Remembrance

by Theresa Breslin

Book Overview

Scotland, 1915. A group of teenagers from two families meet for a picnic, but the war across the Channel is soon to tear them away from such youthful pleasures. All too soon, the horror of what is to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385730152
• ISBN13: 9780385730150
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.8"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Great WWI Historical Fiction

My daughter actually recommended this as one of her favorite books. After reading it, I can see why. It is a well-written historical fiction about WWI, primarily from a UK perspective. Through the characters, the realities and potential consequences of any war are brought to life. There are a lot of interesting sub-topics and themes, such as the social changes of the period, particularly in terms of the changing roles of women in the UK. One of the more subtle and profound themes is the role of art and literature in our lives. One of the novel's greatest strengths is the character development of Maggie. The correspondence between Maggie and Francis is particularly powerful. It is mainly through the character of Francis that the impacts of WWI, and arguably any war, are fleshed out. It is a book that can be enjoyed by teens and adult, and can provide opportunities for discussion between the two on many different topics.

A Realistic Overview of WW1

I am a High School English teacher in Brisbane. My father (who served at sea in WW 2) was named after his uncle, an Australian artillery officer who served in Gallipoli and in France. He was killed in action in the Somme region in 1917. I discovered this novel, "Remembrance" by Theresa Breslin after my family had visited his grave in France during 2001. Breslin's account of seeing British students (my own children were upper primary school age and truly affected), visiting a similar war cemetary struck a chord with me as many Australians and New Zealanders suffered and died in this area (along with British, French, Canadian and US troops and Germans in this region). It inspired me to use it as the focus of a unit on war, using the play, "Journey's End" by R.C. Sherriff, set in the trenches, plus WW1 war poetry by women & men, allied and German (e.g. Owen & Sassoon & Trakl). The students love the novel with its mix of both female and male perspectives on the war (and a little romance) and the social history of the period. The students have also studied the period in History, so it has proved a valuable inter-disciplinary unit. I recommend the novel whole-heartedly to anyone interested in the period including young people who wish to explore the mood and many social changes of the period in Britain. Also on the Hyperion CD label, and on Chandos are CD's either featuring composers of WW1 or music appropriate to listen to in conjunction with "Remembrance". There are few authors and novels that I have taught that have enthused both teacher and student as deeply. A must read novel !

A very good read!

Fabulous. Excellent. Brilliant! Before I start, may I just make a correction to the review above- it is actually World War 1 that this book is set in, not world war 2, as you said. The story is os easy to follow, and so tear jerking- I cried about three times throughout the book!The relationships between characters the grow, and turn into love, are so beautifully described. You can predict the plot after reading the first few chapters, but I was still gripped by the story Theresa Breslin writes beautifully, the pictures she created in my mind were vivid, and I felt as though I was there. A strong recomendation.

I loved it..

This is one of the greatest WW1 books I have read. It shows what the war was like for multiple characters through a group of young adults, whether it be solder in the heat of the battle, a sister or girlfriend worrying at home, a young nurse seeing things most people are lucky enough not to have to see in their life or a man trying to avoid enlistment because he is against the war, you are bound to be able to relate with one of the characters. For any historical-fiction lover this is a must read...

Wicked Story! This is my Fave book

OK. heres the deal. I read TONS of books, but this is me ALL TIME favorite. I was so happy when Charlotte Armstron-Barnes and John Malcolm admit the like each other, and I cried for charlotte when she found out he had been killed. I worried about Johns too-young-brother that sneegles his way into the army to fight. I was glad that Maggie (John Malcolm's twin sister) helped Francis (Charlottes older brother) stay sane while he was fighting. I recommend this book for anyone (12+) who likes to read. Younger people probably wont appreiciate the romantic aspect of this book, but hey knock yourselves out, because you will fall for this book Hook-Line-and-Sinker!