I was a soldier (review)

By Brian E. Turner

I was a soldier by bestselling author Brian E. Turner, who has written several stories concerning war issues, is a short story that pictures the cruel and cool decisions that soldiers are forced to make in the battle field.

At the beginning of the story, we can clearly perceive the atmosphere of war since the author makes an understandable distinction between the colours of the soldier’s uniform belonging to each side. Then, as we go on reading, the narration makes us feel that the relationship between the soldiers will be a friendly one. We probably assume they may become comrades because of their attempt to communicate in spite of their language differences. Although differences concerning communication are solved, those regarding war issues aren’t. This is why the reader might feel a bittersweet sensation as the story reaches its ending.

I was a soldier is a very interesting piece of literature that may leave the reader satisfied. The unexpected twist at the end of the story will definitely prove the horrors of war. We highly recommend it since it is catching, intriguing and emotive. A story the reader should not missed.

“I was a soldier”, a mixture of feelings (review)

Award-winning American Poet Brian E. Turner is the author of two poetry collections. As a soldier-poet, who served seven years in the US Army, Turner was selected as one of 50 United States Artists Fellows. Turner lets us to know what happen to a person during the cruelty of a war. “I was a soldier” one of the stories included in his collections depict not only comradeship but duty as the main task of a soldier.

The story takes part during a war. Two soldiers with the same desperate desire of saving their lives meet in a hole accidentally. Although they were enemies, comradeship is shown in two opportunities: at the time in which one of them helps the other who is seriously injured and when the two soldiers share their deepest feelings of being with those who they love most. Despite fellowship, soldiers’ duty is stronger and it gives to this story a tragic and unexpected end.

“I was a soldier” is the kind of story which can make us think about our principles and priorities as human beings. Feelings of comradeship can be overshadowed by duties showing the cruelty of war. The fact that “I was a soldier” is written by an expert on wars makes of this a highly recommended reading.

I WAS A SOLDIER (review)

I WAS A SOLDIER is a lively short story in which its author, the New Zealander Brian E Turner, deals with controversial meaning of war.

The story transfers the reader from his peaceful life to the tragic and dramatic scenery of a battlefield. This context provides a frame to the story to experience, unless for a moment, the feelings soldiers may have in wartime. Moreover, this feelings can act as triggers to discuss or reflex on topics such as duty, empathy, friendship, hope and human miseries.

Brian E Turner, a war veteran himself, develops the story in a masterful way up to the last moment .And the shocking and unexpected ending produces in the readers a bitter disappointment when facing the cruel truth. This situation results incomprehensible for those who don’t know how a war is like.

Although, this story was not written for adolescents it can be very interesting for them because after reading the story, they can take part of a debate and they also can have the opportunity to judge the behaviour of the characters of the story by themselves according to their own principles.

I WAS A SOLDIER (review)

Bryan Turner
(Review by Pablo Barroca Roldán)

“I was a soldier” by Bryan Turner tells the story of two enemy soldiers who started to socialize in a strange way during war. As every soldier has duties to obey during the war, these two protagonists won´t be the exception. In consequence, the resulting relationship among them will lead this fiction to an unexpected ending.

Turner´s book presents different topics such as friendship, death, duty, and human contradiction among others. The incorporation of all these topics, by the author, is very essential since students can face the mentioned topics in nowadays society.

Even though Turner´s story does not have any illustrations, it contains simple expressions and vocabulary that might help the reader or listener to follow the story without any problem.

“I was a soldier” is an interesting short story that allows young adult to reflect upon the importance of war, duty, death, friendship and human contradiction. This book is highly recommended to be used with adolescents at secondary schools.

We’re going a Bear Hunt (review)

We’re going a Bear Hunt
Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
Walker Books

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, written by Michael Rosen, who has been writing for children since 1970, and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, an illustrator of many classic picture books, is an exciting action storybook for those readers who can enjoy the adventurous narration of a family going on a bear hunt. Not only is the story line stimulating but tension towards the end of the story is charmingly chilling enough for the youngsters.

The book tells the story of a family and their dog going through different settings, such as wavy grass, or a swirling snowstorm, in order to get to the cave and hunt a bear. However, once they arrive there, they get scared and run away going all the way back because the bear chases them.

As the adventure starts, the characters sing a catchy song that is repeated every time the pages are turned. This, together with the exclamation they let out when a new obstacle is faced, will be attractive for children. What’s more, the onomatopoeias used to show the characteristics of the different places along the adventure, makes it more appealing.

Helen Oxenbury uses black-and-white and watercolor cartoon drawings, which show literalness with the narration. In order to create drama, she chooses grey color scales which go along with the expression on the characters’ faces. When the family goes through the obstacles a colorful image fills the whole page creating a riskier atmosphere.

Rosen and Oxenbury’s story is absolutely hunting, not only for children but also for adults. This is one of the stories that you would remember for the rest of your life. Don’t miss it.

The doorbell rang (review)

The doorbell rang
by Pat Hutchins

Cookies are not enough in the classic story for children The doorbell rang by Pat Hutchins. Funny and intriguing at the same time, this lovely story shows and highlights the importance of sharing, even when the risk of being left with no much for yourself is implied. A moral lesson that goes straight to the heart and soul.

This story is set in Ma’s kitchen. Ma has made a dozen of delicious cookies for Victoria and Sam. “You can share them between yourselves” says Ma, and it seems as if the children had no problem with that, till the doorbell rings, and rings, and rings. Several friends start to arrive at each ring. The cookies will have to be shared between more people!  Therefore, each child has fewer cookies to eat. But then, the final ring brings a surprise for the children and Ma as well.

A noticeable characteristic of the book is the use of repetition. The phrase “No one makes cookies like Grandma”, among others, is repeated throughout the whole narration. This book may be really useful when children are starting to learn Maths, especially problem solving, because, as the story develops, they would have to calculate how many cookies correspond to each child. Besides, the book may be interesting for both, children and parents; children may feel interested about the beautiful and colourful drawings that illustrate this book whereas parents may feel interested in the message the book shows us: the importance of sharing.

The doorbell rang tells a funny story about friendship and values. But “funny story” doesn’t mean “empty story”. We highly recommend it since through a simple argument, the possibility of reflecting upon life and moral values takes place at each page, again for both children and parents.

Grandma Rabbitty´s Visit (review)

Grandma Rabbitty´s Visit
Barry Smith
Dorling Kindersley Limited, 9 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8PS.
(Review by Lidia Figueroa and Valeria Muscato).

Grandma Rabbity´s Visit, by Barry Smith, is an adorable story for toddlers that takes place in a Rabbits’ house in which the little ones of the family are expecting the visit of their Grandma. During the wait, they see many vehicles appear throughout the text.

The story begins an early morning when mother Rabbity receives a phone call from Grandma Rabbity announcing that she is coming to visit the family. As soon as she finishes the call, mother Rabbity tells her sons the news. Immediately, they begin to express an enthusiastic interest and an impatient desire for the visit of their Grandma.

As the story develops, the young Rabbities see many different means of transport through the glass of the big living room window of their house. They really enjoy the view of those vehicles that anticipate their pass with funny sounds.

The author tries to capture the attention of the young hearers from the start. He illustrates the story with coloured pictures. Also, the storywriter uses a simpler language and the repetition of the particular sound each vehicle makes not only entertains young children but it also may allow them to interact with the story by repeating the onomatopoeias.

Grandma Rabbity´s Visit is highly recommended. It will be a great help if you are a parent or a teacher interested in teaching means of transport to young children. Don´t miss the opportunity to read Grandma Rabbity´s Visit.