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Shooting At The Stars (2014)

by John Hendrix(Favorite Author)

4.46 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

141971175X (ISBN13: 9781419711756)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Harry N. Abrams

review 1: Shooting at the Stars begins by setting the scenes for World War I; giving facts on who was fighting who; and expectations of young men that it would be a short war. The story itself revolves around a young English soldier writing to his mother. He begins by telling her about the hardships of war, which isn't just the fighting but the conditions, such as rain, three feet of mud, and rats! He then proceeds to tell her about something remarkable, On Christmas Eve, there was snow and he heard Germans singing Christmas carols. The Germans had also put up tiny Christmas trees, which is a bad strategic move as it gives away your position. Then, on Christmas morning, the Germans called out to the English asking them where their Christmas trees were. For one day, Christmas Day, th... moreere was a truce. Germans and English shook hands, buried their dead, traded gifts, and played soccer. The major was furious, called them traitors, and ordered them to fire on the Germans. The young protagonist says he thinks for that night, the English aimed high and were shooting at the stars, hence the title of the book.This was a phenomenal story that honestly caused me to well up while reading it. It showed a side of war that you never think of, and a special day that you wonder/doubt could ever happen again. Enemies were humanized, and you see that they are people just like us who had families and loved Christmas just like we do. The illustrations perfectly matched the book, as they were rich in color, striking in detail, and placed you perfectly in the scene for a full reading experience. There is also a helpful glossary at the end for those tricky terms that kids won't recognize. I highly recommend this book for Christmas or anytime! Five stars.
review 2: Shooting at the stars : the Christmas truce of 1914 / John Hendrix.SummaryShooting at the Stars is the moving story of a young British soldier on the front lines during World War I who experiences an unforgettable Christmas Eve. In a letter home to his mother, he describes how, despite fierce fighting earlier from both sides, Allied and German soldiers ceased firing and came together on the battlefield to celebrate the holiday. They sang carols, exchanged gifts, and even lit Christmas trees. But as the holiday came to a close, they returned to their separate trenches to await orders for the war to begin again. John Hendrix wonderfully brings this story to life, interweaving fact and fiction along with his detailed illustrations and hand-lettered text. His story celebrates the humanity and kindness that can persist even during the darkest periods of our history. Back matter includes a glossary, additional information about World War I and the Christmas Truce and its aftermath, and an archival photograph taken during the Truce. Praise for Shooting at the Stars STARRED REVIEWS "Few titles at this level convey the futility of World War I as well as this one does. A first choice." -- School Library Journal , starred review "Timed with the centenary of World War I but a lesson for always, Hendrix's tale pulls young readers close and shows the human side of war." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review.Author NotesJohn Hendrix's books include John Brown: His Fight for Freedom , a Publishers Weekly Best Book and New York Public Library Top 100 Book, and Nurse, Soldier, Spy , by Marissa Moss, which received a Eureka! Children's Book Award and Booklist Editor's Choice Award. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri. less

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