1918 Broken Poppies

Title: 1918 Broken Poppies

Author(s): Des Hunt

Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 9781775432821

RRP: $19

Format: paperback

Date of Publication: March 2018

Age range: Young Adult

Reviewer’s name: Jayne Downes

Reviewer’s Job title: Librarian

Reviewer’s School name: Kaikorai Valley College

How highly are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

Review:

This story is partly based on the experience of the author’s uncle during World War One. Kiwi soldier Henry Hunt fought in the trenches in France and rescued a fox terrier dog that was left behind when a family was evacuating their village close to fighting. He made a promise to return the dog that he named Poppy to her owners. Poppy provides comfort for the soldiers as they face the horrors of battle and entertainment when she won a rat catching competition against much bigger rival dogs from Britain and Australia. Young adults reading this story will get a very realistic account of what life was like for soldiers fighting in the war and how the men were at the mercy of decisions made by their commanding officers. The photos, glossary and timeline at the back of the book were interesting and helpful. Broken Poppies is the fifth and final book in the Kiwis at War series.