Dan, Jen, Jeff, and Luke enjoy dividing into soldiers and enemies to play war, but when Sameer, a new boy in the neighborhood, tells of losing his family in a real war, they feel differently about the game.

When Luke and his friends decide that it is too hot to play basketball, they turn to one of their favorite games: war. Drawing a line in the dirt, with an "S" on one side, and an "E" on the other, Luke explains to the neighborhood newcomer, Sameer, that they will divide into Soldiers and Enemies, and fight it out with stick-guns and pine-cone-bombs. Surprised that Sameer seems less than enthusiastic about this plan, the children eventually learn that their new friend already knows about war - about real war, that is - and are aghast when they hear the story of the bombing of Sameer's house, and the death of his family. Suddenly, in this face of these revelations, war doesn't seem like such an entertaining game after all...

Playing War addresses itself to an important topic - the lasting hurt caused by war - with a simple, non-preachy story that will give young readers pause, and make them think. It's a book to spark discussion (be prepared, thoughtful adult companions and caretakers), about the nature of conflict, and the ways that playing at conflict can cause hurt, for victims and survivors. It ably fulfills the publisher's goal, as spelled out on the rear dust-jacket flap, to publish "children's books that empower children, build empathy, and spark curiosity." As always, well done Tilbury House! ( )

It’s too hot for basketball, so Luke suggests that they play war. Everyone but the new kid, Sameer, is excited to play. When Sameer tells everyone about the actual war that he experienced in his homeland, everyone learns an important lesson that war is not really a game to be played. ( )

Grade Level: 2-6
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Themes: War, Friendship, Empathy
A group of children decide to play war with nothing better to do on a hot summer afternoon. As they prepare for the war with pine cones, a new friend, Sameer, decides to leave. The next day, Sameer explains to the others why he left. His family had been killed in a war where he came from and that is why he moved to the U.S. to live with his uncle. The other kids were shocked and decided not to play war any more. This is a great book to read when kids get fixated on war and its glory. I would also use this book when teaching empathy. This book is published by Tilbury House Publishers in Gardiner so if is also a great connection to our community. ( )

Age appropriateness: intermediate
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Media: Watercolors, ink

This is a good example of realistic fiction in that we see the character in the book describing a horrible reality that many families around the world deal with; war. Sameer lost his family amidst fighting in his country and then moved to America to continue life. He is just trying to fit in while dealing with the awful reality. ( )