War is Over
David Almond, David Litchfield
From the bestselling, award-winning author of SKELLIG comes a vivid and moving story, beautifully illustrated, which commemorates the hundred-year anniversary of the end of the First World War.
""I am just a child,"" says John. ""How can I be at war?""
It’s 1918, and war is everywhere. John’s dad is fighting in the trenches far away in France. His mum works in the munitions factory just along the road. His teacher says that John is fighting, too, that he is at war with enemy children in Germany.
One day, in the wild woods outside town, John has an impossible moment: a meeting with a German boy named Jan. John catches a glimpse of a better world, in which children like Jan and himself can come together, and scatter the seeds of peace.
Gorgeously illustrated by David Litchfield, this is a book to treasure.
Reviews
It was good it teach me all about the war
Empress Peaches Bluebird 06.07.2025
I liked it because it shows your dream can come true. The dream was that the war will end in the future.
Chief Gator Dangerous 24.07.2024
I liked it a lot because it taught me a lot about what wars would be like at that time
Baroness Blossom Peninsula 07.01.2024
Star Reviewer
I love learning the history behind it all
Doctor Pansy Pineapple 25.08.2023
It’s great! Wholesome and accurate it makes you wanna cry ngl.
General Beany Sunshine 08.07.2023
I liked the man.
Chief Bart Bookmark 27.08.2022
Like this book very interesting I like the bit where everyone gets along Would recommend this
Queen Rose Quest 17.08.2022
A sweet story that explains a child's point of view in the 1st world war. I would recommend it to any historical book fans.
Captain July Tyrannosaurus 27.07.2022
Hard to know what is the boys' imagination and what is the real story overall it is ok but nice ending when he finds out his dad is home and the war is over
Fairy Daffodil Skateboard 28.08.2021
I found this book ok its mostly just about the 1st world war
Fairy Daffodil Skateboard 18.08.2021
I did not enjoy this book. There was too much of the boys imagination and I couldn’t tell what was real, what he was imagining and what he was dreaming. I didn’t like the wording either.
Major Pluto Astronomical 03.08.2021
This was a fascinating tale of John and a German boy jan and their tale through war
Queen Panther Yo-yo 22.07.2021
I enjoyed the book a little bit because it is saying that we shouldn't be at war with somebody just because of where they are from or who they are. I think the book could be a bit more descriptive. I really liked Johns character because understood that he could be friends with anybody he wanted to be friends with and that he had the right to pick who he can be friends with. I also really liked Uncle Gordons character because he was teaching children the right thing. I would recommend this book to maybe someone who is a little younger than me.
Officer Blossom Moonbeam 10.08.2020
This book was great and it really touches the heart at the end of the book when the boy finally finds out the war is over and meets his dad for the first time. I would deffenetly reccomend this book to someone the age 7 - 10
General Cupcake Pawprint 17.08.2019
A nice story
Anonymous 17.08.2019
I like history and I learnt some today. Yesterday I did not know what shells were but then I learnt that they are bombs that's shape look like a shell. My favourite character was Dorothy because she is a girl that wants peace. I would recommend this book to my favourite sister.
Judge June Spaceship 13.08.2019
This book is really heart-rending and it is a true story.
Anonymous 21.07.2019
I really like this book because it makes you feel like you’re in the story, not just reading it. It’s quite dramatic and gives you good insight into the life of children in the war. The little boy’s mum works in a factory while his dad is at war. One day he meets a German boy called Jan and dreams of a better world without war. I think its a bit confusing at one point because it kept going to what he is thinking in his head, but I would definitely recommend it.
Anonymous 20.07.2019
it was really interesting and gave me a good idea of how it was like for children in england.It was fiction[I think],and my favourite character was the girl Dorothy.I would reccomend it to someone into WW1 and 2.This book was great!
Anonymous 10.07.2019
