Reviews
“The narrative seamlessly blends historical fact with the intense personal experiences of the four boys . . . A captivating tale of down-to-earth heroism and a personal exposé of life in the trenches from the perspective of likable, engaging characters.”
—Kirkus Reviews
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“Hutton has done an excellent job of capturing the claustrophobic condition of life underground, evoking the horror of WWI, and creating characters who are individual and fully realized. There is no secret that this is an excellent addition to the surprisingly scant literature of the First World War.”
—Booklist
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“The relationships among the main characters are well developed, and readers will particularly enjoy the camaraderie between the new recruits and the more experienced soldiers. Hutton engages readers from the first page with the sights, sounds, and vibrant feel of the era.”
—School Library Journal
Secret Soldiers
by Keely Hutton
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Paperback ISBN:
ISBN-10: 1250250331
ISBN-13: 978-1250250339
AudioBook:
Raphael Corkhill (Narrator)
Macmillan Young Listeners
ISBN: 9781250212870
ASIN: B07SVHHBS2
Honors
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2020 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
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Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection 2019
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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Children’s Book Council 2020 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
Order
Read Wall Street Journal Review HERE
Hard Cover ISBN:
ISBN-13: 9780374309039
About:
Children's Middle-Grade Fiction
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Over a quarter million underage British boys fought on the Allied front lines of the Great War, but not all of them fought on the battlefield—some fought beneath it.
This gripping middle-grade military adventure follows the journey of Thomas, a thirteen-year-old coal miner, who lies about his age to join the Claykickers, a specialized crew of soldiers known as “tunnelers,” in hopes of finding his missing older brother. Thomas works in the tunnels of the Western Front alongside three other soldier boys whose constant bickering and inexperience in mining may prove more lethal than the enemy digging toward them. But as they burrow deeper beneath the battlefield, the boys discover the men they hope to become and forge a bond of brotherhood. Secret Soldiers is another stunning story of strength, perseverance, and love from Keely Hutton.
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The Problem with Child Soldiers
(SOLDIER BOY & SECRET SOLDIERS)
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Teachers Guide:
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