Truce by Jim Murphy
Scholastic Press (October 1, 2009)
Ages 9-12
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Kudos to Jim Murphy for telling a story that most people have never heard. On the front lines of World War I where lives are lost and soldiers are tested, Jim Murphy tells the true stories of soldiers from opposite sides exchanging kind words, gifts and human kindness. An impromptu truce between British and German soldiers enables the men to take a break from the cacophony and misery of war on Christmas Day. Defying orders not to fraternize with ‘the enemy,’ soldiers paused for a handshake and friendship and found that they had more in common than different. The book has archival photos to accompany the text which makes this fascinating story even more interesting.

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Product Description
On July 29th 1914, the world’s peace was shattered as the artillery of the Austria-Hungary Empire began shelling the troops of the country to its south. What followed was like a row of falling dominoes as one European country after another rushed into war. Soon most of Europe was fighting in this calamitous war that could have been avoided. This was, of course, the First World War.

But who could have guessed that on December 25 the troops would openly defy their commanding officers by stopping the fighting and having a spontaneous celebration of Christmas with their “enemies”?

In what can only be described as a Christmas Miracle, this beautiful and heartrending narrative will remind everyone how brotherhood and love for one another reaches far beyond war and politics.

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