Armistice Runner (Conkers)

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Seven. Read Tom’s Books for Topics article about ten things to read about the Armistice this autumn. In the muddy fields, along with the parents and grandparents, stand the coaches. Volunteers who give up their time and use their passion to make it possible for millions of children to enjoy dozens of sports every week in the UK. Armistice Runner is dedicated to them. Themes in this book 3 : Dementia The detailed descriptions of the Cumbrian landscape ground the story and give it continuity and gravitas. The contrasting view from the trenches is constantly in the reader’s mind. Of the French countryside, Ernest writes in his diary ‘ It’s tame, no wilderness. Except for the bullets and shells, tanks and aeroplanes.’ Detailed descriptions of the landscape are central to the story, and I was reminded of Gill Lewis’s Sky Hawk, which uses the landscape of the North-west to equally powerful effect. Armistice Runner is both powerful and poignant. Showing just how strong the written word can be, Tom Palmer gives out messages of bravery and of perseverance and gives a fresh outlook on WWI” MAMA MUMMY MUM, BLOG

In my opinion, this book didn’t have a strong plot line and it all led up to a very anti-climactic ending. It was very simple in the sense that the structure and vocabulary was limited. The characters and emotional aspect between the girl and her grandma suffering from dementia is well-written. I feel this wasn’t really too historical, though the sentimental idea of the girl reading her great-grandfather’s diary at war was good, it was just a bit all over the place.

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I really enjoyed this book because I think the mix between modern days and old days really worked quite well. I think this was a great fit for history books and children’s books because it wasn’t all about the World War, it was about Lily’s feelings and running. I really liked how him talking about the war wasn’t just a story, it was a diary entry and his personal feelings. Also the diary entry wasn’t really a diary entry, I would say they were more like letters to his dead brother, Fred. The only negative thing about this story was that the old day language could have been better and the description of the old day could have been older and there could’ve been more of it. Other than that I really enjoyed this book and would say it’s for any gender age 9 – 14. I thought it was an amazing story. It created images of WW1 in my head and I felt like I could really connect with the characters. But there were some parts I didn’t understand. To help you celebrate World Book Day, I’ve recorded a free virtual film for assembly/class for schools to show on the day. Filmed from Anne Frank’s Haus, Amsterdam, I’ll be sharing why her diary is one of my all-time favourite books. Watch below or in YouTube… BBC have collected some of their sport in wartime footage here. 1914 Footage of the Footballers’ Battalion

The thing that stands out most to me is that it is not just an overload of non-fiction, it is a well balanced mix of both non-fiction and fiction. The only thing that would make it that little bit better was maybe adding some pictures here and there, but don’t get me wrong, it was an absolutely fantastic book to read.Tom has created a range of resources for schools to use to help children understand the significance of this November’s centenary of the end of the First World War.