Review of My Second World War

Atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.

Review of My Second World War

Publisher: Franklin Watts ISBN 978-0-7496-7116-7

This is, in places, a thought provoking book.  It is an attractively presented book and I believe that it would be suitable for children aged 10+.

The book is divided into five ‘acts', starting with the battle for France through to the end of the war.  Each act is further broken down into the major events.

The events are all presented in the same way.  Initially are the facts, which are simply worded without any bias.  These are followed by a personal account from the period.  This format is repeated throughout the book.  Each event is also supported by photographs.

The personal accounts, I believe, would go some way to allowing the children to develop some empathy with these people.

I found these accounts however, rather one sided. For example, the evacuee's story was very positive but no mention was made that for many evacuees life was not very rosy.

For me, the most disturbing of these accounts was that of  Colonel Paul Tibbet, the pilot of the Enola Gay;  this alongside the book's suggestion that the Japanese were in fact, responsible for the American's use of the Atomic bomb.  This made me feel quite troubled;   but this purely my opinion.

I would buy this book for my school because it provides a contemporary view of the events of this period of history.

Carole Millard

31^st March 2009