Stay Where You Are And Then Leave

by: John Boyne

Book Summary

The day the First World War started,

it was also Alfie Summerfield's 5th birthday. He made his father, Georgie promise not to fight in the war. But, the next day, instead of being a milkman, he was dressed in a soldier's outfit. The day he left, he kept saying, "The war will be over by Christmas," but that's what everybody says. Working as a shoeshine to help Margie with the expenses, he comes across a medical doctor; who has papers with Georgie Summerfield's name.

Margie said his father was on a secret mission that would stop WW1, but in the papers, it says Georgie has shell shock, and is in the East Suffolk and Ipswich hospital which is only 2 hours away from their home! As a 9-year-old, Alfie has never been on a train before, but after visiting the hospital, (without Margie knowing) he felt the need to rescue his father from this strange, dirty place. How will this mission end?

My Thoughts

I haven't read much about the First World War which is a bit surprising even to me since I read many historical fiction books, though mainly about World War 2. This book was a bit short, but it was interesting seeing the perspective of a 9-year old kid in 1900s, and what he would do to rescue his father. The book was also very exciting given the fact that he went behind his mother's back to do rescue his father.