Helen Fuller Orton (1872–1955)

It was either my third grade or fourth grade teacher who read this book to the class. How we eagerly awaited our daily readings. For four decades, I've carried with me vivid memories of this tale that looks at war through the eyes of three children from different cultures. It helps that I live only an hour or so from Fort Niagara, so I've visited the Western New York locale where this drama unfolds at least a dozen times. For many years, I've wanted to return to this tome. True, the tale tends to become a bit one-dimensional when it's put through an "adult" filter. Some readers might yearn for more insights into the internal conflicts that our young protagonists experience. Still, the book provides an educational and enjoyable overview of a historic era that is often overlooked.… (més)