Biography and Non-Fiction ~ War Is...: Soldiers, Survivors and Storytellers Talk About War

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/War-Is/Marc-Aronson/e/9780763636258/?itm=2&usri=war+is+soldiers+survivors+and+storytellers, accessed November 4, 2009.

Bibliography

Aronson, Marc and Patty Campbell (ed.).  2008.  WAR IS: SOLDIERS, SURVIVORS, AND STORYTELLERS TALK ABOUT WAR.  Cambridege: Candlewick Press. 
ISBN 9780763636258

Critical Analysis

Two editors, Marc Aronson and Patty Campbell, tell stories of war in this anthology from two different perspectives.  In the introduction, Campbell describes her "passionate revulsion towards war," as Aronson argues that it is an inevitable piece of the human race.  The book contains twenty selections broken into four sections, each one articulating war's destructive nature.  Pieces chosen by Campbell resonate her belief that war is "crazy," "unbearable," and "impossible to win."  Aronson chooses to listen to these men and women who have fought in our wars because he believes that if we ask these people to fight for us "we owe them the respect of listening to them."  Memorable pieces include written accounts of war by Chris Hedges and Ernie Pyle as well as a Nagasaki memoir by renowned Japanese poet Fumiko Miura.  Also included are powerful short stories by Mark Twain, Rita Williams-Garcia and Margo Lanagan.  Other pieces discuss the reality of first combat, dishonest recruitment, the influence of war heroes, and religious convictions.  The "further reading" section provides readers with duly provocative, high-quality selections in anthologies, fiction and nonfiction that cover ancient to modern conflicts.  Teens from varied social and academic backgrounds will be attracted to this engrossing book that offers conflicting perceptions and a wide variety of experiences.  A superb addition for Social Studies and English teachers alike, this anthology would be appropriate in any high school war unit.  It would also be an excellent choice for many book groups, providing endless topics of discussion. 

Review Excerpts

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "The openness and range of pieces offered in this collection allows for discussions to be mounted in a classroom or home setting. This book will make an impact and holds lasting thoughts for the reader's mind. It is a must read in or outside the classroom."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "An essay about women soldiers who served in Iraq is excerpted from Helen Benedict's forthcoming book, The Lonely Soldier . And a memoir by poet Fumiko Miura, survivor of the atomic bomb at Nagasaki, is included. The volume closes with a short play and a short story about the aftereffects of war. The editors make it plain that they are antiwar, but they have made an effort to convey a variety of experiences."