Critics' Opinion:
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Published Mar 2014
256 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Information
The day the First World War broke out, Alfie Summerfield's father promised he wouldn't go away to fight - but he broke that promise the following day. Four years later, Alfie doesn't know where his father might be, other than that he's away on a special, secret mission. Then, while shining shoes at King's Cross Station, Alfie unexpectedly sees his father's name on a sheaf of papers belonging to a military doctor. Bewildered and confused, Alfie realizes his father is in a hospital close by - a hospital treating soldiers with shell shock. Alfie isn't sure what shell shock is, but he is determined to rescue his father from this strange, unnerving place...
"Boyne gracefully renders the opposing strong feelings the war inspired, but uneven pacing weakens the overall effect." - Publishers Weekly
"A vivid, accessible tale of the staggering price war exacts from those who had no voice in waging it." - Kirkus
"Boyne has an eye for period details, an ear for dialogue, and a knack for creating individual, consistent characters. However, the fact that they're mainly adult characters may limit the book's appeal to children." - Booklist
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Photo: Rich Gilligan
John Boyne was born in Ireland in 1971. He is the author of eleven novels for adults, five for younger readers and a collection of short stories. His 2006 novel The Boy In the Striped Pajamas sold 9 million copies worldwide and has been adapted for cinema, theatre, ballet and opera. John has won three Irish Book Awards and many other international literary awards and his novels are published in over 50 languages. He lives in Dublin.
Author Interview
Link to John Boyne's Website
Name Pronunciation
John Boyne: BOYn
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