Dog in No Man's Land is a beautiful book with a moving plot. It tells the story of Billy, a boy who joins the army to fight in the first world war. On his way to fight in the trenches in France, he finds a little dog abandoned in a barn, and names it Scruff. Fed on scraps of rations sneaked from the soldiers, Scruff becomes Billy's loyal companion and saves his life. But Billy and Scruff are separated. Will they find each other again?
This is a wonderful book, with words chosen so well the settings and characters leap off the page. The beautiful pencil illustrations by Gary Blythe bring the story to life. With the 100th anniversary of the start of the first world war happening this year, it is a very fitting book that paints a picture of the soldiers' struggle and loss, woven with the timeless tale of a dog and it's owner. Some parts get very sad, but the writer handles everything with maturity and there are also happy parts to make up for it. However at times the story trails off a bit and becomes a tiny bit boring. The most interesting thing about this book is how part of the story is told through letters between Billy and his mother, which immerse you and show a different side to the story. Some of the letters are in envelopes attached to the pages, which is a nice touch. This truly has an air of something precious and special about it, and is definitely a book to read, share and treasure.
I recommend it for age 9+, as darker themes make it unsuitable for young kids. 3.5 stars from me!
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
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