I was in love with this book. Couldn't put it down. ( )

OK short novel about two boys, one German and one American and how they meet up together at the very end. The story follows each alternately : farm boy from Brigham City, Utah and a German boy who was active in the Hitler youth. Good for comparisons about how it's always the young boys who pay the price in wars. This would be a good one for modern kids to learn something about WW II and about tragedy of war in general. ( )

I liked the book, mostly because it's a genre I enjoy. It was interesting having a perspective from both sides, although it seemed more focused on one, more than the other. I also felt the ending was rushed, and lacked closure. ( )

Parallel stories of two boys, one German, one American whose paths cross at the Battle of the Bulge. It portrays the soldier's life: the patriotism, bravado, confusion, discomfort, and fear. Despite the, at times, pedestrian writing, the message packs an emotional wallop. ( )

Heartbreaking. Yet the fact that it effected me means it drew me in. Great character development. I found myself frustrated when I had to take breaks in reading, so it grabbed my interest as well.

I'm left with a lot of emotion about war, death, young men in battle. Because of these reactions, I almost hesitate to recommend the book, but these aftereffects say a lot about the quality of the story.

I might have to attempt to hug my sons today. ( )