In my personal opinion, this book is very well written. First, I love the theme; traveling to different places and experiencing different cultures throughout the book. The main character, Jack, travels to Australia, for example. He works in the sugar cane field, and experiences the Australian way of life. Even though this is not the only theme in this book, (the other being related to military involvement in World War 1), I believe it is the one that stands out to me. The second thing that really got me into this book was the illustrations. The illustrator seemed to really capture the emotion in the characters, as well as the descriptions of the culture. For example, when Jack is on the ship with the rest of his team (military personnel), he says “I wish I were home...” and you can really see the fear/longing that he is emphasizing. It definitely makes it more relatable and personable. Lastly, I believe the author did a great job of discussing the brutality of war, with a positive spin. The author shows Jack in the beginning as excited to enlist in the military, but then Jack becomes scared. He sees all the violence, yet continues to fight because he knows that it is the right thing to do. All together, the author does a great job emphasizing the importance of culture, and experience. ( )

I really liked this story for a few reasons, but mainly because the author demonstrated strong character development and an interesting plot. This book reflects events from World War II and follows the life of a soldier through his childhood and time at war. The author is able to develop the soldier’s character as we see his successes and struggles throughout life, while also learning interesting facts about the war. The book also incorporates the help of a donkey, who was used to transport wounded soldiers to first aid stations overseas. Establishing characters make the story more inviting and the plot even more interesting. The plot contains rising action, a climax and resolution, which really keeps the reader engaged the story moving.

While the story is based on facts, it is not an information text therefore, plot is important especially for young readers. Towards the middle of the book the author writes, “Simpson and his donkey earned the admiration of all who watched them work. The colonel decorated Duffy’s forehead with a Red Cross armband. ‘You’re worth a hundred men to me,’ he said.” The solider and his donkey become war heroes. After reading, I think the big idea of this story is that through tough times and war with countries divided, there are soldiers that will do anything for their men and country even when it means risking their own life. ( )

Jack and Billy grew up in South Shields, England, where a river carried great ships out to sea. During summer vacation, they led donkeys along the beach for a penny a ride. As they paced the sands of their small town, Jack dreamed that one day he would sail away on a great adventure. Jack's wish came true. During World War I, he served as a stretcher bearer on the battlefields of Gallipoli, Turkey. When stretchers ran short, Jack enlisted the help of a donkey named Duffy, and together these unlikely heroes worked tirelessly, carrying wounded soldiers from the battlefront to the beach hospital. This is a true story of one man and his donkey, and the twist of fate that brought two boyhood friends together one last time. Includes author's notes ( )