Harry’s War

by D. Edward Bradley
Wexford College Press
ISBN: 1-92914-822-4 263 pages, softcover

Here’s a realistic and sometimes uplifting look at what life is like for a young teenage boy in England during the Forties. And though it has an ending that feels somewhat rushed and abrupt, it will keep readers turning the pages and hoping that there is a sequel in the works.

Harry Lockwood’s life at Markham College is typical of any other school boy’s life at the time. If he survives the regular air raids and bombings from the Germans, he has routine beatings from the school’s older students to look forward to — and not much else. Despite the chaos, Harry finds time for love and actually grows into a person capable of handling life’s challenges in the shadow of war. D. Edward Bradley based many of these incidents on things that happened to him, and it makes for a thrilling novel full of characters readers will really care about. The surprise ending only solidifies that, and it makes one eager to know what will happen next. Novels set in war can often be depressing and mechanical. This one, however, shows real emotions and offers hope during one of the darkest periods in the world’s history. — D.BRUNELL  • 7/04

From Fearless Book Reviews July, 2004