The Enemy: A Book About Peace

by Davide Calì, Serge Bloch (Illustrator)

Genres: Picture Books, War, Childrens, Fiction, Social Justice, Historical Fiction, Philosophy

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Davide Calì is a Swiss-born Italian writer of picture books and graphic novels, primarily for children and young adults. He lives in Italy. His work has been published in twenty-five countries and translated into many languages.

Reviews

[Miss Ravi · Rating 5 out of 5]

قبلا‍ً بهمان یاد داده‌بودند هر وقت بگویند کی خسته‌اس؟ محکم جواب بدهیم: دشمن! ولی حالا خودمان خسته‌ایم و کاش بگذارند کمی نفس بکشیم، بگذارند لرزش دست و زانوی‌مان آرام بگیرد و بعد فاجعه‌ی بعدی را روی سرمان بریزند. کاش بازی‌هایشان را بدون ما انجام دهند. بدون رنج دادن و بدبخت‌تر کردن‌مان. بدون گرفتن جان‌های بیش‌تر. بدون آتش زدن این‌همه خس‌وخاشاک. ما مُهره‌‌های بازی نیستیم. ما انسانیم و برای یافتن صلح، نیازی به داشتن دشمن نداریم..

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book for my son as a bedtime. This book is excellent! I love the illustrations. The story is interesting. Readers will follow a guy at war. He’s in a hole. His enemy is also in a hole. He’s wanting to end the war but he worries if he leaves his hole he will get killed. He wondered if the war ended but no one informed them and they may be the only two at war. I like the humor. Highly recommended!

[sAmAnE · Rating 5 out of 5]

چندتایی هم عکس هست. انگار خانواده‌ای چیزی هستند... شاید اوهم خانواده دارد. فکرش را هم نمی‌کردم درباره‌ی این موضوع چیزی یه من نگفته بودند.
اگر خانواده‌ای دارد که چشم به راهش است، چطور دلش می‌آید زن و بچه‌ی مردم را بکُشد؟
این چه هیولایی است؟

[I.Shayan · Rating 4 out of 5]

حسابی از خوندن این کتاب لذت بردم بنظرم بشدت برای بچه ها مناسبه و حتما باید از سن کم همچین کتاب های خوبی براشون خونده باشه تا با مفهوم حقیقی جنگ و دوستی آشنا بشن
برای یک بار هم که شده باید تصور کنیم شاید تمام مشکلات ما از این دشمن خیالی نیست که برای خودمون ساختیم و شاید بزرگ ترین دشمن واقعی دقیقا پهلومونه...

[Roya · Rating 5 out of 5]

نسخه الکترونیکش کیفیت نداشت ولی محتوای کتاب واقعا عالی و بیشتر از سطح انتظارم بود.

[Settare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Absolutely loved it. I read it three times in Persian, French and English in the same day, and it was so poignant that it haunted me.
It is so simple, so minimal, so straightforward yet so very powerful. It sends a very important message that children need to be exposed to, but I think adults are in dire need of reading it as well. This will an all time favorite of mine.

[Kowsar Bagheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

سه‌بار پشت هم با قلب شکسته خوندمش. خیلی قشنگه. روایت و تصویرسازی خیلی قشنگ و هوشمندانه بود.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pulled this book off my shelves when thinking about Dresden this week. I love this book. It says so much using so little. Two soldiers, sitting opposite each other in their separate foxholes, are enemies because their manuals told them they were enemies.

One solider claims his enemy isn't human, he's a beast, knows no mercy, will kill families, pets, burn down forests, poison water. Well, that's what the manual says, anyway. But sitting in a foxhole isn't easy - one gets hungry, it rains and becomes uncomfortable.

One day, the soldier disguises himself as a bush and leaves his hole, crawling towards his enemy so he can kill him and end the war. But when he gets there, what a surprise. His enemy is gone, but has left his things behind - family pictures and a manual that says his enemy isn't human - hmm, wait a minute! Where has he seen that before? Then, realizing his enemy has crawled over to his hole, the soldier sends outs a peace message to him at the same time the enemy sends one to him. Doesn't take much to figure out how this ends.

Bloch used simple, almost cartoonish pen and ink illustrations for The Enemy. The only colors are the khaki of the soldier's uniforms, red blood and the red cover of the manuals they used, though real photos were used for the enemy's family, bring the story close to home, so to speak. Such spare illustrations really forces the reader to focus on the words of the text, written in the first person by one soldier, which isn't favoritism for one side or the other because you know the other soldier is thinking the same thoughts.

This is definitely picture books for older readers. It is excellent and pairs very nicely with Alice Walker's Why War is Never a Good Idea. Together these two books about war and peace extend each other's message. Both of these books will or should generate conversations and questions by kids and it is advisable to judge the age and child's ability to tolerate these messages, however peaceful they may be meant.

And if you haven't already read Slaughterhouse Five, I highly recommend it. And have a peaceful day!

This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was purchased for my personal library

[Zahra Zarrinfar · Rating 4 out of 5]

آه کاش بطری‌ام تو گودال او بیفتد...

[Essareh · Rating 5 out of 5]

دشمن
ترجمهٔ رضی هیرمندی
نشر کتاب چ

کتاب قشنگیه. دربارهٔ دوتا سرباز از دو جبههٔ متفاوته که هرکدوم فکر می‌کنن طرف مقابلشون یه غول بی‌شاخ‌ودمه. ساده حرفش رو می‌زنه. یه‌کم غم داره ولی پایانش خوشه.
به امید اینکه انسان‌هایی همدل تربیت کنیم.

ممنون که خوندید.💙

۳۱ خرداد ۱۴۰۴
خونه‌باغ

[Azin · Rating 4 out of 5]

دو سرباز مدتهاست که تو دوتا گودال نزدیک بهم گیر افتادن، داستان از زبان یکی از سربازها روایت میشه.
سربازی که دشمن رو یک هیولا میدونه و فکر میکنه هرکاری از دستش برمیاد!
بعد یک روز که سرباز از این وضعیت خسته شده با استتار خودش رو به گودال دشمن میرسونه و میبینه دشمنی اونجا نیست
ولی نشونه هایی پیدا میکنه و میفهمه اون سرباز هم با خودش هیچ تفاوتی نداره و هر چیزی که تو مغزشون فرو کردن دروغ بوده و دشمن واقعی در واقع کسانی هستن که جنگ رو به راه انداختن و سربازها و مردم چیزی جز قربانی نیستن…

کتاب خوبی بود!
فکر میکنم برای بچه های دبستانی مناسب باشه..
از کتابهاییه که پیشنهاد میدم حتما برای بچه ها خونده بشه،
چون به نظرم شناخت از جنگ و پیامدهاش، باید از همون بچگی صورت بگیره..

[Whitney Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for children. I repeat this book is not for children. It's guise is that of a children's picture book, but this book is to be read in a college seminar on peace studies. Cali and Bloch take the cycle of war and strip away all the politics and fluff to show us what is at the heart of war in its simplest form; soldiers fighting for a cause that has been lost in the ether.

The mixed media illustrations make this book a work of beauty to admire.

There's a lot more I want to say about this book, but I should probably get back to work.

[SaraKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is such a simple condemnation of war-mongering. The two soldiers in their two holes are the saddest thing. Each has been fed a pack of lies about the other- taught that they enemy is a beast who must be killed. They are waging war for nothing. This was a surprising topic for a picture book in the easy section, but it's a concept that all children should be exposed to

[Mercedé Khodadadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب خوبی است برای بچه‌های امروز که ممکن است به جنگ‌افروزان فردا تبدیل شوند.

[Joanna Marple · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for children, or is it? about the futility of war. Uncluttered text line drawings in black, white, khaki and a hint of red render the simple message powerfully. The book has a World War I trench scenario with two enemy soldiers each in a trench following orders and the manual, which they were given at the beginning of the war, showing how the enemy are always beasts capable of killing families, pets and so on. As each soldier discovers his enemy’s empty hole and the unexpected family photos there is a glimmer of recognition of all they share in common. Both, now in each other’s foxholes, consider the possibility of calling a truce. There are some haunting double page spreads of the same night sky or pouring rain, uniting these two enemies in a common experience. An honest portrayal of war, and yet I believe, in a way as to be accessible to a child even as young as 4. Be prepared for some great discussion when you read this book with children.

[Atiyeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Enemy: A Book About Peace is a powerful and thought-provoking story about two soldiers on opposite sides of a war who discover that the “enemy” is human too. Through simple yet evocative text and illustrations, Davide Calì explores themes of empathy, understanding, and the absurdity of conflict.

The book is both haunting and hopeful, showing that even in the darkest situations, recognizing our shared humanity can open the door to peace. It’s a poignant read for older children and adults alike, leaving a lasting impression about compassion and the cost of war.

Rating: 5/5 – moving, insightful, and unforgettable.

[Zakiyeee · Rating 5 out of 5]

فوق العاده بود بهترین تصویرگری و روایت برای درک مفهوم‌جنگ که هم برای کودک و هم بزرگسال قطعا مفیده و کاش و کاش برسه به بچه های همین نسل و قطعا اثر گذاره!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Italian author Davide Cali and French illustrator Serge Bloch join forces in this powerful picture-book examination of the subject of warfare, and the construction (and deconstruction) of the concept of 'the enemy.' Narrated by a soldier who is stuck alone in a foxhole, exchanging occasional fire with his enemy, also stuck alone in a foxhole, The Enemy uses a fairly simple, straightforward text, full of declarative sentences, to undermine the simplicity of distinctions such as "us" and "them," "human" and "beast," and most of all "enemy" and "friend." The soldier-narrator believes that he is essentially different from his enemy, mostly because his manual has told him so, informing him that his enemy is inhuman in his cruelty. But a late-night sortie to the enemy's foxhole shows him that this unknown opponent is strangely like him...

Originally published in France in 2007 as L'ennemi, and then translated into English in Australia that same year, The Enemy was recently reprinted in this new 2014 edition. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read it, as I found it a powerful and moving exploration of the use of propaganda and misinformation in inciting wars and keeping them going. Although I don't believe that all sides of every war ever fought are exactly the same, and equally right, there is no question in my mind that the frequency with which we as a species resort to violent conflict to resolve disagreements would not be nearly so high if it wasn't so easy to convince us that our opponents were different from us in some essential way - to convince us that they weren't quite human like us. Davide Cali's text is deceptively simple, seemingly stating facts while simultaneously undermining those facts, while Serge Bloch's cartoon-style artwork captures both the absurdity and tragedy of the situations being described in the text. This is an advanced picture-book, one which addresses sophisticated ideas and disturbing realities, so I wouldn't recommend it to younger children, who are usually the audience for picture-books. Rather, I would recommend The Enemy to children eight or above, with the proviso that educators and parents should be ready to discuss it with concerned youngsters.

[nazanin · Rating 5 out of 5]

دشمن! خواه ناخواه جمله معروفو تو سرم شنیدم. " دژمــن هیچ غلطی نمی‌توانـد..."
بهترین و مستقیم‌ترین کتاب ضدجنگی که دیدم. برای همه سنین. بیشتر برای بزرگترها پیشنهاد میکنم.

فایلشو میذارم تو چنل Lendingbook@

[Anahita Solot · Rating 5 out of 5]

بسیار زیبا و تامل‌برانگیز.
به لیست کتاب‌های مناسب کودکانم اضافه شد.

[Hossein · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتابی ضد جنگ برای نوجوانان با متنی کوتاه و تامل‌برانگیز و با تصویرگری منحصر‌به‌فرد
دخترعموی ۱۳ ساله من رو که خیلی درگیر کرد! خودمم خیلی دوستش داشتم

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with others that The Enemy is a picture book with a message that adults need as much as children. The text and illustrations are deceptively sparse and simple, but they make an incredibly poignant point about the nature of war and intergroup hatred in general. The story follows a soldier who spends miserable days waiting in a trench, occasionally throwing things at his enemy—a soldier in another trench, doing the same. The protagonist explains that the enemy is inhuman, a monster, and that he wants nothing more than to destroy our protagonist. He knows all of this because his soldier’s manual told him so. One day, he happens upon the enemy’s trench while the enemy is away. He is surprised to find pictures of the enemy’s family and his soldier’s manual. This manual is strikingly similar to his own…except that the drawing of the “enemy” in this manual has the protagonist’s face. It’s a perfect illustration of how dehumanization is necessary to create an enemy to justify a war. In just a few pages with a few lines of text, the book encapsulates how much soldiers suffer during war while not even sure who are why they are fighting. The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is that the message is brilliantly subtle, but…perhaps too subtle for the age group it’s intended for. I read this with a seven-year-old and it went completely over his head, even after a discussion about the themes. Nonetheless, this may work for other children, and I highly recommend giving it a try. Starting a conversation about these issues at a young age may just result in a more compassionate and empathetic generation.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about 2 soldiers during World War I. It is set in trenches and talks about how each soldier believes his enemy is a monster, because it was told to them in their manual. The soldier continually talks about killing his enemy to end the war and the different hardships he is facing at this time. By the end, the soldier has snuck out of his hole and discovers his enemies is empty, except for pictures. It is a surprise to him to know that his enemy could possibly have a family.

The simple black and white and green, with occasional touches of red, pictures lend themselves to the short text in the book. They help the reader to visualize the loneliness that the solders are facing when they are in a trench for long periods of time on their own. This is a book for older students to read when learning about the war. The story talks about how each soldier wishes the other would give in, and how they don't remember the real reason for the start of it. This could be a good topic for students to talk about peace, as well as similarities between people.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

wide reading for CI546

grade level: simple book (elementary) but could be read by all grade levels / ages

genre: picture book / realistic fiction

themes: war, peace, differences, similarities

cultures: none. any. ever. technically I can see people arguing that they are white men since the paper is white but they are stick figures w/o race if you ask me.

awards: none specific to this book (I don't think) but the author has won various awards (particularly European) and the illustrator Serge Bloch has won awards as well.

school use: anytime you are focusing on war. I am planning to use this book as a read-aloud in units on the Civil War with 7th graders and WWs I and II with eighth graders.

review: Simple drawings, simple story, cuts RIGHT to the heart of the matter. Every soldier is told they are fighting for the right cause, all enemies are presented as wrong / evil / the bad guy, etc. Flip the script and we become the enemy.

[Dest · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though the pictures are simple and cartoonish, the content of this book could definitely scare little kids. The story is told from the perspective of a solitary soldier who believes his enemy is "not a human being," and that the enemy will "kill our families and our pets." Of course, the point of the book is that the enemy soldier has been told the same thing--that neither wants to kill, but both feel they must.

As a book that addresses a complex subject in a simple way, I would give it four stars, but I didn't like the ending. It was abrupt and unsatisfying. And I fear that because this is a picture book, it may not reach the older kids (I'd say at least 4th grade and up) who would get it.

[Carrie Charley Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is sure to evoke many personal opinions on whether it is appropriate for the traditional picture book aged crowd. For a parent, this would provide a wonderful springboard for war discussions. As an early elementary teacher, I would not be allowed to use this book in the classroom, with the frequent mention of killing. However, it would be an amazing tool for upper elementary, middle, and even high school, when war becomes more prominent in the social studies curriculum, and children better understand the history behind it.

[Tiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

"چندتایی هم عکس هست. انگار خانواده‌‌ای چیزی هستند. شاید او هم خانواده دارد. فکرش را هم نمی‌کردم درباره‌ی این موضوع به من چیزی نگفته بودند.
اگر خانواده‌ای دارد که چشم به راهش است، چطور دلش می‌آید زن و بچه‌ی مردم را بکشد؟
این چه هیولایی‌ است؟"
خوندن این کتاب و دیدن تصاویر بسیار زیباش، برای من خیلی لذت‌بخش بود و این یکی از بهترین کتاب‌ها برای یاد گرفتن مفهوم جنگ و صلح هست.
این کتاب ماهرانه هویت واقعی جنگ رو به ما نشون می‌ده. جنگی که قربانیانش فقط و فقط سربازان و مردم عادی هستند.
این کتاب به ما بیشتر از قبل بیت:
"بنی آدم اعضای یک پیکرند
که در آفرینش ز یک گوهرند"
رو یادآوری می‌کنه.

[Gil-or (readingbooksinisrael) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was cute and the pictures, which were different than any in other picture books I had seen before, were different enough to entertain me. I especially liked the bright red against the blandness in one part.
I felt that I had heard this story many times before. Maybe that's just from growing up in Israel or maybe it's a universal thing. But still, I think it is an incredibly important story to read and talk about to little children. Especially Israeli children.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about war, with a plea for peace. It shows the futility and stupidity of trench warfare, with an allegory for war in general. It has sparse cartoons, and an interesting narrative with a sardonic wit that is not really appropriate for younger children. Recommend for older children reading with parents; this book provides a wonderful opportunity to start a discussion about war.

[Saaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

تو اين شرايط جنگي خيلي عجيب بود اين كتاب دستم رسيد. كتاب در مورد احترام به ارزش زندگيه. ارزشي كه الان از بين رفته و بجاش ارزش مرگ جاش رو گرفته. (ارزش مرگ به معناي اجسام سرد و بي روح تكنولوژيك)
خود كتاب ترجمه اي از سه كتاب به زبان هاي ديگه‌س. يكم عجيب بود برام. چونكه انسجام ظاهري نداشت. ولي انسجام موضوعيش خوب بود.
در حالت كلي واقعا كتاب رو دوست داشتم.