Ten-year-old Johnny eagerly plays at war with the army of nutcracker soldiers his toymaker father whittles for him. He demolishes imaginary foes. B...
read full description
reviews
Jan 30, 2012
Kev
rated it: 
Lord of the nutcracker is about a ten year old boy,johnny who lives in London England.As any other boy would want to do johnny plays with his nutcracker soldiers his toy maker father makes for him.but in 1914 , Britain is at war with Germany which is the beginning of world war one.He soon learns that his father is going to war in the trenches of France.
Every week letters are sent to johnny with a soldier his father curves in the trenches.He still adds it to his army of Huns, Tommies,and Fr More...
Every week letters are sent to johnny with a soldier his father curves in the trenches.He still adds it to his army of Huns, Tommies,and Fr More...
Nov 02, 2011
Jo
rated it: 
This review is part of my Poppies & Prose feature. You can find out more about it here.
“Below me were my wooden soldiers. The nutcracker men were hidden in the dark shadows of the tree and the wall, but the moonlight gleamed on my Frenchmen and my Tommies…The guns in France pounded away with their faint little thunder, and I thought that my real dad would be just like my model, wide awake, watching the sky.”</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
More...
“Below me were my wooden soldiers. The nutcracker men were hidden in the dark shadows of the tree and the wall, but the moonlight gleamed on my Frenchmen and my Tommies…The guns in France pounded away with their faint little thunder, and I thought that my real dad would be just like my model, wide awake, watching the sky.”</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
More...
Apr 09, 2009
Rebecca
rated it:
Lord of the Nutcracker Men by Iain Lawrence
Dell-Laurel Leaf, 2003, 6 discs (6.5 hrs), $5.99
YA Novel Adventure/War
ISBN: 1402523173
This is the story of 10-year-old Johnny Briggs, but it is also the story of his father, James, a British toymaker who volunteers to fight the Germans during WWI. For safety’s sake, Johnny leaves London to live with his aunt in the British countryside. His father carves toy soldiers to pass the time between battles while crouched in the More...
Dell-Laurel Leaf, 2003, 6 discs (6.5 hrs), $5.99
YA Novel Adventure/War
ISBN: 1402523173
This is the story of 10-year-old Johnny Briggs, but it is also the story of his father, James, a British toymaker who volunteers to fight the Germans during WWI. For safety’s sake, Johnny leaves London to live with his aunt in the British countryside. His father carves toy soldiers to pass the time between battles while crouched in the More...
Aug 14, 2008
Art
rated it: 
Currently reading.
What an interesting way to look at the World War I.
From the homefront of a young man whose father goes to war.
and the people he interacts with.
The author compares WWI w/Homer's "Illiad". What a comparsion.
He also discusses a British poet w/"might had deserted" and gave reference to his poetry.
What an interesting way to look at the World War I.
From the homefront of a young man whose father goes to war.
and the people he interacts with.
The author compares WWI w/Homer's "Illiad". What a comparsion.
He also discusses a British poet w/"might had deserted" and gave reference to his poetry.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 10, 2011
Johnny, the narrator, is ten in 1914, and readers his age could learn a valuable perspective on war from his story. It takes him a long time to understand what's going on: he doesn't know why neighbors with German names are leaving London, he thinks it's great when the height requirements for soldiers are lowered so that his father can join up, and he sees war as a game, just like the ones he plays with toy soldiers his father made for him. He's even excited at the prospect of Zeppelin raids nea
More...
Jul 27, 2010
Elle
rated it: 
This was the first book that I ever stopped in the middle of. This was probably due to the fact that I was in the third grade when I read it, but still.
5 years later, I still have no desire to pick up this book. All I remember was little 8 year old me just being terrified (not good terrified. Baaaaaaaaaaad terrified.) of turning the page. Silly, silly, scared-for-life Lo.
Of course, I have undoubtedly read scarier books, but i just don't want to go through that again.
Shudder.. More...
5 years later, I still have no desire to pick up this book. All I remember was little 8 year old me just being terrified (not good terrified. Baaaaaaaaaaad terrified.) of turning the page. Silly, silly, scared-for-life Lo.
Of course, I have undoubtedly read scarier books, but i just don't want to go through that again.
Shudder.. More...
Aug 13, 2011
Mimi
rated it:
This is a great book to share with middle schoolers when you want to teach your kids about World War I or just war in general. The main character is a boy, perhaps 10 or 12 years old. His father is a gentle toy maker who proudly goes out to war to fight for his country. The boy, Johnny, is sent to live with his aunt in the country, because London is too dangerous a target. Johnny's mother goes to work in the factory to help the war effort. He receives letters from both of his parents, and his fa
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 08, 2011
Neill
rated it:
Johnny’s dad is fighting in WWI in the trenches in France. Accompanying his letters home are toy soldiers he carves. As Johnny fights his own mock battles with the toy soldiers it seems that the events he reenacts with his soldiers mirror the events that are happening to his father in the trenches. The events happening around him in England and the effect on his family and neighbours represent the horror and ugliness of war.
Mar 05, 2011
Amy
rated it:
This is another beautifully told, well written war novel. I think this one is more appropriate for an audience of children, but I would suggest it be read with an adult. There are some heavy war themes (obviously...) and I would want to discuss those with my child if they were reading it.
I also read this book originally as an assignment for my Children's Literature class.
I also read this book originally as an assignment for my Children's Literature class.
Jan 12, 2012
Brandi
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 23, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
Loved, loved, LOVED this book. Beautiful story, beautifully told. I bought a copy of this for my boyfriend's birthday a year later (that boyfriend who is now my husband!)
Aug 21, 2011
Velvia
rated it:
This book was a really good read. The story of a boy sent away because of the war. It is told from the boy's point of view and has his thoughts and worries for the welfare of his father fighting in the war.
Oct 30, 2009
Clay
rated it:
My favorite of Lawrence's books, brought to mind by the upcoming publication of his new book, The Giant Slayer
Nov 02, 2008
Kelly
rated it:
Kind of an All Quiet on the Western Front for kids. A young Eng. boy is periodically sent carved figures from his father fighting in the trenches of WWI. Brings war home, but also reflects what atrocities his father is seeing. WWI gets glossed over in favor of the Big One, and this would be a great way to work it into the curriculum.
Jan 21, 2008
Karen L.
rated it:
About a 10 year old boy from England who's father goes off to fight in WW1. Much of the story is told through the fathers letters to young Johnny. In each letter the father sends a hand carved wooden soldier. There is something mysterious to Johnny about these soldiers.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 21, 2011
Alana
rated it:
great! i loved the portrayal of the realities of the Great War. Both the options at home and the realities on the battle front. i think this book is a great look for those who think being a solider is easy, it's not, war is hell. great job on the research!
Jun 30, 2008
NanTze
rated it:
This is a children's book, but it is one of the best written accounts of what it was like on the home front during the first world war--all from a child's perspective--that I have ever read. The anguish and the fears are clearly depicted.
Oct 08, 2008
Joy
rated it:
Am easy read, enjoyable historical fiction. My husband & I both enjoyed it.
Feb 11, 2012
Feb 04, 2012
Jan 29, 2012
Jan 11, 2012
Dec 26, 2011
