Book Pick—Megiddo's Shadow by Arthur Slade
RSSFrom SLJ December 2006 (Starred Review)
Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA -- School Library Journal, 11/27/2006
SLADE, Arthur. Megiddo's Shadow. 290p. CIP. Random/Wendy Lamb Bks. 2006. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-74701-2; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-385-90945-4. LC 2006011494.
Gr 7 Up–An engrossing and thought-provoking story of a young man fighting in World War I. Upon learning of his brother's death at the German front, 16-year-old Edward Bathe lies about his age and enlists, leaving Canada and his father's farm for England. When he injures himself training a horse, he meets Emily Waters, an army nurse. Their relationship progresses through letters when Emily transfers to the front. A move from the infantry to the yeomanry starts Edward's war in earnest, but his plans to avenge his brother's death are altered when he is sent to Palestine to fight the Turks. Soldiers die from the heat and disease, horses fall in action, and friends die in battle. The young man's faith in God and in humanity are shaken, and he returns to Canada injured in body and spirit. All of the characters are fully realized, from Edward, a church-going innocent, to his "Uncle Nix," a friend of the family and an army colonel who spouts platitudes about people "in the Empire having to dig in and give" but who honestly believes what he says. Edward's camaraderie with his tent mates keeps him reasonably sane until he discovers that one of them enjoys killing. Megiddo's Shadow is the perfect book to have on hand for the ever-popular historical-fiction assignment, but don't purchase it for only that reason. Buy it because it is a powerful book that needs to be read.
