About this book

On July 29th 1914, the world's peace was shattered as the artillery of the Austria-Hungary Empire began shelling the troops of the country to its south. What followed was like a row of falling dominoes as one European country after another rushed into war. Soon most of Europe was fighting in this calamitous war that could have been avoided. This was, of course, the First World War.
But who could have guessed that on December 25 the troops would openly defy their commanding officers by stopping the fighting and having a spontaneous celebration of Christmas with their "enemies"?

Reviews

Best Books for Young Adults, 2010 American Library Association
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2010 Bank Street College of Education
Booklist Editors Choice: Books for Youth, 2009 American Library Association
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2009 Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Choices, 2010 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2010 Children's Literature Special Interest Group IRA
Notable Children's Books, 2010 ALSC American Library Association
School Library Journal Best Books,2009
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2010 American Library Association

* "Well organized and clearly written, this presentation vividly portrays the context and events of the Christmas Truce." -- Booklist, starred review
*"Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, from letters home, diaries and recollections of combatants to archival photographs and prints, the author allows the principles to speak...he leaves kids with the provocative thought that war need not be inevitable, that the truce 'offered reassurance that a kinder, humane spirit could prevail.'" -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review