Released to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Khe Sanh, My Grandfather’s War is a story of a very special bond between a girl and her grandfather. It touches on the negative attitudes towards those who went to war, the realities of returning from war, and the pain and price of war, including living long term, day to day with PTSD.
“There is something unusual about my grandfather though. He walks with a limp because he hurt his leg a long time ago. And sometimes he gets very sad.”
When the little girl innocently asks her Grandfather why he is sad, the reader is given a small window of understanding into the devastation war can bring and war can leave.
However, the story ends with hope: “Grandpa still gets sad but now I understand why.”
Glyn Harper, a highly respected military historian, has given the perfect mix of narrative and history, as he tells the story in the first person. There is also an informational resource in the back of the book, for those wanting to know more about the Vietnamese War.
My Grandfather’s War is a gentle educational tool, highly recommended for every Australian classroom.
Title: My Grandfather’s War
Author: Glyn Harper
Illustrator: Jenny Cooper
Publisher: Exisle Publishing, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 June 2018
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781775592990
For ages: 5-10
Type: Picture Book
