Title: Stay Where You Are And Then Leave
Author: John Boyne
Genre: Historical Fiction
Ages: 10-14 years
Summary from Goodreads:
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 realises his father is in a hospital close by - a hospital treating soldiers with an unusual condition. Alfie is determined to rescue his father from this strange, unnerving place . . .
My Review:
I loved the perspective that this book is written in. As a reader you understand 5 year old Alfie's confusion about what the war means and are able to see 9 year old Alfie's maturity as he better understands the effects of the war and the responsibility that he takes on as a result. However, the story did not fully engage me until the second half. While I enjoyed the book, especially the action once Alfie pieces together the information about his father, I feel that some students will lose interest before reaching that part int he book. Altogether, it was a good book, but not one of my favorites.
