Conrad's War

by Andrew Davies

Conrad loves the army. And guns. And war. Nobody in his family takes him seriously - until he smashes a tank through the living room wall. Like it or not, Conrad's daydreams of battle are coming to exciting, terrifying life...This is a funny and quirky children's classic from one of Britain's best known screenwriters.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction

127 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Andrew Wynford Davies is a British author and screenwriter.

Reviews

[Shandril · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was seven. It was astounding to me and I loved every minute of it. The idea of a kid phasing through time to experience war, his transition from "this is fun" to "war is horrible, I want to go home" left an indelible mark on my young heart and mind in regards to war.

I remember that the cover showed a young kid in war fatigues, a helmet, and a dirty face. Now the re-published version on Amazon shows a cartoon doggie falling out of the sky with a parachute pack. I liked the original cover better.

That aside, every young person should have a chance to read this book. The author eloquently and simply shows, through the experience of a child, the futility of war along with the damage that it does to those who fight it.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe the first book, other than the Bible, that I can remember reading. I loved the imagination throughout the book. I will admit to being a little terrified of ever returning to the text, for fear of it not living up to my childhood expectations.

[Jrobertus · Rating 4 out of 5]

a children's novel, but so well done and imaginative. a boy pines for his dad's attention and works through his love of war and violence in a dream state.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was the first full-length novel I ever read. For two solid days I was glued to it and loved every minute of it!

[Bookend McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a signed copy! So excited.

[Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Conrad's War when I was ten or eleven, I think, which is thirty years past now. It left an impression on me, because (although I didn't recognize it at the time) I was just like Conrad -- though unlike him, my interest in war survived the book and into adulthood, albeit, I trust, a good deal more tempered by an understanding of the awful human cost of violence. My own oldest son is seven now, and he as well is beyond similar to Conrad:

"At breakfast, Conrad talked about his invention. When he talked, he liked to rock his chair backwards and forwards, snap his fingers, scratch himself, get up and shuffle about, and twitch his shoulders up and down. He found that the best style for him. Other people tired of it quickly."

I've been reading the book to my two older children, currently five and seven, and I'm pleased to report that they love the book as much as I did. Many parts of it are laugh-out-loud funny. If you've ever been cursed with the blessing of a precocious child, many parts may seem familiar.

[Shane Orr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably the first real book I remember reading. I couldn’t remember the details, so I thought I’d give it another read to see if it was really as good as my elementary school memory told me it was. Conrad is a mouthy kid who doesn’t show much respect to his parents, especially his dad. But his dad doesn’t really ever pay any attention to him, so it could be a justified cry for attention. He warps back to being a hero in WWII, which changes some of his outlook on his life. It’s a good little book, but I’m not sure why it stuck with me. Time travel and dimensional shifts have always interested me, so it’s probably because of that.

[Tom Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its been at least 20 years since I read this book. The first novel I remember reading. I can still remember it now. All the twists and turns. I really must find a copy of this and read it now as an adult.

[Allan Harle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books I remember reading at school.

[Matt Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child I picked this up by sheer chance off a rotating bookshelf at school. It had 'war' in the title and looked like it had been through one itself, with dog-eared corners and a front cover that had been severely chewed by someone or something. It turned out to be my favourite childhood book bar none. Simply superb

[Sissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this when I was a kid. What a great couple of days read!

[Tim horton · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was a great short novel to read about the war with a twist

please add where desert blizards blow 350 words

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic kid's adventure story. Definitely one for boys with trousers torn at the knees.

[James Rosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I was 8 or 9 when I read this one. it was a good one. I was really into World War II Airplane models of course at the time, so of course I liked this book.

[Christopher Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this when I was a kid, and loved it then!

[Jamie Mcquillan]

I think it is funny and it is interesting