Soldier's Game
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1.0 • 1 Rating
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- £9.99
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- £9.99
Publisher Description
Shortlisted for the Scottish Children's Book Awards 2012. Ross is fed up with being on the losing side, as Bruntsfield Primary football team suffer another humiliating defeat. But after football practice each week he goes to visit his grandmother, and this week she has a special present for him. Pat digs out a pair of old football boots and strip which belonged to her father, who once played for Heart of Midlothian Football Club. Ross is amazed that his great-grandfather, Jack, had played for the famous Hearts. As he finds out more about Jack, an incredible story unfolds -- a tale of Edinburgh's young heroes and a battalion of footballers and fans who fought in the First World War at the Battle of the Somme. Based on the true story of the 16th Royal Scots, otherwise known as the 'Hearts Battalion', this moving book brings a fascinating moment of Scottish history to life. Jim Killgore interweaves the present day life of an ordinary football-mad boy with a story of young men who volunteered for war. He focuses on the friendships that develop as the lads play football and learn to become soldiers together, making this remarkable story enjoyable and accessible for young people.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Killgore weaves a historical story into the framework of a contemporary one about 11-year-old Ross, who is sick of being taunted for his clumsiness, which often contributes to his football (soccer) team's lackluster performances. When Ross's grandmother unearths a box containing his great-grandfather Jack Jordan's photos, newspaper articles, and memorabilia in the attic, Ross becomes inspired by his grandfather's passionate life. Jack played for Ross's favorite team, the Heart of Midlothian, which formed a club of players and fans to fight in the army under Sir George McCrae during WWI. Wearing Jack's old boots, Ross dreams of the glory of being at Tynecastle stadium, but his grandmother tells him the other side of the story of the 16th Royal Scots or "Hearts Battalion," a story of the hardships of life in the trenches of Edinburgh. While the two narrative strands each offer a strong central character, their stories feel only tangentially connected, rather than forming a satisfying cohesive thread. Readers may struggle to be fully invested in the sweet but slender scenario. Ages 9 up.
