MEDIA

A Very Short War

55 min. Dreamscape. 2017. $24.99. $199.99 (PPR). ISBN 818506020480.
COPY ISBN
Gr 8–12—Australian native Bill Young grew up hearing stories of his late uncle Cliff Carpenter, who was among the first Allied airman to be killed in the defense of Norway on the day Germany invaded the northern European country. Carpenter, who built his first "aeroplane" as a teenager, was an adventurer who migrated to the United Kingdom in his early twenties. To fulfill his love of flying, he joined the Royal Air Force. Consequently, Airman Carpenter died at the age of 28. Young is shown traveling to Norway to visit his uncle's grave. Carpenter's story is told through interviews with family members, his fiancée, one crew member who survived the crash, and historians. The presentation is interesting, though the story is similar to others of that era.
VERDICT The script, narration, and direction of this title appear to be a family affair. Classroom use of this documentary will be limited.
Reviewed by Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS , Oct 01, 2017

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BLOGS

On Writing Girls Who Don’t Have to Shrink to Be Loved, a guest post by Estelle Laure
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Take Five: January 2026 YA and MG Graphic Novels
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Now on The Yarn: Our Annual 2026 Preview Episode!
by Travis Jonker
BLOGS

The Spoiler That Inspired BETH IS DEAD, a guest post by Katie Bernet
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Most Anticipated Young Adult Reads of 2026
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Most Anticipated Middle Grade Reads of 2026
by Amanda MacGregor
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?