Synopses & Reviews
Shooting 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
andquot;Few titles at this level convey the futility of World War I as well as this one does. A first choice.andquot;
--School Library Journal, starred review
andquot;Timed with the centenary of World War I but a lesson for always, Hendrixand#39;s tale pulls young readers close and shows the human side of war.andquot;
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Review
STARRED REVIEW
andquot;Hendrix crafts an intimate fictional account of the event...powerful images.andquot;
Review
andquot;While not shying away from warandrsquo;s grim realities, the pictures go a long way toward conveying the hopeful light of the German Christmas trees twinkling in the night while the strains of andldquo;Stille Nachtandrdquo; waft across No Manandrsquo;s Land toward our homesick hero.andquot;
Review
STARRED REVIEW
andquot;The acrylic and gouache illustrations tell a tale of their own. Not only is this an impressive Christmas story, but it shows the humanity of warring soldiers.andquot;
Review
STARRED REVIEW
andquot;Timed with the centenary of World War I but a lesson for always, Hendrixand#39;s tale pulls young readers close and shows the human side of war.andquot;
Review
andquot;Soldier Charlie is affectionately depicted as a freckle-faced youngster among war-worn older men, and his status as a newcomer to battle lends credibility to the combination of playfulness and awe with which he regards the truce.andquot;
Synopsis
Two-time Newbery Honor Book author Jim Murphy writes a stunning nonfiction masterpiece about a Christmas miracle on the Western Front during World War I.
On July 29th 1914, the worlds peace was shattered as the artillery of the Austria-Hungary Empire began shelling the troops of the country to its south. What followed was like a row of falling dominoes as one European country after another rushed into war. Soon most of Europe was fighting in this calamitous war that could have been avoided. This was, of course, the First World War.
But who could have guessed that on December 25 the troops would openly defy their commanding officers by stopping the fighting and having a spontaneous celebration of Christmas with their "enemies"? (cont'd)
Synopsis
On July 29th 1914, the world s peace was shattered as the artillery of the Austria-Hungary Empire began shelling the troops of the country to its south. What followed was like a row of falling dominoes as one European country after another rushed into war. Soon most of Europe was fighting in this calamitous war that could have been avoided. This was, of course, the First World War.
But who could have guessed that on December 25 the troops would openly defy their commanding officers by stopping the fighting and having a spontaneous celebration of Christmas with their "enemies"?"
About the Author
Jim Murphy is the celebrated author of more than thirty-five books for young readers, most notably TRUCE: THE DAY THE SOLDIERS STOPPED FIGHTING and THE GREAT FIRE, a Newbery Honor Winner. His carefully researched, engaging, and elegantly written nonfiction has garnered the most prestigious awards in the field. He lives in Maplewood, New Jersey, with his wife and their two sons.