Bang, Bang, You're Dead

by Louise Fitzhugh, Sandra Scoppettone

A group of children find that while play war can be fun, real war is no fun at all.

Genres: Juvenile, Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Louise Perkins Fitzhugh was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Fitzhugh is best known for her 1964 novel Harriet the Spy, a fiction work about an adolescent girl's predisposition with a journal covering the foibles of her friends, her classmates, and the strangers she is captivated by. The novel was later adapted into a live action film in 1996. The sequel novel, The Long Secret, was published in 1965, and its follow-up book, Sport, was published posthumously in 1979. Fitzhugh also wrote Nobody's Family Is Going to Change, which was later adapted into a short film and a play.

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was first published in 1969 in response to the Vietnam War. It teaches through the use of childrens play that war hurts and in the end, there are no winners. I read this at 6 in 1974 and I still remember at the end of the battle one kid asks "Who won?" and the answer comes back "We all lost." That is a powerful message even 40 years later.

Those who see only the war the kids fight and ignore their realization that war only hurts and how the two gangs reconcile and become friends are missing the whole point of the story.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally liked this book, however I have very mixed feelings about giving it to a child. The book tells the story of a group of boys who play a game called "Bang, Bang, You're Dead," acting out a battle. The fighting becomes real when they meet a rival group of boys that want to play on the same hill where they stage their battles. In the end, the boys don't like the real fighting, but decide to play fight with their rivals the next day. It's a mixed message, but it is very true to life. The artwork is detailed and very well-done.

[Matthew Eisenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as an elementary school student in the early 80s. Fantastic illustrations, lots of violence, and a good message---nobody wins when hostilities/conflicts become physical.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a haunting, chilling story

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting.

[Mark Irwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book when I was a kid... Is that a bad thing?

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preachy but great drawings.