This book is about six children; Cyril, Jane, Hilary, Edith, Robert and Anthea. The reason that it’s called Five Children on the Western Front, instead of Six Children on the Western Front, is because although there are six children instead of five, there are only five children at the beginning of the book and because of something else that I won’t say because I don’t want to spoil anything.
There is another main character, who, if you think about it, is the most important character of all. He is called the Psammead, and he is an ancient sand-fairy.
Of course, there are other characters, but I’ll just write about the main ones, beginning with…
Cyril! Starting as an imaginative young boy and ending as a muscled and strongly built young man. Out of the whole book, I’d say that it’s his story that intrigues me the most. Cyril is introduced for the first time as an imaginative young boy; fantasizing about what motorcar he’ll get in 1930. But then when he comes of age, he’s suddenly whisked away to war.
Now onto the next character…
Jane! Starting as a shy young girl, fantasizing over marrying a vet when she’s older and growing up to be a girl arguing over her right to be a doctor with her parents (the suffrage movement was just ending at the time).
Now for the next character it’s…
Hilary! Growing from a baby who basically does nothing into an imaginative young boy who loves to explore. He may be the most adventurous character in the whole book.
And now let’s move onto…
Edith! The youngest in the whole family, this young girl starts off in the book not even being born yet and is brought up to be, in my opinion, the most touching person in the book!
And now it’s…
Robert! Introduced as an eccentric young boy, with similar interests to Cyril, and becoming a smart young man studying for exams. But he suddenly gets whisked away to war, just like Cyril!
And now for the last, but definitely not the least of the children! It’s…
Anthea! Starting off a caring young girl, and becoming a hospital nurse in London, Anthea is a very sweet character.
Robert and Anthea are the only characters who get married in the book.
Now for the Psammead…
The Psammead is meant to be the main character in the book, yet I feel like he’s sort of just there. He is an ancient sand-fairy, who can grant any wish; like time-travelling, flying, etcetera. Now the Psammead has had to come to the children’s time to repent for his past deeds.
All of the children have nicknames-Cyril-Squirrel, Robert-Bobs, Hilary-Lamb, Edith-Edie, Anthea-Panther and Jane-Puss. Even the Psammead has one when it’s referred to in letters-Sammy!
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end! It was engrossing, exciting, funny, and emotional all the way through! It’s very educational, and I would recommend it to any child of the age 8 or over!
- Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop
