughes is a thrilling and moving story with a touch of romance, set against a dramatic background of war-torn Italy. Based on Hughes' own experience of visiting Florence not long after the Second World War, it is a warm, tender tale of courage against the odds, which deals frankly with the brutality of war, yet maintains a distinctive sensitivity and lightness of touch. Book Trust

If you are a fan of books about World War II especially different aspects such as the situation in Italy I do recommend this book - it is sure to be in many public libraries.  Here are some other books about resistance fighters and World War II which might be in your library.

• What about me? by Gertie Evenhuis
• The Little Riders by Margaretha Shemin
• The upstairs room by Johanna Reiss
• Letters from the lighthouse by Emma Carroll
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• Belle and Sebastien

This is such a wonderful book but it is very old and long out of print.

You are sure to be familiar with Shirley Hughes and her wonderful picture books for very young children. In this video she talks about Hero on a Bicycle. 

Shirley Hughes illustrated more than 200 children's books and is one of the best-loved writers for children, with beloved classics including the Alfie and Annie Rose stories, and Dogger. She won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice and was awarded the OBE for her distinguished service to children's literature. In 2007, Dogger was voted the UK's favourite Kate Greenaway Medal-winning book of all time. She passed away in March 2022 at the age of 94.

Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad

 

The title of this book is so important. Little Sasha is living through WWII. He is a very young boy and his mother calls him Little Rabbit.  Sasha lives in a small village in Russia. When the German soldiers march in they brutally destroy his beautiful village. This very young boy is possibly the only survivor because he has been able to run away from, as he describes them, the 'handsome monster princes'. Sasha finds himself lost in the forest but he eventually stumbles on a camp of Red Army soldiers. This group, led by Major Fyodor Gagarin, are on the move desperate to rid their beloved homeland of the scourge of the German army. Sasha is welcomed into the group, given a tiny uniform and some important, non combative duties. And so Little Rabbit begins his march across the land to Stalingrad.

So now you have some idea about the title words Rabbit and Soldier. You will need to read this gripping account to understand Angel and Thief.  

Sasha tells his story, from his hospital bed, as a series of recounted incidents. We are left in suspense as to how he arrived in the hospital and how he survived the horrors of the war. Using objects he 'collects' from his hospital ward, Sasha gradually shares the memories of his journey over the previous three years and, even more importantly, we meet the men and women who kept him safe. Katrina Nannestad has created such real people in her characters. especially Major Fyodor Gagarin who Sasha fondly calls Papa Scruff. 

There is a very appealing structure to this book which has the dual effect of making it easy to read; helping to move the story forward; and working as a device that creates anticipation for the reader as we wait to find out why each object is so important as a memory trigger for Sasha.

One of the aspects of the writing in this book that I really appreciated was the way Katrina Nannestad creates powerful contrasts. For example in the early scenes we read about all the pretty flowers in the village - sunflowers, sun kissed strawberries, larkspur, daffodils and cherry trees covered in blossoms. Then we read about the arrival of the German soldiers and there are words such as hard boots, kicking doors, and stomp, stomp stomp. Then, later, near the end of the book we read about tanks rolling into the city with flowers in their cannons. Such a joyous scene. Another truly special aspect of this book is comes from the way Katrina Nannestad imbues Sasha with deep tenderness and an emotional intelligence well beyond his tender years. I have to say his tiny heart certainly touched mine. 

Katrina explains in her author notes that this while this book is entirely fiction is was inspired by a real boy called Sergi Aleshkov who joined the Red Army when he was between six and eight years of age.

This book will hit the shelves of your favourite bookstore on the 27th October.  I strongly suggest you order your copy now so you can get your hands on this book the day it arrives. If you subscribe to a standing order service this book is sure to be in your October selection for the school library. Huge thanks goes to Beachside Books for my advance copy of Rabbit, Solider, Angel, Thief.

You know I am slightly obsessed with covers - how perfect is this one.  Congratulations to Martina Heiduczek on her beautiful design. Martina also did the cover for We are Wolves which means these two books will look splendid when placed together on your shelves and the published edition will be in hardcover for a really great price. 

Naturally you will want to read We are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad which also explores the experiences of children during a war. I am going to predict we will see Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief short listed for many Australian book awards. Here are some other Katrina Nannestad books I have also read and enjoyed:

We are Wolves

The Girl who bought Mischief

Olive of Groves

The Travelling Bookshop

The Great War Stories inspired by objects from the First World War

Each story, lovingly crafted, shows a different facet of war in the same way that each artifact reflects something different about the time. Kirkus Star review

This is a brilliant anthology of short stories about World War One penned by a range of talented authors from around the world such as Michael Morpurgo, Ursula Dubosarsky, Adele Geras, David Almond and Timothee de Frombelle. Every story has a different tone and perspective. All of the writing is outstanding.

I discovered this book when I read Captain Rosalie. Reading the publication details I saw a mention of this book - The Great War. A few weeks ago I purchased a copy and each day I have been reading one story from this collection of eleven.

The objects are fascinating.  I would like to know if the authors were given and object, if they had a choice of object of if perhaps each author 'found' an object themselves.

Objects:

• Victoria Cross - Captain Rosalie by Timothee de Frombelle
• Princess Mary gift fund box - When they were needed most by Tracy Chevalier
• Sheet Music - A Harlem Hellfighter and his horn by Tanya Lee Stone
• The War Time Butter Dish - Maud's story by Adele Geras
• Nose from a Zeppelin bomb - Don't call it glory by Marcus Selgwick
• Brodie Helmet - Our Jacko by Michael Morpurgo
• Verner's Pattern Compass - Another Kind of missing by AL Kennedy
• Recruitment poster - The country you called Home by John Boyne
• Soldier's writing case - A World that has no War in it by David Almond
• French Toy Solider - Little Wars by Ursula Dubosarsky
• School Magazine - Each Slow Dusk by Sheena Wilkinson

Apart from Captain Rosalie, which is my favourite short story from this collection, there were two stories that affected me deeply. The first is When they were Needed Most by Tracy Chevalier. Jack's mum is working to packing the tins which are Christmas presents from Princess Mary to soldiers on the front lines.

"Jack's mum prised opened the tin and removed a small envelope which she set on the table. Underneath, side by side and snug in the space, were two bright yellow packets: one of cigarettes, one of loose tobacco." There is also a small pencil and a card in the tin. When this tin is sent away one cigarette is missing.

You could link this story with Present from the Past.

The other story I enjoyed was Maud's Story by Adele Geras. I had no knowledge of  war time butter dishes which were made to encourage people to be economical with food. Propaganda on a dish!

You can listen to part of the second story Another Kind of Missing by AL Kennedy. Here is a video review by a US High School History Teacher. The illustrations in The Great War by Jim Kay are perfect. Take a look here for an example.

Reviews:

Kirkus Star review - Extraordinary
The Historical Novel Society - The stories are very diverse in scope, tone and treatment.
Kids Reads - This unique anthology provides young readers with a personal window into the Great War and the people affected by it, and serves as an invaluable resource for families and teachers alike.

This book would make an excellent (even essential) addition to a High School library or as a gift to a mature Primary school student with an interest in history and war. Stories from the Great War is published by Walker books. Paperback and Hardcover editions are available. 
Here is hardback cover :