Kat knows by her parent’s strange behaviour and the increasingly alerting radio broadcasts that something terrible is coming. She and her
parents pretend all is well for the sake of Kat’s little sister Deena, but soon even she must learn about the danger. Their city is being invaded.
No one can believe it, but the sirens that make the city, “….sound like it’s screaming” leave no doubt. Kat and her family must follow other citizens down into the underground train stations to try and avoid the bombing. But even that is no guarantee of survival as Kat soon learns. She hates being separated from her classmates and normal life, but knows there in no option in their current lives.
When they are rounded up and ordered onto buses, they are fearful but glad they are all together… until they aren’t. Kat’s Papa and his best friend are detained as Kat, her mum and her sister climb aboard the buses. Or so her mum believes.
Kat decides in a moment she must stay behind too. Living alone on the bombed out streets of her beloved city, Kat looks for a way to find her father, and get him back.
Adam is missing home. But at least he now has something to write home about as his unit are moving on a city that needs them. Liberation of its citizens is an exciting prospect, as they will be sure to welcome Adam and his fellow soldiers as they march on the city.
He is teased by others in his unit about all the letters he writes home, but he is missing the farm he grew up on and is looking forward to returning for Christmas. That is not to be as they move further and further into the city, discovering return gunfire, not open arms and smiles.
The third in this thought provoking and sobering series about serious issues around the world, WAR is directly mirroring what is happening right now on our News screens or directly for thousands of people.
Seeing both points of view from the attacker (Soldier Adam) and citizen of a city (Citizen Kat), allows readers to see both sides – even if one has been told untruths about the mission they are on. In doing so, Kat rises as the courageous hero as a mindless army attacks a peaceful city.
But of course, this graphic novel has been written to highlight all wars, the waste, the horror and the scattering of dreams, futures and lives.
In sobering colours of war – mud browns, camouflage greens, dark blacks, and fiery yellow or orange, this graphic novel also portrays the emotions of grief, fear, and hopelessness, but also courage, relief and hope.
A true story from a refugee of war is shared at the end of the novel – also in graphic novel format.
Sobering.
(Thank you to Source Books for the ARC)
Authors – Eoin Colfer / Andrew Donkin
Illustrators – Giovanni Rigano
Letterer – Chris Dickey
Graphic Novel
Age – 10+
(2026, Source Books, Graphic Novel, War, Tanks, Bombs, Gunfire, Soldiers, Family, Courage, Hunger, Separation, Escape, Action, Grief, Real Life, Conflict, Poverty)