Secret Soldiers

by Keely Hutton

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, as revealed in this middle-grade historical adventure about a deadly underground mission.

Secret Soldiers 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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Historical, War, Fiction, Friendship

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 11, 2019

Reviews

[Minglu Jiang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa.

So I finally got a copy and I sped through it in two days. Two days! I'm busy and it's quite rare that I'll finish a book in two days.

First, the soldiers of WWI, and The Great War in general, do not get enough attention. I can only imagine how scary it was to be ordered to go over the top.

Second, I've never seen any mention of the clay kickers in any history book. I never knew anything about the war that was waged beneath no-man's-land. While many people may think the tunnels were safer, they really weren't; you could die a number of ways in the tunnels. While you might say carbon monoxide poisoning is preferable to being torn apart by artillery shells, carbon monoxide wasn't the only hazard. Flooding can easily claim lives. And there is also the chance of meeting up with German tunnelers and having to fight hand-to-hand combat in the dark.

I'll stop the history lecture here and get on with the actual review.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a young adult novel set in WWI, which I actually have never! encountered! before! (!!!!) It was also about this sort of "hidden history" -- the events you don't find in your average history class. Sure, you learn about trench warfare in school, about the horrid conditions and the horrid death rate and the gas and shells and experimentation with tanks. I've never learned about tunneling, though.

Though the book is shorter than the fantasies I binge on, it packs a lot of punch that many longer books do not have. Keely Hutton's writing gets to the point and does its job, which is telling the story--but it's also powerful. The characters all have their own separate personalities, from the crew of the four boys to the adults that command them. Even though this story is set in a conflict that occured over a hundred years ago, it's so easy to connect to not only Thomas, but also the other boys. I loved all of the characters and their relationships. There's the bickering and teasing between the four. There's also the evident brotherhood that builds and bonds them together.


UPDATE 1/31/19: Excusez-moi why do we not have a cover yet?


☑️ Added to tbr list one year early

☑️ Bought tissues

☑️ Reserved a space on my bookshelf

☑️ Refreshed Goodreads page about 2841940657 times to see if the cover was released

I believe I'm ready. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, why 2019?!?!

[Elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic work of historical fiction for young readers. This novel tells the story of the underage British boys who served on (and under) the front lines during WWI. It features outstanding characters and gives an honest, well researched, account of the war, appropriate for 6th grade and up. I will admit, the end brought a tear to my eye. A must read for anyone interested in WWI or fans of historical fiction.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as riveting in its own way as the author's earlier Soldier Boy about boy soldiers in Uganda, this middle grade novel highlights a little-known aspect of WWI. Unlike some other readers, I have read a couple of other books and poems about the clay kickers, soldiers whose job was to excavate tunnels below the battlefields. But my familiarity with that part of the war and the horrors of trench warfare did not detract from my enjoyment of this well-written book. The author has chosen to tell the stories of four young boys, who have come to this task for different reasons that are slowly revealed over the course of the novel. Thirteen-year-old Thomas Sullivan is desperate to find out what has happened to his older brother, James, declared missing in action. Charlie has left home to escape the attentions of his physically abusive father. Frederick, a privileged son in line for the throne of England, has joined up to prove to his Eton classmates and himself that he is not a coward. George joins the military for a warm bed, a solid meal, and to avoid the law enforcement and those to whom he owes money. While most of the story centers on Thomas, the other boys' stories are just as important in their own rights. Readers will find it hard to like anything about George at first, but as various events unfold, they may change their minds. The author's inclusion of James's experiences on black pages with white font, interspersed between the other stories, adds even more drama to the narrative since readers will have a good inkling that this is James, and that he is still alive. The author describes in vivid language the exhaustive labor involved in digging tunnels such as these on the Western Front as well as the constant dangers from gas or proximity to the Germans. It's clear that war can make even the gentlest of souls behave in inhuman ways, but it's also just as clear that it can make someone treasure moments of peace and quiet. I was pleased to see a war dog, Max, included, with his talent for catching rats and use as a comfort animal. Readers will be surprised to learn from the author's note that the stories related here are not as rare as they might assume since more than a quarter of a million British boys who were underage served during the war. Historical novels about WWI are not all that plentiful or accessible, but this one is an excellent addition to the canon. While the ending might be a tad romanticized, it still pleased me and left me hopeful that life would be better for the survivors.

[Kathleen Blasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished reading SECRET SOLDIERS, good thing I had some tissues near by. Keely Hutton beautifully wove distinct, engaging stories of the boys in the trenches with what is an impressive amount of research. The writing is beautiful. The relationships among the boys develop organically, and the plot is well-paced. No easy feat, given the amount of downtime in the tunnels. The character development is well-crafted and engaging, making it tough to put the book down.

[Sandi Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-researched, beautifully written book about a group of young boys on a dangerous mission during WWI. The characters are well developed - my heart broke for each one of them. Recommended for middle-high school students or adults who want to learn more about clay kickers and WWI.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Keely has given me an education. Secret Soldiers made me choke up many times and had me on a roller coaster as I had no idea how the story was going to end. Books are said to be windows into the world and hers have shown me worlds I never knew existed. I look forward to reading many more books by Keely.

[Rachel Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional. A tale of WWI tunnel digging in the trenches, and finding humanity in the midst of the horrors of life. I'll be thinking about this one for a very long time. Looking forward to booktalking it with students soon.

[Eboni Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of witnessing this story blossom from conception to the wonderful, sensorially stunning gem that it is now. Thomas is a young boy who lies about his age to search for his missing brother in the trenches of WWI but finds much more than he expected. Four boys, each a little lost themselves, take us on a journey of fear, loss, hope, grief, laughter, and a brotherhood deeper than the tunnels they dig. Both children and adults can connect with the characters, who are well-developed and real.

As in SOLDIER BOY, Hutton once again proves a talent for immersing the reader in the story using descriptive, beautiful language that touches on every sense. The characters' emotional journeys are bolstered by an adeptly painted world fraught with all the dangers and problems of the times.

This book captures you from the first page and doesn't loosen its grip until the very last.

[Jennifer Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not one who normally reads or enjoys historical fiction, especially about war, but this book was pretty good. Thomas is determined to join the army to get to the western front lines to find his brother who has been reported missing in action. However, he is not old enough to join, but a homeless boy, George, watches him get turned away and ends up getting him "enlisted" through another means. George decides to enlist as well and the two of them head off on a train to the front lines. Along the way Charlie and Fredrick become part of their unit and they are assigned to dig tunnels under enemy lines/ trenches to eventually set explosives. Every day Thomas goes out into the trenches looking for his brother James, but has no luck locating him. The boys have struggles they go through, but eventually they are able to work together and get along. As the story goes along it gets pretty intense in a few spots and you wonder who will survive.

James' story is told on black pages with white print and the main story is told on regular pages, which is pretty neat, because it definitely lets you know which POV you are in.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

World War I was such an absolutely grotesque waste of life!
This excellent historical fiction is based on the "Clay Kickers" who were charged with digging tunnels under enemy lines. Thomas, who has worked in the coal mines, lies about his age so that he can enlist and look for his brother who is missing in action. He and three other boys become a crew. Though they have vastly different backgrounds and constantly bicker they forge a team.
The horrors of the war are brought to life, though not in a horribly graphic fashion. It is a heart-breaking story though the "team" surprise themselves by becoming a team of brothers.

[Prisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry at 1 am. I never cry while reading books. This was incredibly well written and well researched, and I felt like I learned so much about WW1 from this. I literally could not choose a favorite boy because they were all so lovable, flawed, and they worked so well together. The characters, the balance between tragedy and lighthearted scenes, and the inventive descriptions were what made the book for me. (I think I found a new favorite author!) I sped through this one once I started getting into it. This incredibly heartwarming book will make you cry, laugh, and most importantly, love.

[Reading For Funs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Secret Soldiers through a Goodreads Giveaway.

Secret Soldiers was a magnificently beautiful story with a historically tragic backbone. It is no surprise that the book was fantastic when the author had such incredible ammunition such as World War I to base a story around. It was a pure joy to read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves books based on historical events, especially books based on the World Wars.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great combination of history and story--this is a must read! Brilliant characterization, engaging plot, and well-detailed setting. I read through it in 3 days, just couldn't put it down. Highly recommend this book for all ages!

[Joan Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant story of four underage children who join the war effort in WWI. Sent to dig tunnels under the front lines they become comrades forever. A must read for young people thinking of joining the service. It will open their eyes to the reality of war, death and true friends.

[Namrata]

this novel sounds like a treat! have a feeling I'm going to like it!

[Paige Stanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book! Well written and you can actually imagine how scared and nervous these boys must have felt.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. I have to admit I got caught up in the suspense, especially near the end.

I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooooo good! I loved every character.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keely Hutton's story of boys in WWI is a page turner readers will love. It tells the story of the clay kickers who made all the difference on the Western Front and makes the horrors of the war real for younger readers while still keeping the spirit of a story about young boys. Hutton also references shell shock, what we now know as PTSD, and it's paralyzing effects as well as the necessity for soldiers to become desensitized to the humanity of the enemy. Highly recommended.

Read more at Bookish Adventures.

[Kim Bahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical fiction with a strong message of self-sacrifice and brotherly love

[NuNu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written account of four underaged boys who for various reasons wanted to join the fight during World War I.

[AJBooks241 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret Soldiers is an amazing story of WWI. You really become friends with each of the characters and become engrossed into their epic story of surviving underground.

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on the 2020 list of Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. This book also won the 2020 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year. I read this book digitally on Overdrive.

This book told the story of the secret soldiers in World War I that dug tunnels under the German trenches to form an attack along the entire front line. It follows the four underage men that enlisted in the army all trying to prove or accomplish something and found themselves digging tunnels. As the boys begin to learn their mission and start forming bonds with each other and their brothers, they are faced with the horrors that come with the war. The story also follows another story of a young soldier that is a prisoner of war on the German side.

I think that this story is a great independent read for students in grades 4-8th grade to show another type of soldier that was in the army. I think it shows a perspective from not only kids around their age trying to fight for their country, but it also shows a war tactic that is barely talked about in history books today.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first encountered Hutton's work through World Read Aloud Day when she volunteered to meet with our students through a Skype session. From the moment I started reading her first book, Soldier Boy, I couldn't put it down. It is both compelling and horrifying. She is able to address, with a calculated balance of brutality and humanity, some of the greatest horrors experienced by the child soldiers of Uganda. It is one of the most heart-wrenching, yet hopeful, books I have ever read.

After reading her first book, I was fortunate enough to be sent an ARC of her second book, Secret Soldiers. This book does not disappoint. Hutton is able to again recognize the need to balance adult dangers with childhood minds, as she takes us from the moment Thomas and his bunk mates first lie about their ages and sneak into the military forces to the moments they have to fight for their lives. They each join the war effort for different reasons, and their inability to work as a team puts their lives in danger. They eventually work to share a common goal of helping Thomas find his brother. From the beginning of the book, I was drawn to the uniqueness of the story, as it is brings to light an often untold aspect of WWI, the story of the "clay kickers" who were also child soldiers, albeit on a voluntary basis. Hutton does her research and it shows in her ability to make the reader feel immersed in the story. I began to imagine myself deep in the trenches, facing the fears shared by the range of relatable characters created by Hutton. I was moved by her description of protagonist Thomas as he was reflecting on their task to quietly and swiftly dig tunnels under the front lines; I felt his fears as as I read his thoughts, "They were grave diggers...Were they digging their enemies' graves or their own? As they inched closer to the German trenches, he worried they were digging both." The creativity in how Hutton brings the book to a close is unexpected. It brings to life the cruel realities of war. Yet, she is again able to provide the reader with hope and perspective regarding our choices in life and how we face adversity. Her second novel, like her first, is going to be a favorite of middle school readers and adults alike. I highly recommend Secret Soldiers.

[Loyalhistorian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an EXCELLENT book. I highly recommend this for young adults, but even for adults that like history. The author did an amazing job of incorporating World War I facts into the story, even when they weren't the main topic of the book.

I read this to my 8th grade DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time kids (the majority of them boys). This year's group has been a tough crowd, but they actually really got into this one.

I'm a huge history buff, World War I being one of my fields of study. Out of WWI, the Third Battle of Ypres is probably what I've studied the most. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that this book centers on the lead-up to that battle. It centers on the sappers that dug mineshafts under No-Man's-Land to blow up the Messines Ridge. After we'd read a section of the book, the next day I would have photos of some of the things that were mentioned in the story to help the kids connect with the characters and the plot. I was able to expand on a lot of the information in the book to help them learn more about life in the trenches and some other interesting facts about the war. I really think the photos helped draw them into the story. So, for example, some of the photos I showed them: what the trenches looked like, explained the three lines of trenches, had photos of zeppelins and talked about the London bombings, photos of rat hunting parties and some of the stats about rats in the trenches, diagrams of how sappers would dig the tunnels and why they were called clay-kickers, various images of No-Man's-Land, we talked about the Order of the White Feather that was hinted at with Frederick, showed them the trench periscopes and "torpedoes" used to blow up enemies in the galleries and a geophone like Bats used, later showed them images of mine explosions and the photos of the aftermath of the craters left behind by the events, then I even showed them photos of the "iron harvest" that still goes on today from WWI ordnance...that sort of thing. I had a lot of fun with this book and being able to delve into even more history with them on the subject.

Again, this one is highly recommended!

[Liz Friend · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story: Thomas went to war hoping to find his brother James, missing in action. Instead, he finds trenches and tunnels, mud and blood. His team's horrifying task: dig a tunnel under No Man's Land, fill it with explosives, and blow up Messines Ridge. Will Thomas find his brother before the world explodes in mud and fire? Or will he find his own way home in a pine box?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (war and its attendant horrors) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Book trailer: https://youtu.be/LzpTozaTFRM

Liz's comments: Gives a good look at the horrific conditions in the trenches of World War I, the stories of which are frequently hidden behind the more famous (and more recent) battles of WWII. Although the story takes a while to get going--and the truly blood-thirsty readers of MS war stories might think there's not enough gore, Hutton does a good job of ratcheting up the suspense and by the end, readers are racing to see who makes it and who doesn't. An excellent choice for readers in grades 5-8 who are fans of the genre.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one for possible inclusion in my War unit for grade 8 students. It was ok, and I must remember to examine it thru the lens of a 14 year old who is likely reading about WW1 for the first time. It tells the story of a group of boys, most of whom are underage and have joined the British army to escape something in their past, who are tasked with a secret mission to tunnel under the German trenches and lay explosives for what ends up being the Battle of Messines Ridge in 1917. Thomas is the main character and he has come to the front to find his missing brother. Along the way he befriends George, a London street urchin, Frederick a posh boy from Eton, and Charlie who is abused back home by his father. They bond as soldiers do: share their first death, rats, and write letters to their families and exchange them in case they don't make it. The passages about laying the explosives were informative and authentic.

What is NOT authentic, and is barely digestible, is the immature manner that these characters speak to one another and about the war. I get that the audience is YA, but there should be a few more cuss words in there. Where is the SEX???? Most troubling was the terminology. Thomas signs up hoping to get posted at "The Western Front" and names the trench system's parts. He also refers to the combatants as "Allied" and "Central Power" troops, and the war itself, he calls "The Great War". No, no, no!! This is just plain WRONG. Soldiers had nicknames for their "turf" along the front, they also named their trenches, and referred to the soldiers in very crass terms. Not until after the guns had ceased to fire was the war referred to as The Great War in a widespread manner. Again, I understand that this works on some levels for a YA audience, but I am disappointed that the author does not challenge her readers a bit more for the sake of authenticity which is clearly important to her if you read about her extensive research on the tunnelers for the British along the front.

Will I use it? Not sure for these reasons; I also think that, despite it being RL 5, it is a bit difficult for the students I have in mind. War Horse is a better selection.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four young men who technically shouldn’t be on the frontlines, manage to work their way to France to fight for Britain in WWI. Thomas has joined to find his missing in action older brother, George joined to evade the police after him for his street rat activities in London, Charlie ran away from a horrible home and work situation, and Frederick has run away from Eton to prove to his classmates and family and himself that he isn’t a coward. They’ve been sent to work on a special project under no man’s land, digging tunnels for a secret project that will hopefully end the stalemate on the battlefront.

This starts off a little slow, but after they get to the front lines, it picks up. Also the boys get to know each other, they grow on each other and readers. By the end, this is a moving story about found family. The characters make this story shine, and the little known bit of history it highlights. I had never heard about the tunnels project for offense purposes but this is based on real events in WWI. It’s also nice to add a WWI story to the shelves, since WWII are very abundant but WWI not so much.

Notes on content:
Language: Maybe 1-2 minor swears. I don’t remember any.
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are deaths in the war, some right in front of the boys. It is sobering and realistic without being overly graphic. Charlie had a physically abusive father and factory boss. This is more hinted out than outlined.
Ethnic diversity: The boys are from all over UK. We also spend some time in a German hospital.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: Hunger, poor living conditions, children needing to work to survive, and social class prejudice all come up.

[Tanner Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is called ¨Secret Soldiers¨ by Keely Hutton, A basic summary of this book is a young boy named Thomas (13)) goes to fight in world war two to find his brother, on the way he meets a street urchin in London, the street urchin says his name is George (14), George pitches an offer to Thomas, he offers to help Thomas inlist in the army, if George can come along, Thomas agrees and they lie their way in to the army, they go to the train station where they barely miss the train, they meet Frederick, they ride the train to where they are positioned and meet bagger, bagger explains they will not be on the front line but will be working in the trenches for an unknown reason, they start digging trenches, they realize later that they are making mines to blow up the Germans, they then accidently mine into carbon monoxide and Thomas nearly dies, they succeed in their mission with one death of an obscure character.

Stuff that i like that the author does is foreshadowing, when Thomas nearly dies he says ¨If that almost got me who knows who it will kill¨. in which George responds with ¨Better it someone we dont know than us¨. I also like the fact that the author sometimes changes the point of veiw, like near the end it switches from Thomas´s POV to George´s POV.

In the end i really like this book because of these reason, it really kept me from being bored when i would read until their was around 20 minutes left of class, also, i would recommend this book to people who like historical fiction, it has a sweet ending which i like, and many sad moments.

[Andrea Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret Battles Below the Surface in World War I

Follow four soldiers fighting underground in World War I. These tunnelers faced challenges readers have not heard much about, and tunnelers were an important part of the war. The author includes a mysterious fifth character which is represented in a unique format in the book. Follow each of these young men and their journeys through the trenches of Europe during the war.

In an author interview, Keely Hutton speaks about writers finding ideas that make them curious and start to ask questions. She saw snippet about tunnelers while watching a documentary one night. It made her wonder about those boys. What did they do in the tunnels? Where did they come from? The seed for Secret Soldiers grew more and more as she researched to answer those questions. More writer's advice - make a writing map to get the first draft done, then you'll have something to work with in revisions. Revision is where real writing happens.

Keely Hutton's first book Soldier Boy also reveals an incredible journey of a young man facing the challenges of war. Read SECRET SOLDIERS and SOLDIER BOY - these books will keep you on the edge of your seat.