Secret Soldiers

Gr 5 Up–Friendship, family, and loss are seen through the eyes of four British teen soldiers. Hutton’s novel is set against the backdrop of mining under No-Man’s Land at the Western Front during World War I. When 13-year-old Thomas receives news that his brother, a British soldier, is missing in action after the Germans use poison gas in the 2nd Battle of Ypres, Thomas is determined to find him. He tries repeatedly to enlist in the British Army, but even with his experiences in the mines of Dover, Thomas is unable to convince army recruiters that he is of age. However, there is more than one way to get to the Western Front, and Thomas finds his way to the battleground, where, to his shock, he is expected to work in the tunnels. Along with the three other teen soldiers, Thomas suffers the horrors and triumphs of war firsthand. The relationships among the main characters are well developed, and readers will particularly enjoy the camaraderie between the new recruits and the more experienced soldiers. Hutton engages readers from the first page with the sights, sounds, and vibrant feel of the era.