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War Games (2009)

by Audrey Couloumbis(Favorite Author)

3.3 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0375856285 (ISBN13: 9780375856280)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Random House Books for Young Readers

review 1: American born twelve-year-old Petros and his older brother, Zola, have lived in their Greek community for most of their childhoods because their family came back to Greece during the Great Depression. Life is pretty much the same on their farm even though there's a war going on and Italian soldiers are in their midst. Now the Germans have arrived and everything is different. The boys have a cousin, Lambros, who is a resistance fighter. Petros and Zola do their own part to raise the morale of the townspeople right under the nose of the German commander who now lives in with the family in their home. It's interesting to get a young boy's viewpoint of the World War II in Greece and that boy is based on the author's life.
review 2: Loved this book. It's a story a... morebout how resistance comes in many forms. This is the story of a greek family in a small town that stands between the German army and the Suez Canal. Two brothers enlist their friends to help resist the occupation in small ways. Eventually, they are placed in a situation where they are forced to grow up a bit more and their bravery is tested. They grow in independence and as a family. Based on true events, this tells a not-often-heard side of WWII.Full of great character development in a setting that is unfamiliar but easy to relate to for my urban students. Not only teaches the realities of war but the human experience of it since it involves a family from a small town instead of people involved in the real fighting. Also, ample opportunities to discuss symbolism (pepper plant and kite).My only real criticism is that it doesn’t involve the Jewish experience which was central to WWII. Some questions for students or other readers to consider:1. What role did Greece play in the outcome of WWII?2. What are the rules for marbles and would it be fun to teach my kids?3. The Nazis were (and still are) very appealing to young men, why is that?4. What was the Nazi saying in Ch. 33? What was he upset about?5. Why do stories create admiration or sympathy for Nazis?6. Why did the officer really turn away when he shot that boy?Reminds me a bit of Number the Stars. less

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