Libby Gleeson, 1918 (Australia’s Great War #5), Scholastic Australia, 1 Feb 2018, 288pp., $16.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781743622513
1918 is the fifth book in the series Australia’s Great War and covers the final year of World War I through the eyes of Ned, a young Australian stationed in France. The story begins in the middle of the battle of Villers-Bretonneux, a decisive conflict in early 1918 that succeeded in stopping the German advance across France and turned the tide of the war. It goes on to tell of Ned’s experiences as an Australian soldier over the remaining months of that year, which are not all about fighting – his regiment gets recreation leave and they all take part in a sports carnival before training for the next battle. At the same time Ned and his friends go on raids, which the historical notes in the back of the book suggest was unofficial policy at the time, capturing a number of Germans. Next Ned’s regiment take part in the battle of Hamel, organised by John Monash, which was a decisive victory for the allied troupes and led to Monash being hailed for his organisational skills. In the next battle, at Amiens, Ned is seriously injured and sent to hospital in Birmingham, where he remains until the end of the war.
Following Ned allows Gleeson to explore various facets of the war, from what it was like for men in battle to soldiers’ experiences of being in a war hospital and undergoing rehabilitation. The book is well researched with a vivid sense of place and events. Through letters to and from Ned’s family the reader is given a sense of what was happening in Australia at the time as well, including fundraising, community support for soldiers and how people kept life running on the homefront despite losing many young men to the war. Ned and his friends meet some Australian nurses as well, which brings in the perspective of women involved in the war.
The book also brings in the bigger picture, introducing historical events such as the devastating Spanish flu and the Coo-ee march, where young men from country New South Wales marched 300 miles to Sydney to enlist, as well as historical figures such as Sir John Monash. Historical notes at the end of the book provide further detail. Lyrics from several songs of the period are interspersed throughout the story.
1918 doesn’t shy away from the realities of war. Although it has a suggested reading age of 9+, there are detailed descriptions of the violence of war which sensitive readers may find confronting. The opening scene, when Ned is immersed in the middle of a battle, uses terse, vivid writing which is almost overwhelming in its intensity. We are taken inside Ned’s thoughts and feelings, the emotional impact of war is brought strongly to life. A touching counterpoint is Ned’s relationship with his older brother, which undergoes a transformation throughout the book. This is a powerful book which will give young readers real insight into soldiers’ experiences of World War I, but adult guidance is recommended for younger readers.
Reviewed by Rachel Le Rossignol
