Stay Where You Are and Then Leave

Gr 4–7—World War I breaks out on Alfie's fifth birthday, and everyone in his neighborhood feels its effects. Alfie's father joins up and his mother starts work as a nurse, takes in laundry, and sews to pay the rent. Alfie does his part and becomes a shoeshine boy. Despite some contrived events, the characters are so realistic and endearing that listeners' concern for their heartrending experiences will override any plot holes. Euan Morton's fully voiced narration is stunning, not only showing exasperation during the intense moments, but also the subtleties of the parents' love for each other and the weariness brought on by four years of war. This audiobook is an engaging way for students to understand historical events and terms like conscientious objector and shell shock, relevant today as PTSD.—C. A. Fehmel, St. Louis County Library, MO