Anzac Sons: Five Brothers on the Western Front

by Allison Marlow Paterson

Anzac Sons: Five Brothers on the Western Front is a story of mateship, bravery and sacrifice; it is a heartbreaking account of a family torn apart by war and a mother who never recovered from the tragedy. It is about ordinary people who showed great courage and who suffered immensely in the hope they would preserve a way of life. Based on Anzac Sons: The story of Five Brothers in the War to End All Wars this children's version will transport younger readers from all ages into the hearts and minds of five brothers who served their country and, together with their fellow comrades, inspired a nation.

48 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2015

About the author

Allison Paterson was a teacher-librarian for over twenty years and has reviewed children’s literature for Magpies Magazine for almost as long. She was a recipient of a 2017 May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Creative Time Fellowship. The resulting young adult manuscript Follow After Me was published in 2019. Allison now works full-time as a writer, publishing consultant and presenter in schools. She is the author of the 2016 ABIA longlisted and CBCA notable title Anzac Sons: Five Brothers on the Western Front, the children’s version of her adult non-fiction title Anzac Sons. Her children’s books include the picture books Granny’s Place, Shearing Time and I Wonder, as well as three other books in the highly successful Australia Remembers series regarding Australia’s military history.

Allison lives on the Sunshine Coast where walking on the beach and spending time with her family provide welcome interludes from the desk … she also welcomes travel, good coffee, cheese and cherry ripes!

Reviews

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful layout and carefully chosen information and excerpts make this a spell-binding book. We journey with the 5 Marlow brothers as they join World War 1 and all end up on the Western Front. They, their friends and neighbours from Mologa, and new comrades, face suffering and death in bitterly cold winters and horrifying battles. Every battle is ferocious, and is wasteful of young lives and almost senseless in terms of little/no progress. The brothers' heart-breaking stories are a microcosm of what so many families, towns, cities and countries endured. After the war, the price of suffering and sacrifice was a heavy one for decades, but our remembering them is how we honour them. Allison Marlow Paterson has remembered her grandfather and his brothers, so that we too can never forget them nor the sacrifice their family made.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allison has written a really wonderful book - it has all the facts and information on The Western Front/WWII but also has such heart. The story of the five brothers on the front, and one left at home, really brings awareness to the story. My children 'got it' - they where sad for the soldiers, their families and asked LOADS Of questions that fortunately there mum could answer. Great work Allison - so wonderful to see your big amazing adults book re-imagined for our smaller people - sending a copy to Grandparents!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book that is set out beautifully. Suitable for Years 5 and above, this is the companion book to ANZAC Sons - the 600+ page biography of the Marlow Brothers and their experiences in WW1 on the Western Front.