This book had a reading level of 12.6 and is for grades 3-7. I would only use this book if I were teaching older students and the subject was about WW1. Story is about WW 1 and how several different countries clashed for land. The reader is able to see what life was like during war and how soldiers lived within their armies. Real historical figures were used such as Captain C. I. Stockwell and Winston Churchill. Events and battles that occurred in History were discussed throughout the book. One example was the truce that Germany offered a barrel of beer. The author really showed the culture of war itself and what each soldier went through. Pretty much every army was a minority in someone else’s land. Germany was a minority by invading Poland and the US came over and were minorities as well. Murphy, J. (2009). Truce: The day the soldiers stopped fighting. New York: Scholastic Press. An account of the peace between opposing sides in the trenches on Christmas Day. The author does a great job of succinctly explaining the factors that led to war, while also underscoring what a pointless slaughter World War 1 turned out to be, and to what degree the war really started over nothing and continued to be a hive of miscommunication and waste. Quotes from soliders and photos liven up the story of how the men in the trenches began to see that the enemy was a lot like them, and how hard it was for them to keep shooting after spending Christmas day together. A fantastic book to promote values of peace in kids just beginning to learn about war.
Very informative and well written. This is a great research tool.
—Underwood
During World War One the troops form a truce for the holidays.
—ashani
Well told - World War I book. Good background on WWI
—Carter
Jim Murphy never disappoints.
—Jenny
Interesting.
—meganrs
