Hill, David. 2012. My brother's war. Auckland, N.Z.: Puffin.
It is 1914. World War 1 has broken out in
Europe. In New Zealand, two brothers with opposing views on war, follow
different paths into the trenches. One proudly volunteers to protect his
country from the dangerous Huns and the other, a “conchie” (a dismissive term
used for conscientious objector against war) is shipped across as a prisoner.
Both brothers find themselves in England and France, and we
follow them through a narrative of the indignities suffered, the horror and fighting and the oftentimes stupidity
of military power. We also feel the warm comradeship that develops between men.
The story culminates after a bloody battle when the brothers are reunited. But
they meet as changed men, because their experiences force them to reconsider
their initial beliefs and opinions on war. The strength of this story lies in
its complex theme which has been treated in a thought-provoking and
non-judgmental manner. Using a straight-from-the heart style, touched at times with
a dark humour quite appropriate to the setting, David Hill has given young
adults a chance to personalise an important idea and think beyond their
world. The thought-provoking subject of this awarding winning novel would
make it a perfect choice for a teen book club.
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