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War Stories
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Restart, a story of telling truth from lies -- and finding out what being a hero really means.
There are two things Trevor loves more than anything else: playing war-based video games and his great-grandfather Jacob, who is a true-blue, bona fide war hero. At the height of the war, Jacob helped liberate a small French village, and was given a hero's welcome upon his return to America.
Now it's decades later, and Jacob wants to retrace the steps he took during the war -- from training to invasion to the village he is said to have saved. Trevor thinks this is the coolest idea ever. But as they get to the village, Trevor discovers there's more to the story than what he's heard his whole life, causing him to wonder about his great-grandfather's heroism, the truth about the battle he fought, and importance of genuine valor.
There are two things Trevor loves more than anything else: playing war-based video games and his great-grandfather Jacob, who is a true-blue, bona fide war hero. At the height of the war, Jacob helped liberate a small French village, and was given a hero's welcome upon his return to America.
Now it's decades later, and Jacob wants to retrace the steps he took during the war -- from training to invasion to the village he is said to have saved. Trevor thinks this is the coolest idea ever. But as they get to the village, Trevor discovers there's more to the story than what he's heard his whole life, causing him to wonder about his great-grandfather's heroism, the truth about the battle he fought, and importance of genuine valor.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2020
405 people are currently reading
1967 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Korman
248 books4,402 followersGordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books. Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
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July 30, 2025
This personal review is also being shared on the Mid-Contintent Library account.
Worried about the young person in your life who is obsessed with WW II? Do they play too many war video games, in your opinion? This is the perfect book to share with them. Trevor Firestone idolizes his great-grandfather who helped liberate France during WW II. When a trip to France is planned to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of V-E Day, Trevor is thrilled to help retrace his G. G.'s journey from Ft. Benning, across the Atlantic to Great Britain, then across the English Channel to Normandy, to Paris, and finally to Sainte-Regine for a medal ceremony to honor G. G. Also taking the trip is Trevor's father, David, the grandson of Jacob Firestone (our war hero). Korman juxtaposes the modern day trip against Jacob Firestone's experiences from 1944-1945. Social media plays an integral role as a mysterious group seems determined to discourage the Firestones in their progress through France. This lurking presence adds peril to the present day storyline. Throughout the realities of war are exposed alongside the necessity of fighting when there is a threat to freedom. Humorous, heartwarming, and so helpful in bringing understanding to a difficult subject. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Scholastic Inc. and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Worried about the young person in your life who is obsessed with WW II? Do they play too many war video games, in your opinion? This is the perfect book to share with them. Trevor Firestone idolizes his great-grandfather who helped liberate France during WW II. When a trip to France is planned to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of V-E Day, Trevor is thrilled to help retrace his G. G.'s journey from Ft. Benning, across the Atlantic to Great Britain, then across the English Channel to Normandy, to Paris, and finally to Sainte-Regine for a medal ceremony to honor G. G. Also taking the trip is Trevor's father, David, the grandson of Jacob Firestone (our war hero). Korman juxtaposes the modern day trip against Jacob Firestone's experiences from 1944-1945. Social media plays an integral role as a mysterious group seems determined to discourage the Firestones in their progress through France. This lurking presence adds peril to the present day storyline. Throughout the realities of war are exposed alongside the necessity of fighting when there is a threat to freedom. Humorous, heartwarming, and so helpful in bringing understanding to a difficult subject. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Scholastic Inc. and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2020
A young boy travels with his great-grandfather, a WW2 veteran, to Europe to help him “retrace” his experiences, and to watch him receive a medal. On the trip, Trevor comes to the realization that the “war” video games he frequently plays bear little resemblance to the actual thing.
I think this would be an excellent book for middle-grade and even Y.A. teachers to use in their classrooms. Many of the battle scenes are quite graphic in description, and some heavy issues are discussed about choices that must be made in times of war. Adult guidance would be necessary.
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg. 93)-“Their priority was to keep the Germans pinned down so they couldn’t take aim. But one look at the bullet holes perforating the surrounding trees was enough to convince Jacob that the reason he was still alive was sheer random chance. Or perhaps fate. Maybe today just wasn’t his day to die.”
(Pg. 205)-“Chaos was the word G.G. had once used to describe war. It looked cool on a movie screen or in a video game. But when real lives were being lost, snuffed out by sheer random chance, there was no glory.”
I think this would be an excellent book for middle-grade and even Y.A. teachers to use in their classrooms. Many of the battle scenes are quite graphic in description, and some heavy issues are discussed about choices that must be made in times of war. Adult guidance would be necessary.
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg. 93)-“Their priority was to keep the Germans pinned down so they couldn’t take aim. But one look at the bullet holes perforating the surrounding trees was enough to convince Jacob that the reason he was still alive was sheer random chance. Or perhaps fate. Maybe today just wasn’t his day to die.”
(Pg. 205)-“Chaos was the word G.G. had once used to describe war. It looked cool on a movie screen or in a video game. But when real lives were being lost, snuffed out by sheer random chance, there was no glory.”
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June 6, 2022Happy D-Day! Worried about the young person in your life who is obsessed with WW II? Do they play too many war video games, in your opinion? This is the perfect book to share with them. Trevor Firestone idolizes his great-grandfather who helped liberate France during WW II. When a trip to France is planned to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of V-E Day, Trevor is thrilled to help retrace his G. G.'s journey from Ft. Benning, across the Atlantic to Great Britain, then across the English Channel to Normandy, to Paris, and finally to Sainte-Regine for a medal ceremony to honor G. G. Also taking the trip is Trevor's father, David, the grandson of Jacob Firestone (our war hero). Korman juxtaposes the modern day trip against Jacob Firestone's experiences from 1944-1945. Social media plays an integral role as a mysterious group seems determined to discourage the Firestones in their progress through France. This lurking presence adds peril to the present day storyline. Throughout the realities of war are exposed alongside the necessity of fighting when there is a threat to freedom. Humorous, heartwarming, and so helpful in bringing understanding to a difficult subject. Highly recommended! *Review by Darla from Red Bridge*
September 20, 2020
This middle grade novel is set in an alternate universe where COVID-19 never happens. The main character travels to France with his father and great-grandfather, G.G., for a celebration and medal ceremony in the French town that G.G. helped liberate at the end of the war. The author headed all of the chapters with exact dates, and it was very disorienting to see February, March, April, and May 2020 dates in this globe-trotting, pandemic-free story.
It did make for some laughs, though. The dad is like, "Grandpa, this trip isn't suitable for a man of your age! Trevor, you'll miss school!" And I'm like, "Just wait." Still, since this year was the 75th anniversary of VE-Day, I get why Gordon Korman chose to specifically date this in 2020. I just think it's a good warning for other writers that you should never set anything in the unknown near future unless you absolutely have to.
That distracting element aside, this was a really good book. It engages with lots of themes about war, family history, loss, and the importance of living in the tension between honoring heroes of a just, necessary war and not glamorizing violence and destruction. The story goes back and forth between the 2020 trip and G.G.'s war experiences in the forties, and I enjoyed the thematic contrast between the two parts of the novel. This book is also extremely well-researched, accurate down to the tiny details that most authors would brush aside in their pursuit of something dramatic. This book is great for kids who already love WWII, and will teach others about Operation Overlord and the liberation of France in far greater detail than they could get from almost any other historical fiction novel.
However, this book also has some significant flaws. The third-person POV distracted me at times, because it seemed so detached from the 2020 characters, and would sometimes "tell" instead of "showing," restating in a dry way what people were thinking, even though it was already obvious from their dialogue and interactions what was going through their heads. Also, Daniel, the father, was one of the vaguest and least-developed characters that I have read in a book of this length for a very long time. He existed to fret about G.G. and criticize Trevor's obsessive interest in WWII, and he played no real purpose in the story, had no character arc, and did not grow, change, or experience any kind of deepened relationship with the people around him. He was just a prop to communicate the warnings about glamorizing war that the author wanted to present.
Also, the plot thread about people who knew a dark secret about G.G. and wanted to sabotage the medal ceremony got drawn out far too long, and became increasingly unbelievable. This part of the story dragged, and I always looked forward to getting back to the 1940s narrative instead. Even though it all comes together at the end of the book, this could have been much better paced and more convincing. The climax was also very strange, even though the end of that chapter moved me to tears.
The other important thing that I should note about this book is that even though the WWII part was my favorite, it did not pull any punches regarding the violence and horror that infantry soldiers experienced. It surprised me to see how violent this was, because even though it was all historically accurate to the utmost, I did not expect so much graphic content in a middle grade novel. It didn't bother me, because I read adult nonfiction about WWII, but I know that it would have traumatized me when I was the target age for it. Parents and teachers should know that even though this is an absolutely excellent, educational story that gives children an accurate sense of what the war was like, just because someone is at this reading level does not mean that they are ready for it. I wouldn't necessarily encourage sensitive children to avoid this book, but they absolutely must know what they are getting into.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this story. There are multiple flaws in its delivery, and the 2020 aspects may confuse children who read this in the future, but the 1940s part of the story is phenomenally accurate, captures important themes related to wartime and the experiences of ordinary soldiers, and gives a real sense of the war to children who idealize it the way that Trevor did, or who are simply uninformed. I also greatly appreciated the dynamic between Trevor and his great-grandfather. G.G. had a wonderfully colorful personality, and one of the best parts of the 2020 storyline was how Trevor was able to also see a different side to his hero as G.G. dealt with fatigue, emotions, and the weight of history during the trip back to where he had fought. That aspect of the story is very nuanced and engaging, and this is a book that I will remember for a very long time.
It did make for some laughs, though. The dad is like, "Grandpa, this trip isn't suitable for a man of your age! Trevor, you'll miss school!" And I'm like, "Just wait." Still, since this year was the 75th anniversary of VE-Day, I get why Gordon Korman chose to specifically date this in 2020. I just think it's a good warning for other writers that you should never set anything in the unknown near future unless you absolutely have to.
That distracting element aside, this was a really good book. It engages with lots of themes about war, family history, loss, and the importance of living in the tension between honoring heroes of a just, necessary war and not glamorizing violence and destruction. The story goes back and forth between the 2020 trip and G.G.'s war experiences in the forties, and I enjoyed the thematic contrast between the two parts of the novel. This book is also extremely well-researched, accurate down to the tiny details that most authors would brush aside in their pursuit of something dramatic. This book is great for kids who already love WWII, and will teach others about Operation Overlord and the liberation of France in far greater detail than they could get from almost any other historical fiction novel.
However, this book also has some significant flaws. The third-person POV distracted me at times, because it seemed so detached from the 2020 characters, and would sometimes "tell" instead of "showing," restating in a dry way what people were thinking, even though it was already obvious from their dialogue and interactions what was going through their heads. Also, Daniel, the father, was one of the vaguest and least-developed characters that I have read in a book of this length for a very long time. He existed to fret about G.G. and criticize Trevor's obsessive interest in WWII, and he played no real purpose in the story, had no character arc, and did not grow, change, or experience any kind of deepened relationship with the people around him. He was just a prop to communicate the warnings about glamorizing war that the author wanted to present.
Also, the plot thread about people who knew a dark secret about G.G. and wanted to sabotage the medal ceremony got drawn out far too long, and became increasingly unbelievable. This part of the story dragged, and I always looked forward to getting back to the 1940s narrative instead. Even though it all comes together at the end of the book, this could have been much better paced and more convincing. The climax was also very strange, even though the end of that chapter moved me to tears.
The other important thing that I should note about this book is that even though the WWII part was my favorite, it did not pull any punches regarding the violence and horror that infantry soldiers experienced. It surprised me to see how violent this was, because even though it was all historically accurate to the utmost, I did not expect so much graphic content in a middle grade novel. It didn't bother me, because I read adult nonfiction about WWII, but I know that it would have traumatized me when I was the target age for it. Parents and teachers should know that even though this is an absolutely excellent, educational story that gives children an accurate sense of what the war was like, just because someone is at this reading level does not mean that they are ready for it. I wouldn't necessarily encourage sensitive children to avoid this book, but they absolutely must know what they are getting into.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this story. There are multiple flaws in its delivery, and the 2020 aspects may confuse children who read this in the future, but the 1940s part of the story is phenomenally accurate, captures important themes related to wartime and the experiences of ordinary soldiers, and gives a real sense of the war to children who idealize it the way that Trevor did, or who are simply uninformed. I also greatly appreciated the dynamic between Trevor and his great-grandfather. G.G. had a wonderfully colorful personality, and one of the best parts of the 2020 storyline was how Trevor was able to also see a different side to his hero as G.G. dealt with fatigue, emotions, and the weight of history during the trip back to where he had fought. That aspect of the story is very nuanced and engaging, and this is a book that I will remember for a very long time.
April 20, 2020
Fans of Gordon Korman will find a more serious book with War Stories, yet it holds the same appeal as his lighter books for middle grade readers. Korman uniquely travels back and forth in time, telling alternating stories of Trevor's great-grandfather's WWII experiences. I read this all in one sitting, as I do many of Korman's books. The arc shares that Korman's grandfather fought in WWII so I think this book may be more personal!
November 16, 2020
With Veteran’s Day day this past week in the U.S., this middle grade historical fiction novel seemed a fitting read. Young Trevor is on a trip across Europe with his 93-year-old great grandfather, Jacob. Jacob is a WWII vet who Trevor has always idolized for his heroic efforts to defeat Hitler. While they visiting a variety of locations and his great grandfather stops to share stories of what happened where and when, some chapters flash back to Jake’s past where he’s a young 17 year old, fighting for his country while also fighting for his life. We know pretty early on that there’s something terrible that happened, but we don’t know what. So when the gut-wrenching truth comes out, there’s a difficult lesson to learn.
“Wars may have winning sides, but everybody loses.”
This book is definitely written for an audience of children, but it doesn’t shy away from some of the more difficult aspects of war. They were cold, hungry, injured, watching one another die, and sometimes wondering if death would be easier than survival (because at least they wouldn’t be living the nightmare). The people represented on both sides are shown to be human. Questions constantly come up, encouraging the reader to consider whether war is worth it, but those are asked alongside, “Well, aren’t we glad Hitler is no longer in charge of Germany?”
In an Author’s Note, Korman lists other important books to read followed by: “I encourage all readers to dive into the stories of WWII and to keep in mind that the story of any war needs many voices from many sides to be fully told.”
“…in a conflict as massive and chaotic as a world war, it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between heroics and villainy.”
I highly recommend this one!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
“Wars may have winning sides, but everybody loses.”
This book is definitely written for an audience of children, but it doesn’t shy away from some of the more difficult aspects of war. They were cold, hungry, injured, watching one another die, and sometimes wondering if death would be easier than survival (because at least they wouldn’t be living the nightmare). The people represented on both sides are shown to be human. Questions constantly come up, encouraging the reader to consider whether war is worth it, but those are asked alongside, “Well, aren’t we glad Hitler is no longer in charge of Germany?”
In an Author’s Note, Korman lists other important books to read followed by: “I encourage all readers to dive into the stories of WWII and to keep in mind that the story of any war needs many voices from many sides to be fully told.”
“…in a conflict as massive and chaotic as a world war, it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between heroics and villainy.”
I highly recommend this one!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
December 12, 2024
4.5!
Very beautiful story! That ending, whoa!💖
Language: Nope. Just some uses of h*ck, d*ng, and d*rn. Some times where characters go "What the—" and "Holy—" but never finish.
Violence: There is lots of fighting, mentions of death and blood. Korman did a very good job of showing the devastation of war without being overly graphic. He mentions the vast amounts of death and blood without being too descriptive.
Magic: N/A.
This was such a good story with wonderful themes!💖 Very sad how our generation so easily forgot about the devastation and gruesome impact of World War 2. I think everyone needs to read this story, it portrays the truth so clearly, this is especially a great read for young boys I think. War can be for the greater good sometimes yes, and there are things worth fighting for, but we should never glamorize war. It is destruction, these are real people fighting and they all have families.
Very beautiful story, walking through the past with Jacob was very insightful and gripping. I think this book explains very well why I don't read much historical fiction, because I am like Treavor, I love adventures and thrills, but then I remember that these things happened to real people and it breaks my heart💔
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or history in general, it is SO GOOD!!!! A masterpiece and that ending had me in tears!!! Dear, Jacob!💖💖💖
8+ (would make a wonderful discussion book with the kids, especially boys)
Very beautiful story! That ending, whoa!💖
Language: Nope. Just some uses of h*ck, d*ng, and d*rn. Some times where characters go "What the—" and "Holy—" but never finish.
Violence: There is lots of fighting, mentions of death and blood. Korman did a very good job of showing the devastation of war without being overly graphic. He mentions the vast amounts of death and blood without being too descriptive.
Magic: N/A.
This was such a good story with wonderful themes!💖 Very sad how our generation so easily forgot about the devastation and gruesome impact of World War 2. I think everyone needs to read this story, it portrays the truth so clearly, this is especially a great read for young boys I think. War can be for the greater good sometimes yes, and there are things worth fighting for, but we should never glamorize war. It is destruction, these are real people fighting and they all have families.
Very beautiful story, walking through the past with Jacob was very insightful and gripping. I think this book explains very well why I don't read much historical fiction, because I am like Treavor, I love adventures and thrills, but then I remember that these things happened to real people and it breaks my heart💔
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or history in general, it is SO GOOD!!!! A masterpiece and that ending had me in tears!!! Dear, Jacob!💖💖💖
8+ (would make a wonderful discussion book with the kids, especially boys)
August 25, 2020
Over the last year my son and I have read about a dozen books by Gordon Korman. To date we have loved all the books we have read. And though some of them deal with series matters, there is always a humour to the storytelling. This story is different. It is much more serious. And is told in a very different way.
This is a story about family. About war, about heroics, and about really being a hero. The story alternates back and forth from present day to the second World War. It follows a man, his grandson and his great grandson. Trevor loves the history of WWII, he loves that his Great Grand dad, GG was a hero. He loves war computer games, and he loves listening to his GG’s stories. When his GG, Jacob is invited back to a small French village to celebrate its liberation, for he is the last surviving member of the group that liberated it.
We join Trevor, his dad, and GG are retracing Jacob’s steps from the base where he did his basic training. To the beach he landed on. And his journey across Europe. But something is off. Trevor keeps seeing a blond at all their stops. And His dad and gramps know someone does not want him to go to the town. And thinks start escalating, a dead bird on their rental car, slashed tires, a rock through a window. How far will the activists go? And what is driving them.
Interspersed with the recreation of the journey are the memories of Jacob’s actual time during the war. The two parts of the story fit together perfectly. We hear some stories that Jacob had told before. And because of the places, he is sharing new stories. Both his grandson and son realize the closer they get to the end of their journey the harder things seem to be for GG.
This book does an excellent job of bring home the reality of war. Especially to younger readers whose main info about it is video games. The story is well written, and it is absolutely a page turner. I stayed up way too late reading, I just could not put it down. I devoured it in two sitting and am now reading it again with my son.
This is a fascinating read, and a real page turner.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Gordon Korman.
This is a story about family. About war, about heroics, and about really being a hero. The story alternates back and forth from present day to the second World War. It follows a man, his grandson and his great grandson. Trevor loves the history of WWII, he loves that his Great Grand dad, GG was a hero. He loves war computer games, and he loves listening to his GG’s stories. When his GG, Jacob is invited back to a small French village to celebrate its liberation, for he is the last surviving member of the group that liberated it.
We join Trevor, his dad, and GG are retracing Jacob’s steps from the base where he did his basic training. To the beach he landed on. And his journey across Europe. But something is off. Trevor keeps seeing a blond at all their stops. And His dad and gramps know someone does not want him to go to the town. And thinks start escalating, a dead bird on their rental car, slashed tires, a rock through a window. How far will the activists go? And what is driving them.
Interspersed with the recreation of the journey are the memories of Jacob’s actual time during the war. The two parts of the story fit together perfectly. We hear some stories that Jacob had told before. And because of the places, he is sharing new stories. Both his grandson and son realize the closer they get to the end of their journey the harder things seem to be for GG.
This book does an excellent job of bring home the reality of war. Especially to younger readers whose main info about it is video games. The story is well written, and it is absolutely a page turner. I stayed up way too late reading, I just could not put it down. I devoured it in two sitting and am now reading it again with my son.
This is a fascinating read, and a real page turner.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Gordon Korman.
December 21, 2021
I really liked the book! It went from present to past then present then past. I had a little trouble understanding the past chapters. I recommend this book to anyone who likes Gordon Korman books.
December 17, 2019
I liked the premise of this novel and the fact that it shows the real consequences and toll that war takes on individuals and communities. The shift in perspective from Trevor in the present day glorifying his great-grandfather's war experiences and Jacob's actual thoughts and feelings during the war was well done. I did think that some areas of the novel were underdeveloped and a few plot points were too convenient for my liking. The mysterious characters who are tailing Trevor and his family in the present were the weakest aspect of the narrative for me, but I think it will appeal to younger readers. I do think this will circulate well in my middle school library, as the appetite for WW2 literature is still strong.
July 19, 2020
Much to his parents chagrin, twelve-year-old Trevor Firestone can't get enough about World War II - it's the subject of the video games he plays, the models he builds, the books he reads. But Trevor especially loves hearing the soldier stories his 93-year-old great-grandfather (G.G.) Jacob tells him after he enlisted in the army at the tender age of 17.
Trevor always considered G.G. a war hero, but now it's the 75th anniversary of D-Day and 1944 Normandy invasion. And G.G. has been invited to the ceremony at Sainte-Régine, where he is to be the guest of honor as the only surviving member of his unit that participated in the battle that liberated the town from German occupation.
Now, Trevor is about to embark on a dream trip with his dad and G.G., retracing his grandfather's WWII journey that began when he lied about his age to enlist, then found himself at Fort Benning as part of Bravo Company, where he immediately earned the nickname High School, and ends 75 years later.
Before they even leave Connecticut, Trevor's dad is worried about some messages posted on Facebook. Messages like "Stay in America, Jacob Firestone" and "Sainte-Régine will never forgive you." But what could these messages mean? All G.G. will say is "If this is the past catching up to me, so be it. I've been carrying it around for seventy-five years."
As the trio of Firestones arrive at each milestone in G.G.'s army career, the story switches to 1944 and what actually happened. Sometimes this kind of alternating timeline can be so annoying, but Korman has really handled it well. Everything they do in contemporary time mirrors what happened to Jacob in 1944. In War Stories, their parallel journeys give the reader a real picture of war without a lot of explanation that would take away from the story.
Once the Firestones get to France, things start happening - incidents like slashed tires, and a dead bird under their car's windshield wipers. As they get closer to Sainte-Régine, the Facebook messages take on a ominous threatening tone. And Trevor has been noticing a blond girl about his age everywhere they stop. Coincidence? He thinks not, but who could she be and why does she seem to be following the Firestones?
I always enjoy reading Gordon Korman novels and sharing them with young readers. They are usually fun and whimsical but always with a great message sandwiched in them. And while War Stories still retains some of the signature Korman humor, it's a much more serious book.
In the chapters that are about Jacob's time in the army, Korman makes no bones about the horrors of war and the toll it has on people's lives. It's a lesson Trevor has to learn, and he does, slowly as they follow in G.G. experiential footsteps.I think WWII is an important part of world history and the part that each country played in it. However, I'm not a fan of violence and war. True to my Quaker roots, I am a pacifist.
Trevor is a great character, who isn't as narrow a thinker as he at first appears. Away from his game controller, he's able to look around him and see what the world is really like. And thankfully, Korman lets him come to his own conclusions about the things he learns on his dream trip. His dad a great character as well, but ironically, it's Jacob Firestone who is the real MC. He's a richly drawn if flawed character, both as both an overly zealous 17-year-old soldier and as a crusty 93-year-old nonagenarian. His wartime experiences are grim and realistically presented. But when he recognizes that the enemy is a teen just like him. it leads terrible consequences, leaving readers to wonder if G.G. really deserved the bronze star he earned and to be honored at Sainte-Régine.
It should be mentioned here that G.G. is Trevor's dad's grandfather, who had raised him after his parents died, and explains how a 12-year-old in 2020 has a relative who fought in WWII. It may seem like a stretch, but I have a 94-year-old uncle who is grandfather to a high school student, so I had no trouble with the aging here.
War Stories is a novel that will remind readers that while war games have no permanent consequences, real life war does, and those consequences can last a lifetime.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an E-Galley gratefully received from the publisher, Scholastic Press, and EdelweissPlus
Trevor always considered G.G. a war hero, but now it's the 75th anniversary of D-Day and 1944 Normandy invasion. And G.G. has been invited to the ceremony at Sainte-Régine, where he is to be the guest of honor as the only surviving member of his unit that participated in the battle that liberated the town from German occupation.
Now, Trevor is about to embark on a dream trip with his dad and G.G., retracing his grandfather's WWII journey that began when he lied about his age to enlist, then found himself at Fort Benning as part of Bravo Company, where he immediately earned the nickname High School, and ends 75 years later.
Before they even leave Connecticut, Trevor's dad is worried about some messages posted on Facebook. Messages like "Stay in America, Jacob Firestone" and "Sainte-Régine will never forgive you." But what could these messages mean? All G.G. will say is "If this is the past catching up to me, so be it. I've been carrying it around for seventy-five years."
As the trio of Firestones arrive at each milestone in G.G.'s army career, the story switches to 1944 and what actually happened. Sometimes this kind of alternating timeline can be so annoying, but Korman has really handled it well. Everything they do in contemporary time mirrors what happened to Jacob in 1944. In War Stories, their parallel journeys give the reader a real picture of war without a lot of explanation that would take away from the story.
Once the Firestones get to France, things start happening - incidents like slashed tires, and a dead bird under their car's windshield wipers. As they get closer to Sainte-Régine, the Facebook messages take on a ominous threatening tone. And Trevor has been noticing a blond girl about his age everywhere they stop. Coincidence? He thinks not, but who could she be and why does she seem to be following the Firestones?
I always enjoy reading Gordon Korman novels and sharing them with young readers. They are usually fun and whimsical but always with a great message sandwiched in them. And while War Stories still retains some of the signature Korman humor, it's a much more serious book.
In the chapters that are about Jacob's time in the army, Korman makes no bones about the horrors of war and the toll it has on people's lives. It's a lesson Trevor has to learn, and he does, slowly as they follow in G.G. experiential footsteps.I think WWII is an important part of world history and the part that each country played in it. However, I'm not a fan of violence and war. True to my Quaker roots, I am a pacifist.
Trevor is a great character, who isn't as narrow a thinker as he at first appears. Away from his game controller, he's able to look around him and see what the world is really like. And thankfully, Korman lets him come to his own conclusions about the things he learns on his dream trip. His dad a great character as well, but ironically, it's Jacob Firestone who is the real MC. He's a richly drawn if flawed character, both as both an overly zealous 17-year-old soldier and as a crusty 93-year-old nonagenarian. His wartime experiences are grim and realistically presented. But when he recognizes that the enemy is a teen just like him. it leads terrible consequences, leaving readers to wonder if G.G. really deserved the bronze star he earned and to be honored at Sainte-Régine.
It should be mentioned here that G.G. is Trevor's dad's grandfather, who had raised him after his parents died, and explains how a 12-year-old in 2020 has a relative who fought in WWII. It may seem like a stretch, but I have a 94-year-old uncle who is grandfather to a high school student, so I had no trouble with the aging here.
War Stories is a novel that will remind readers that while war games have no permanent consequences, real life war does, and those consequences can last a lifetime.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an E-Galley gratefully received from the publisher, Scholastic Press, and EdelweissPlus
September 7, 2024
This book falls between Middle Grade and YA. It is a great read for middle schoolers. This book packs a punch in a very tightly told story. It is a multigenerational tale told in dual timelines. Gordon Korman took a departure from the usually humorous tone his books have, and it was a departure worth taking. He covers difficult topics in a sensitive yet realistic way. I appreciated that he let it be murky like the war actually was. A hero could in a split second do something that harmed fellow allies and be seen as both a hero and a villain because of the cost to a family. I also liked how he handled Trevor's love of military inspired videogames. It isn't written off as silly or harmful, though people bring up those concerns. It's shown to be an interest that needs to be grown into a more mature understanding of reality. The final scene with his sisters is really sweet and earned. Don't forget to read the author's note in the back. I recall hearing about the origin of the Higgins boats used on D-Day while watching a documentary about museum artifacts, but I'm not sure how many people know about the links between Higgins and rum runners and World War II.
July 20, 2025
I think it is baffling to write a book about World War 2/grappling with the legacy of war, and to not at all mention the Holocaust.
It didn't need to be the primary focus, obviously. I think the book is probably better served without it being focused on, actually! A part of the theming of the glorification of war and all, and it's hammered to us over and over again how Trevor sees WW2 as an epic adventure just like in his video games. I can see how he'd come away without wanting to focus on the Holocaust. But if you have the dad character who really just exists to say "war is bad and awful" and who is literally a history teacher, why couldn't he bring this context?
I dunno. All of the modern day sections were poorly written and one note, but the flashbacks were interesting at least.
It didn't need to be the primary focus, obviously. I think the book is probably better served without it being focused on, actually! A part of the theming of the glorification of war and all, and it's hammered to us over and over again how Trevor sees WW2 as an epic adventure just like in his video games. I can see how he'd come away without wanting to focus on the Holocaust. But if you have the dad character who really just exists to say "war is bad and awful" and who is literally a history teacher, why couldn't he bring this context?
I dunno. All of the modern day sections were poorly written and one note, but the flashbacks were interesting at least.
March 24, 2022
I enjoyed this book. I am not usually a huge fan of war-based books, but this book broke the norm. I thought that the story tugged at my heartstrings while also showing that forgiveness is a weapon more powerful than a Tiger Tank. My favorite scene in this book is when Jacob meets the man who he spared the life of and, by not killing him, he let generations of children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren live. This was a great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2021
This was excellent. Well done. A welcome addition to the WWII historical fiction collection.
May 5, 2022
Good children’s novel. Read this for battle of the books with my students.
January 19, 2025
Pretty boring
November 27, 2019
Watch out, Alan Gratz, there is another outstanding writer of WWII historical fiction on the shelf and he’s already one of the kings of middle grades funny fiction on my campus! Middle schooler Trevor has always been an avid fan of all things WWII, whether it be video games, movies, books, or the tales of daring relayed by his real life hero great grandfather G.G. A trip back to a liberated French town town for Trevor, his dad, and great-grandfather, however, becomes a heavy dose of reality and Trevor comes to recognize that while the war was a great victory over an evil Hitler, it was far from being great. Gordon Korman tells of 17 year old G.G. and the harrowing experiences of Bravo company alternating with present day Private Firestone revisiting landmark memories with his family and coming to grips with a costly mistake he made in 1944. Like Trevor, my readers also have a tendency to over-glamorize the weapons and battles of war despite authors like Gratz and Marsha Skrypuch presenting very realistic WWII scenarios. I am anxious to add this new choice and hope that all come away with an accurate perspective on a deeply emotional and stark period in history. War Stories is free from sex or profanity and author Korman keeps the violence to a level that is appropriate for the target audience of grades 5-8. Highly recommended.
September 4, 2020
Must purchase, no. Will purchase because I have Korman fans and of course, WWII fans.
Never really connected with any characters except for young Jacob in the alternating chapters. Others felt flat, preachy, and stereotyped. Will kids notice? Maybe. Several of Korman's books read this way for me. Thankfully chapters alternated between these two groups of characters and kept me reading. Trevor's dad felt so cardboard and like a commercial for "Don't play violent video games!" and war is so much more than glory and guns. GG's wisecracks got old. But maybe kids won't be bothered by that as much as I am. They expect a stodgy, preachy parent and old people to be "characters". What my readers will really enjoy- the inclusion of the events and places of WWII in France. That was well done for its intended audience - Grade 4+.
Never really connected with any characters except for young Jacob in the alternating chapters. Others felt flat, preachy, and stereotyped. Will kids notice? Maybe. Several of Korman's books read this way for me. Thankfully chapters alternated between these two groups of characters and kept me reading. Trevor's dad felt so cardboard and like a commercial for "Don't play violent video games!" and war is so much more than glory and guns. GG's wisecracks got old. But maybe kids won't be bothered by that as much as I am. They expect a stodgy, preachy parent and old people to be "characters". What my readers will really enjoy- the inclusion of the events and places of WWII in France. That was well done for its intended audience - Grade 4+.
September 25, 2020
Gordon Korman's new book is different from his usual humorous school story fare. This book switches back and forth between the present and Jacob's experiences in the past exploring some of the complicated nature of war, and the thread of mystery adds a page-turner element to the story. I will say, even though Jacob's war experiences are supposedly told in real-time, they do seem a bit far-fetched. Out of all the people in his unit, it is always Jacob who notices the one vital detail or somehow ends up saving the day. Gordon Korman fans will pick this up and perhaps broaden their reading horizons, and those who enjoy war fiction will eat this one up. Recommended.
Read more at Bookish Adventures.
Read more at Bookish Adventures.
April 20, 2020
“Battles may look glamorous in movies and on posters, but this is what’s left over once the smoke clears away. That’s what war’s really about- pointless destruction.” Told through alternating time periods, Trevor goes with his great-grandfather to retrace the steps he took during the war. Alternating chapters place the reader in the middle of key battles including The Invasion of Normandy. Trevor soon learns there is more to the war stories he’s heard his whole life, than he ever imagined.
Gordon Korman is one of my favorite authors. This book is part historical and realistic fiction, with a little bit of mystery thrown in. It’s a book 4th grade and up will be eager to read.
Gordon Korman is one of my favorite authors. This book is part historical and realistic fiction, with a little bit of mystery thrown in. It’s a book 4th grade and up will be eager to read.
October 6, 2020
This, like most of Korman's books, will be relatable and enjoyable for the middle grade audience, particularly boys, particularly those who are already enthralled by World War II. I thought the father came off as overly preachy about not glorifying war, and I was skeptical about a couple of underage French kids who had the resources to tail American travelers through France, while at the same time it was also unclear exactly how they were connected to the primary characters. A general connection is eventually given but not enough to explain the passion behind their actions. For me this made it kind of superficial, but not terrible.
July 13, 2020
Look forward to sharing this with some of our 5th graders who are interested in WWII.
What I liked:
Facts about WWII
Toggling between 2020 and 1944
“Seeing” war as it is, kid’s version, and not glamorized
Reflection about video war games vs reality of war (kid version).
Another solid read from Gordon Korman.
What I liked:
Facts about WWII
Toggling between 2020 and 1944
“Seeing” war as it is, kid’s version, and not glamorized
Reflection about video war games vs reality of war (kid version).
Another solid read from Gordon Korman.
November 22, 2019
If you think you know what a Korman novel is like .. think again. An incredible novel that explores the glories and the horrors of war with perception and kindness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2022
As a history nerd, librarian, and mother of a 9 year old boy, it is perhaps unsurprising that I have so far raised a son who has spent a good part of the last four years planning trips to national battlefield parks and reading historical fiction. I never predicted how this would snowball into thousands of hours re-enacting imaginary battles, digging real-life trenches in our backyard, saving his allowance to buy military uniform replicas, and a collection of hundreds and hundreds of little green Army men.
Little green Army men...everywhere.
My 9 year old had read and loved two other Gordon Korman books recently (The Fort and Linked) so when I spotted this Gordon Korman book cover with its little green Army men, I knew we had our next great read together.
My reader is the perfect target audience for this book: a kid like the main character who is deeply interested in WWII and deeply certain of the righteousness of the cause. But although he has read enough quality historical fiction to have a nuanced sense of empathy toward the humanity of fighters on both sides of wars, there is still an element to the subject that is entertaining to him (ie, the Army men) in a way that troubles me. He hasn't been exposed to 1st person realistic war video games like the main character (yet), so I appreciated the chance to read this together before he exposed to war in video game format.
My 4th grade reader gave the book a 5 star rating and really enjoyed the realistic battle scenes, particularly the hedgerow battle chapters, as neither of us had ever read about that aspect of fighting in Normandy before. He was highly emotionally invested in the chapters from D-Day and beyond.
In the modern chapters, I loved the depiction of deep bonds among the men across 4 generations, especially in their appreciation of one another despite differing opinions on war. I especially appreciate the respect toward the wisdom and experience of an elder in the family. In general, however, both of us didn't enjoy the modern chapters as much as the flashback ones, especially the implausible storyline about opposition to honoring the great-grandfather in France.
Like much good literature, War Stories allowed my son's understanding to expand to hold two seemingly contradictory truths simultaneously: that the big picture of a war can be righteous in retrospect, but on human-to-human level it can be inhumanely destructive and cruel no matter what side you are on. That it can be righteous to kill an enemy for just cause, but it is also righteous to recognize the humanity in an enemy and spare his life. That a heart of a person, the true measure of a person's worth, is neither his most heroic moment nor his most costly mistake.
Recommended for elementary and middle school library collections.
Little green Army men...everywhere.
My 9 year old had read and loved two other Gordon Korman books recently (The Fort and Linked) so when I spotted this Gordon Korman book cover with its little green Army men, I knew we had our next great read together.
My reader is the perfect target audience for this book: a kid like the main character who is deeply interested in WWII and deeply certain of the righteousness of the cause. But although he has read enough quality historical fiction to have a nuanced sense of empathy toward the humanity of fighters on both sides of wars, there is still an element to the subject that is entertaining to him (ie, the Army men) in a way that troubles me. He hasn't been exposed to 1st person realistic war video games like the main character (yet), so I appreciated the chance to read this together before he exposed to war in video game format.
My 4th grade reader gave the book a 5 star rating and really enjoyed the realistic battle scenes, particularly the hedgerow battle chapters, as neither of us had ever read about that aspect of fighting in Normandy before. He was highly emotionally invested in the chapters from D-Day and beyond.
In the modern chapters, I loved the depiction of deep bonds among the men across 4 generations, especially in their appreciation of one another despite differing opinions on war. I especially appreciate the respect toward the wisdom and experience of an elder in the family. In general, however, both of us didn't enjoy the modern chapters as much as the flashback ones, especially the implausible storyline about opposition to honoring the great-grandfather in France.
Like much good literature, War Stories allowed my son's understanding to expand to hold two seemingly contradictory truths simultaneously: that the big picture of a war can be righteous in retrospect, but on human-to-human level it can be inhumanely destructive and cruel no matter what side you are on. That it can be righteous to kill an enemy for just cause, but it is also righteous to recognize the humanity in an enemy and spare his life. That a heart of a person, the true measure of a person's worth, is neither his most heroic moment nor his most costly mistake.
Recommended for elementary and middle school library collections.
June 4, 2021
When I taught the Vietnam War to 8th graders in Social Studies, one of the argument essay topics that inevitably drew a lot of interest was comparing and contrasting their favorite war-based video game to real events in the war the game was based on.
It took a lot of research, a lot more than most of my students initially bargained on, to understand how video games differed from events in the Vietnam War, for example.
And that's the big take-away from this book.
Trevor loves playing WWII-based video games. His father, a history teacher, is constantly reminding him war is nothing like the games he plays, but it's like talking to a brick wall.
It doesn't help that his great grandpa -- GG -- tells magnificent stories of his experiences liberating the French in WWII that are seemingly completely at odds with what his father is always nagging about, and Trevor idolizes his GG and his role in WWII.
As a reader, you know war is nothing short of horrific and that Trevor's idolization is just begging to be knocked down a peg or two. But Trevor has no idea what's coming.
When his GG agrees to travel to France to the small village he supposedly helped liberate and accept a medal, Trevor goes along to retrace his GG's steps. From landing on Omaha Beach the whole way to Sainte Regine, France, the trip evokes memories and makes Trevor see WWII in a totally new, non-video game light. And he learns about one of his GG's decisions that will forever color how he regards the old man.
The book is told in dual time lines -- Trevor's modern day one, which features someone from the village who's not willing to let history die, and Jacob's (aka GG) 1945 one, as a scared recruit landing on Omaha Beach and forced to make decisions no 17-year-old should ever have to face.
It's a powerful story and I won't ruin the ending. Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
It took a lot of research, a lot more than most of my students initially bargained on, to understand how video games differed from events in the Vietnam War, for example.
And that's the big take-away from this book.
Trevor loves playing WWII-based video games. His father, a history teacher, is constantly reminding him war is nothing like the games he plays, but it's like talking to a brick wall.
It doesn't help that his great grandpa -- GG -- tells magnificent stories of his experiences liberating the French in WWII that are seemingly completely at odds with what his father is always nagging about, and Trevor idolizes his GG and his role in WWII.
As a reader, you know war is nothing short of horrific and that Trevor's idolization is just begging to be knocked down a peg or two. But Trevor has no idea what's coming.
When his GG agrees to travel to France to the small village he supposedly helped liberate and accept a medal, Trevor goes along to retrace his GG's steps. From landing on Omaha Beach the whole way to Sainte Regine, France, the trip evokes memories and makes Trevor see WWII in a totally new, non-video game light. And he learns about one of his GG's decisions that will forever color how he regards the old man.
The book is told in dual time lines -- Trevor's modern day one, which features someone from the village who's not willing to let history die, and Jacob's (aka GG) 1945 one, as a scared recruit landing on Omaha Beach and forced to make decisions no 17-year-old should ever have to face.
It's a powerful story and I won't ruin the ending. Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
June 18, 2021
I read this because my son's 4th grade teacher gave it to him to read, and I wanted to get in on the conversation.
It's good! It really covers a lot of good points, and points out how story-telling is necessarily nuanced, even when one-sided. I was kind of surprised that at the end they have the GG and a former nazi soldier shaking hands and stuff.
There are, of course, several parts where you are reminded this is a book for kids... all the heroic violence that the hero commits is via either subterfuge or grenade (i.e. there is a level of remove), so as much as the book decries the desensitization of video-game violence it kind of uses the same approach to keep GG as being less tarnished than if he'd looked down his sights and shot a man.
The bait-and-switch of the climax is a little chintzy and overly-dramatic, but it's done by a French teenager so that actually comes across as very realistic to me (revealing my bias against French teenagers here).
Overall, I'd put it up there with the best juvenile fiction out there. I'd recommend Charlie Pippin as an accompanying piece that goes a BIT more into the damage that war does to the participants, again framed through the eyes of kids the same age.
It's good! It really covers a lot of good points, and points out how story-telling is necessarily nuanced, even when one-sided. I was kind of surprised that at the end they have the GG and a former nazi soldier shaking hands and stuff.
There are, of course, several parts where you are reminded this is a book for kids... all the heroic violence that the hero commits is via either subterfuge or grenade (i.e. there is a level of remove), so as much as the book decries the desensitization of video-game violence it kind of uses the same approach to keep GG as being less tarnished than if he'd looked down his sights and shot a man.
The bait-and-switch of the climax is a little chintzy and overly-dramatic, but it's done by a French teenager so that actually comes across as very realistic to me (revealing my bias against French teenagers here).
Overall, I'd put it up there with the best juvenile fiction out there. I'd recommend Charlie Pippin as an accompanying piece that goes a BIT more into the damage that war does to the participants, again framed through the eyes of kids the same age.
November 23, 2024
This was such a good book! I really enjoyed it, and Korman handled the topic of war so well!
Characters:
Jacob Firestone was hilarious! I loved him! And his story and just the full arc that he takes throughout the story is beautifully touching.
Daniel is Jacob's grandson, and he's very cautious but also a really great character. He comes across as more pacifist, but it is a nice additional pov and discussion topic.
Trevor is his great grandfather's biggest fan and loves WWII and his arc through the book is maybe my favorite. His realization that war isn't fun and games and it's beautiful topic of discussion between the family.
Juliette was also a very nice character addition.
Themes:
War is sometimes necessary but never good. The theme was beautifully woven, looking at both sides and so well balanced.
Language:
N/A
Romance:
N/A
Voilence/Gore:
There are mentions of death, people being blown up, seeing remains, and blood, but it is all handled very well with the intended audience in mind.
Overall:
This is such a great, well-balanced book. I definitely recommend for boys who may have a fascination with war as this breaks down in an easy to understand the reality of war. It's not a video game. Many fight to never return. It's serious, and it's dangerous, but necessary sometimes when fought for the right reasons.
I applauded Korman for his excellent writing and tackling the theme so well.
I recommend for ages 11+
Characters:
Jacob Firestone was hilarious! I loved him! And his story and just the full arc that he takes throughout the story is beautifully touching.
Daniel is Jacob's grandson, and he's very cautious but also a really great character. He comes across as more pacifist, but it is a nice additional pov and discussion topic.
Trevor is his great grandfather's biggest fan and loves WWII and his arc through the book is maybe my favorite. His realization that war isn't fun and games and it's beautiful topic of discussion between the family.
Juliette was also a very nice character addition.
Themes:
War is sometimes necessary but never good. The theme was beautifully woven, looking at both sides and so well balanced.
Language:
N/A
Romance:
N/A
Voilence/Gore:
There are mentions of death, people being blown up, seeing remains, and blood, but it is all handled very well with the intended audience in mind.
Overall:
This is such a great, well-balanced book. I definitely recommend for boys who may have a fascination with war as this breaks down in an easy to understand the reality of war. It's not a video game. Many fight to never return. It's serious, and it's dangerous, but necessary sometimes when fought for the right reasons.
I applauded Korman for his excellent writing and tackling the theme so well.
I recommend for ages 11+
March 22, 2021
Korman does it again. Trevor is one of those 12 year-old kids obsessed with World War 2 and video games (about world war 2) What makes the history all the more compelling is that Trevor’s 93 year old great-grandfather (G.G.) fought in the war, landing on Omaha beach, was at the liberation of Paris and fought with his battalion to push the Nazi’s out of one particular French town. It is that town that has invited G.G., the last living member of the battalion, to a ceremony on the 75th anniversary of the liberation. But the closer Trevor, his dad and G.G. get to the town the clearer it becomes there is a dark and hidden history to the liberation that casts doubt on G.G.‘s heroism. Their are townspeople who will stop at nothing to ensure the soldier they know as a villain isn’t honored. Told in chapters that shift from 2020 to 1944 the action ratchets along. Perfect for kids interested in WW2.
I was somewhat disappointed in the big reveal. For me there was hardly any culpability, but for kids who (appropriately) haven’t read massive accounts of real war atrocities, tactical blunders and appalling lack of foresight, the story is likely to work.
I was somewhat disappointed in the big reveal. For me there was hardly any culpability, but for kids who (appropriately) haven’t read massive accounts of real war atrocities, tactical blunders and appalling lack of foresight, the story is likely to work.
September 7, 2022
Korman always writes great quality books with a great lesson. This one was glorifying war. Kids play brutal games online, killing and shooting and what parents think glorifies violence. The kid in this story idolizes his great grandfather, a WWII vet. He is amazing he has done all the coolest things! They go to Europe and follow his original path thru the war. Reliving memories of GG thru time jumps. What we learn is war is NOT pretty, people die, innocent civilians die. It teaches the young kid to respect the value of the soldiers and not enjoy war but understand it. It has a lot of death, vague descriptions of blowing up, war injuries and loss of loved ones. My 4th grader read this with me and some was over her head but she was ok with the story and enjoyed it. Be careful with young kids who have suffered trauma.
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