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La Guerra dels botons: un relat de la gran guerra
En Patryk té dotze anys i no ha vist gaire món més enllà del seu poble, a Polònia, ocupat pels russos. No hi passa mai res..., fins al dia que els alemanys llancen una bomba a l’escola i esclata la Gran Guerra. Mentre el control del poble passa de mans d’una nació a una altra i els soldats estrangers arriben i marxen, un dels set amics de la colla, l’insensible i competitiu Jurek, s’empesca un repte ben perillós: qui robi el botó més valuós d’un uniforme militar es convertirà en el rei.
258 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 2018
99 people are currently reading
2621 people want to read
About the author
Avi
346 books1,716 followersAvi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle,
Nothing but the Truth,
and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
July 8, 2025
Why do people follow psychotic leaders who see others as only a means to an end? Time and time again we see this pattern - yet time and time again we see that there are always those who will board this ship of fools: and once onboard they will sail into a storm of violence and drown in blood. Patryk and his friends live in a small village in Poland in 1914. Think of 'The Little Rascals' - just a group of boys having fun. But they are caught between the Russian and German armies - their village a 'demarcation' line in a slowly escalating war. Jurek (the ringleader, who thinks he is the descendent of a Polish king) comes up with a dare: who can get the 'best' button off the uniform of a Russian soldier? The winner will become the 'button king' and rule over the other boys. What follows is truly an example of the banality of evil; the buttons become more important that the safety of the boys, and the ideology of one disturbed individual infects everyone. Truly a rival to Lord of the Flies.
December 21, 2025
2.5⭐️
+2.5 for the concept and idea
-2.5 for my experience while reading it👍
pre-read:
have tounwillingly read this until saturday. sigh😑
+2.5 for the concept and idea
-2.5 for my experience while reading it👍
pre-read:
have to
May 19, 2018
"What's the war about?" We were silent. No one knew the answer.
I so wanted to like this middle grade historical fiction book set in Poland during WWI. But the characters were just horrible. Patryk, our MC, is a very weak character and a bit of pushover. He and his friends are the epitome of meek followers. They seem more concerned with the going along with Jurek's rules than their own safety and the lives of their friends. Jurek was a bully and slightly unhinged. There was seriously something wrong with him. He creates a dare type game to see who can get the best button (from the soldiers stationed in their city). He much resembled a sociopath and I honestly couldn't stand him. I didn't like any scene that he was in even though I knew he was to play the part of the villain.
I did enjoy the parts that looked at the war coming to their town. In one aspect everything changed when the first bombs were dropped on their town, but as children, who's worlds greatly revolved around themselves, much went on the same as always.
I so wanted to like this middle grade historical fiction book set in Poland during WWI. But the characters were just horrible. Patryk, our MC, is a very weak character and a bit of pushover. He and his friends are the epitome of meek followers. They seem more concerned with the going along with Jurek's rules than their own safety and the lives of their friends. Jurek was a bully and slightly unhinged. There was seriously something wrong with him. He creates a dare type game to see who can get the best button (from the soldiers stationed in their city). He much resembled a sociopath and I honestly couldn't stand him. I didn't like any scene that he was in even though I knew he was to play the part of the villain.
I did enjoy the parts that looked at the war coming to their town. In one aspect everything changed when the first bombs were dropped on their town, but as children, who's worlds greatly revolved around themselves, much went on the same as always.
March 16, 2019
Had he not won the 2003 Newbery Medal for Crispin: The Cross of Lead, and two Newbery Honors in the 1990s, Avi would still be noteworthy for his juvenile historical fiction. Outside of Scott O'Dell and a scattering of others, no author delved into obscure historical settings like Avi, creating accurately detailed stories reminding us that however circumstances change, human emotion stays much the same. It's late summer in Poland, 1914, as The Button War opens. Twelve-year-old Patryk's village is occupied by Russian soldiers due to the Great War. The military men pay little attention to Patryk and his six friends—Jurek, Makary, Raclaw, Ulryk, Wojtex, and little Drugi—when the boys regularly meet to converse around the village water pump. They know war is happening elsewhere in Europe, but it doesn't hit home until a German plane drops a bomb on their school. The building is blown to bits and a few people die messily, but the carnage could have been worse. How will the Russian soldiers respond?
"Rumors are like clouds. Sometimes they bring rain. Sometimes they don't. But there are always clouds."
—The Button War, P. 77
Jurek, unofficial leader of Patryk's group of friends, is reckless and controlling, a dubious combination. As war finds the village, he develops an obsession with the buttons worn by soldiers on their uniforms. Jurek's older sister, his only family, earns a meager income washing the uniforms of Russian soldiers, which gives Jurek access to snip off any button he covets. Jurek turns it into a contest between him and his friends: whoever can steal the most impressive button will be king of their group forever. Patryk and the others aren't sure it's safe to sneak around cutting buttons off the clothes of men who carry guns, but they follow Jurek's lead. When the Russians leave the village and Germans arrive to take over, a few of the boys' families are obligated to house German soldiers, which provides opportunity to see if any of them wear fancy buttons that could win Jurek's game. This is where Patryk gets his first button, a better specimen than any of his friends collect, but Jurek finds a loophole to dismiss the results and extend the competition. Patryk has witnessed disturbing flashes of temper from his friend before, and Jurek never admits defeat.
The game continues as German soldiers become the village's new occupying army. The Russians launch an attack to retake the village, and eventually French and Cossack soldiers are pulled into the conflict. Each type of soldier wears a different distinctive uniform with unique buttons, causing Jurek to up the ante among his friends in their pursuit of the greatest button. Patryk wants to heed his father's warnings to be careful in these turbulent times, but he's loath to surrender to Jurek, who's behaving more erratically then ever. When one of the boys dies trying to steal a button, Patryk assumes the game will end, but Jurek has no qualms about continuing, and the others don't want him to win. More death is imminent, death that could have been avoided if the boys weren't set on stealing buttons from cold-eyed soldiers. As Patryk's friends die off one at a time and the situation in the village grows dire, he must ask himself what he's willing to lose to best Jurek at his button game. If Patryk persists in tempting fate, his friends won't be the only ones shot because they lacked the courage to defy Jurek.
I admire the depth and detail of Avi's historical fiction; he's a painstaking researcher, sparing no effort to get the story right for his young readers. I struggle to discern the deeper meaning of The Button War, but it has a hint of the Robert Cormier style that marks some of Avi's best work, and I felt engaged throughout. World War I fiction is much less common than the World War II variety, so if you're up for a story set in the early days of the Great War, this might be the book for you. It's not your typical junior novel.
"Rumors are like clouds. Sometimes they bring rain. Sometimes they don't. But there are always clouds."
—The Button War, P. 77
Jurek, unofficial leader of Patryk's group of friends, is reckless and controlling, a dubious combination. As war finds the village, he develops an obsession with the buttons worn by soldiers on their uniforms. Jurek's older sister, his only family, earns a meager income washing the uniforms of Russian soldiers, which gives Jurek access to snip off any button he covets. Jurek turns it into a contest between him and his friends: whoever can steal the most impressive button will be king of their group forever. Patryk and the others aren't sure it's safe to sneak around cutting buttons off the clothes of men who carry guns, but they follow Jurek's lead. When the Russians leave the village and Germans arrive to take over, a few of the boys' families are obligated to house German soldiers, which provides opportunity to see if any of them wear fancy buttons that could win Jurek's game. This is where Patryk gets his first button, a better specimen than any of his friends collect, but Jurek finds a loophole to dismiss the results and extend the competition. Patryk has witnessed disturbing flashes of temper from his friend before, and Jurek never admits defeat.
The game continues as German soldiers become the village's new occupying army. The Russians launch an attack to retake the village, and eventually French and Cossack soldiers are pulled into the conflict. Each type of soldier wears a different distinctive uniform with unique buttons, causing Jurek to up the ante among his friends in their pursuit of the greatest button. Patryk wants to heed his father's warnings to be careful in these turbulent times, but he's loath to surrender to Jurek, who's behaving more erratically then ever. When one of the boys dies trying to steal a button, Patryk assumes the game will end, but Jurek has no qualms about continuing, and the others don't want him to win. More death is imminent, death that could have been avoided if the boys weren't set on stealing buttons from cold-eyed soldiers. As Patryk's friends die off one at a time and the situation in the village grows dire, he must ask himself what he's willing to lose to best Jurek at his button game. If Patryk persists in tempting fate, his friends won't be the only ones shot because they lacked the courage to defy Jurek.
I admire the depth and detail of Avi's historical fiction; he's a painstaking researcher, sparing no effort to get the story right for his young readers. I struggle to discern the deeper meaning of The Button War, but it has a hint of the Robert Cormier style that marks some of Avi's best work, and I felt engaged throughout. World War I fiction is much less common than the World War II variety, so if you're up for a story set in the early days of the Great War, this might be the book for you. It's not your typical junior novel.
July 17, 2018
Raw, upsetting, little book about the outbreak of the first World War, as it effects a very, very small village in Poland. The boys in the village are at first more fascinated with a contest they've created: collecting the fancy buttons from different uniforms as different soldiers occupy their town. Both the contest and the war escalate, as does the bullying from one of the boys. Not a comfortable read, but, as with so many of Avi's books, what makes it uncomfortable is its realness.
October 5, 2025
I pre read this one as an option for the curriculum I write. Because of the level of violence it’s not even close to a fit, but it was incredibly compelling and well written.
The story is set in a Polish village during WWI. 6 friends dare each other to many challenges. When war comes to their village they decide to see who can get the best button.
One by one by one friends die and I’ll let you read to see if anything finally compels them to stop.
Probably wouldn’t let my pre-teen read it. The story telling is phenomenal so maybe a 13/14 year old. The story is about 11/12 year olds, but I think it would be too violent for mine. (It is clean though as far as language and sexual content)
The story is set in a Polish village during WWI. 6 friends dare each other to many challenges. When war comes to their village they decide to see who can get the best button.
One by one by one friends die and I’ll let you read to see if anything finally compels them to stop.
Probably wouldn’t let my pre-teen read it. The story telling is phenomenal so maybe a 13/14 year old. The story is about 11/12 year olds, but I think it would be too violent for mine. (It is clean though as far as language and sexual content)
June 11, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley, Candlewick Press and Avi for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Meet Patryk and his buddies. They live in a small rural town in Poland, surrounded by a large forest. Their village has one schoolhouse, one church, and one bridge that leads into town. The nearest city is maybe a five hour walk. Nothing much ever happens in their town. The boys like to hang out at their favourite spot by the water pump in the middle of town. They play games, share gossip and race around getting into minor scrapes but what they love best is to dare each other. Most of the dares are harmless, more naughty than dangerous, just trying to one up each other in a constant competition. In this group of seven, each of the boys are different. One is rich, one is dirt poor, one follows the church and one is smart in school but as you get to know them it is their character traits that stand out and defines their status within their group. Jurek doesn’t have any parents and lives with his sister, who barely takes care of him. He has the most freedom to run about town, but has the biggest chip on his shoulder, always trying to prove he is the best. He has a mean streak and often pushes the group into doing things they aren’t comfortable with. Jurek claims that he is the king of the forest. Patryk would like to stand up to him, but often falls short of the mark. Once Patryk found a shiny button in their secret spot. Jurek got so mad, thinking someone had something better than he did, he took the button from Patryk and threw it into the forest. Patryk was really sad about losing his button.
One day Patryk is walking to school when he hears a horrible clatter and sees a strange mechanical bird in the air. Before you know it, a bomb drops on the schoolhouse. This is the first time he has seen or even heard of an aeroplane. It is also the first time he witnesses someone dying right in front of him. Soon, the Russian soldiers come into their small town disrupting normal life. Jurek has procured a button from a soldier’s uniform trying to say how much better his is than Patryk’s was. This gives him a great idea. He announces to the group that they will have a dare, a contest - who can get the best button. It is dangerous because they are not allowed to ask for it, they must steal it. So starts the button war. When the German army invades their town, the stakes for new buttons are raised. But war has come to the small town and the boys have bigger problems than hunting for buttons. They want to stop but can’t. If Jurek wins he will make all of their lives miserable. What the boys don’t realize is that the hunt for the buttons will create a turn of events that none of them are prepared for.
Avi has done it again. He has written an exciting novel that will pull you in and keep you reading right to the end. I really enjoyed it and I think that middle schoolers will really love reading this novel. I won’t say “boys” because although I think males will really respond to this book, I am a girl and I loved it and when I was that age, I would also have loved it. It has so much drama. First you have the button war and how the stakes are raised as each new army comes through their town. The backdrop of the war ripping through their home and seeing how it affects the boys’ lives, who are so removed from civilization and lead a simple life, gives a sense of how devastating war can be without getting too graphic. Oh, but don’t worry, lots of gross stuff to keep kids interested. Of course, the relationship between the boys is the most relatable. It is something every child can understand. You have seven different characters, leaving lots of entry points for kids to jump in to. Patrick’s struggle is real. He want to challenge Jurek the bully, doesn’t like to be called a coward, and gets suckered into doing things he doesn’t want to do. How many times was I, as a kid, talked into doing things I didn’t want to do, especially when I hung around kids who my parents didn’t approve of. Patryk also feels a moral obligation towards the rest of the group not wanting them to be at the mercy of Jurek. He knows he is the strongest and has the best chance to beat him. When real bad things start happening it is interesting to examine people’s behaviour - when do you stop listening to your inner voice, what happens when you ignore it and go against your better judgement, how far will you be pushed before you make a stand, I mean there are millions of interesting questions that come up with the themes Avi puts forth. A very well written, action packed read with drama and unexpected events, one I really enjoyed.
Meet Patryk and his buddies. They live in a small rural town in Poland, surrounded by a large forest. Their village has one schoolhouse, one church, and one bridge that leads into town. The nearest city is maybe a five hour walk. Nothing much ever happens in their town. The boys like to hang out at their favourite spot by the water pump in the middle of town. They play games, share gossip and race around getting into minor scrapes but what they love best is to dare each other. Most of the dares are harmless, more naughty than dangerous, just trying to one up each other in a constant competition. In this group of seven, each of the boys are different. One is rich, one is dirt poor, one follows the church and one is smart in school but as you get to know them it is their character traits that stand out and defines their status within their group. Jurek doesn’t have any parents and lives with his sister, who barely takes care of him. He has the most freedom to run about town, but has the biggest chip on his shoulder, always trying to prove he is the best. He has a mean streak and often pushes the group into doing things they aren’t comfortable with. Jurek claims that he is the king of the forest. Patryk would like to stand up to him, but often falls short of the mark. Once Patryk found a shiny button in their secret spot. Jurek got so mad, thinking someone had something better than he did, he took the button from Patryk and threw it into the forest. Patryk was really sad about losing his button.
One day Patryk is walking to school when he hears a horrible clatter and sees a strange mechanical bird in the air. Before you know it, a bomb drops on the schoolhouse. This is the first time he has seen or even heard of an aeroplane. It is also the first time he witnesses someone dying right in front of him. Soon, the Russian soldiers come into their small town disrupting normal life. Jurek has procured a button from a soldier’s uniform trying to say how much better his is than Patryk’s was. This gives him a great idea. He announces to the group that they will have a dare, a contest - who can get the best button. It is dangerous because they are not allowed to ask for it, they must steal it. So starts the button war. When the German army invades their town, the stakes for new buttons are raised. But war has come to the small town and the boys have bigger problems than hunting for buttons. They want to stop but can’t. If Jurek wins he will make all of their lives miserable. What the boys don’t realize is that the hunt for the buttons will create a turn of events that none of them are prepared for.
Avi has done it again. He has written an exciting novel that will pull you in and keep you reading right to the end. I really enjoyed it and I think that middle schoolers will really love reading this novel. I won’t say “boys” because although I think males will really respond to this book, I am a girl and I loved it and when I was that age, I would also have loved it. It has so much drama. First you have the button war and how the stakes are raised as each new army comes through their town. The backdrop of the war ripping through their home and seeing how it affects the boys’ lives, who are so removed from civilization and lead a simple life, gives a sense of how devastating war can be without getting too graphic. Oh, but don’t worry, lots of gross stuff to keep kids interested. Of course, the relationship between the boys is the most relatable. It is something every child can understand. You have seven different characters, leaving lots of entry points for kids to jump in to. Patrick’s struggle is real. He want to challenge Jurek the bully, doesn’t like to be called a coward, and gets suckered into doing things he doesn’t want to do. How many times was I, as a kid, talked into doing things I didn’t want to do, especially when I hung around kids who my parents didn’t approve of. Patryk also feels a moral obligation towards the rest of the group not wanting them to be at the mercy of Jurek. He knows he is the strongest and has the best chance to beat him. When real bad things start happening it is interesting to examine people’s behaviour - when do you stop listening to your inner voice, what happens when you ignore it and go against your better judgement, how far will you be pushed before you make a stand, I mean there are millions of interesting questions that come up with the themes Avi puts forth. A very well written, action packed read with drama and unexpected events, one I really enjoyed.
November 28, 2017
Jurek is a crazy idiot! The Russian soldiers have left our town, the Germans have moved in, and he thinks his button war is the most important thing in the world. He's challenged us to find the best button from a soldier's uniform, which is dangerous to do while they're still wearing it. I should ignore Jurek, but I can't back down from his dares. Things will get really bad for our group of friends if he wins the contest. I thought the German bomb that blew up our school was the worst thing, it killed our teacher, but this button war has made the danger of war even more personal. Two of my friends have been killed because of it! All Jurek can think about is who has the best button, which makes me keep searching for them. However, I just found something different on the body of a dead English man. I shouldn't have taken the pistol, but I did, and now I know Jurek has his eye on it.
I don't normally read historical fiction, but the plot in this book moved quickly. As you might infer from my description above, Jurek's character drives the conflict. From the beginning, he displays a need to be the best at everything. The reason for this obsession is unclear, but Patryk, the narrator of the story, knows early on that Jurek is dangerous. Patryk doesn't want to look like a coward, so he accepts the challenges. As the plot moves along, Patryk's decisions are motivated by a need to protect his friends more than beating Jurek. Jurek is already a pain in the butt, but he would become dangerous if he were to win the button war; he's declared the winner of the contest will rule over everyone else. His callousness is a little upsetting, especially when his "friends" are hurt or killed. I used quotation marks, because I'm not sure Jurek actually has any real friends. The power he has over the group is amazing, since they all know he's crazy. I'm not sure how middle grade readers will react to the button war, it may not hold their interest, but the plot becomes much more interesting once the Germans arrive. The Button War is a thought-provoking tale about innocent kids caught in the middle of World War I.
I don't normally read historical fiction, but the plot in this book moved quickly. As you might infer from my description above, Jurek's character drives the conflict. From the beginning, he displays a need to be the best at everything. The reason for this obsession is unclear, but Patryk, the narrator of the story, knows early on that Jurek is dangerous. Patryk doesn't want to look like a coward, so he accepts the challenges. As the plot moves along, Patryk's decisions are motivated by a need to protect his friends more than beating Jurek. Jurek is already a pain in the butt, but he would become dangerous if he were to win the button war; he's declared the winner of the contest will rule over everyone else. His callousness is a little upsetting, especially when his "friends" are hurt or killed. I used quotation marks, because I'm not sure Jurek actually has any real friends. The power he has over the group is amazing, since they all know he's crazy. I'm not sure how middle grade readers will react to the button war, it may not hold their interest, but the plot becomes much more interesting once the Germans arrive. The Button War is a thought-provoking tale about innocent kids caught in the middle of World War I.
October 3, 2020
Set in WWI, this book tells the story of seven boys in a some village in Poland who have their world upset by Russians and Germans fighting for control of their village. The boys decree a contest between themselves to collect soldier buttons. Whoever collects the best or the most buttons is to be declared the Button King. However, this contest or dare between them leads them into much deeper trouble than anyone reckoned on.
I found this to be a really interesting piece of Middle Grade fiction for any number of reasons. One, it offers the perspective of the Polish people during the first World War. Second, focusing on the minds and wills of young boys, this book reads as a warning against living an undisciplined life. Avi is a good story teller and engages you as a reader so that you are never bored and are always wondering what is to be the end result of this small band of young men in a war-torn country.
Highly recommended. Note to parents looking for historical fiction surrounding the war: expect blood and death.
I found this to be a really interesting piece of Middle Grade fiction for any number of reasons. One, it offers the perspective of the Polish people during the first World War. Second, focusing on the minds and wills of young boys, this book reads as a warning against living an undisciplined life. Avi is a good story teller and engages you as a reader so that you are never bored and are always wondering what is to be the end result of this small band of young men in a war-torn country.
Highly recommended. Note to parents looking for historical fiction surrounding the war: expect blood and death.
October 4, 2020
Set in a Polish village during World War I, a contest between 7 boys to steal buttons from soldiers' uniforms spirals out of control. . This is a chilling tale. Those who like stories about young people growing up in the midst of war or fans of Alan Gratz's darker works will enjoy this one.
June 3, 2019
Easy to read and captivating...I couldn’t put it down. But several scenes were pretty disturbing and directly involved the young boys in the book, so I wouldn’t recommend it for sensitive kids. I might let my 12 year old read it, but I’m glad i read it first so i could talk with her about it. Takes place during WWI in a Polish town being fought over by Russians and Germans. The leader of a group of boys comes up with a competition to steal buttons from the solders, but things quickly get dangerously out of hand.
June 24, 2019
Even though this book was based in Poland in 1914, it has such a Lord of the Flies feel to it. I liked how he wrote it all from the boys' perspective. It makes you go back to that feeling of being 12 and not understanding actually how dangerous the world can be. The boys in this book who were typical pre-teen boys. You had the brave ones, the daring ones, the bully. Typical adolescent boys trying to live in a Polish village, yet not understanding that the war is about to tear apart their whole world.
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December 16, 2018This book, from one of my favorite authors, is just plain scary. And I hope it is allegorical because the story itself is improbable. It reminded me of the sick feeling I had when I read Lord of the Flies. Boys without boundaries, and in this case very clueless, to the point of being neglectful, parents.
September 23, 2020
interesting.
When a game goes to far... How bullies manipulate...
Great for discussion and it reads fast too! War hurts everyone.
When a game goes to far... How bullies manipulate...
Great for discussion and it reads fast too! War hurts everyone.
March 21, 2023
I haven’t read Avi in a whillleeeeee, but I still expected The Button War to be good (I can’t remember what books I’ve read by Avi, BUT I remember Sophia’s War being really good, SO.) And it did not disappoint!
Hmmmm what to discuss… *thinks of ridiculous category names* OOOOH SPANISH!!!
1. LA UBICACIÓN!!!!!!!! (TRADUCE: “the location”)
Yesh, the location… (FYI, when you’re semi-bilingual, GOTTA USE IT!!!!!!!!)
I found the setting of The Button War to be quite a unique one: a small town somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Poland that’s pretty much isolated from everything. A LOT of historical fiction books take place in settings that we all know are obvious sources of historical drama. (I say this because as someone who has done this herself…IN MY DEFENSE, I wrote that book when I was 11 years old). While this method is indeed a method to create upheaval in the book, it can be reeeaaaaaalllllyyyyy uncreative in my opinion. LUCKILY, The Button War has not done this! I think it’s a really cool perspective to have a historical fiction story take place in a setting that is “unlikely” – as in, hardly mentioned in the spotlight of most history books. Now, of course we know Poland was involved in WWI (it was split between 3 empires, according to Wikipedia – Austria-Hungary, German Empire, & Russian Empire; so, conflict there). But history books focus on far fewer details and instead focus on overview things (in this case, battles in Poland or something like that between various empires and countries – I know France also got involved). Not attacking history textbooks or anything – they can’t cover EVERYTHING. That just makes it all the more interesting to see books that do focus on an overlooked/unseen detail of a war. In this case, a town somewhere in Poland: what was this time like for them? All in all, The Button War, to me, provides a perspective that I would otherwise never have known about. And that’s cool!!
2. LA CONFUSIÓN (do we need a traduce? Lol)
Going along with my previous point about the secluded setting, I also found how the people in the village reacted to the disruption of their lives to be well written. After all, they were a secluded village in the nowhere of Poland! They did not know why Russians and Germans and Austrians (+France) were fighting over their home, bombing things, or bringing in so many strange weapons. Despite these things, for most of the book, the villagers just tried to go on with their lives after episodes of destruction. What else could they do?
I found the overall confusion of the villagers in regard to the outside world to be really effective in the overall story. It made sense and felt accurate. (YES YES I am nooooo historical expert genius with a fancy Ph.D. but, to me, the reactions of the villagers seemed characteristic of who they were, where they lived, etc.)
3. LA GENTE (TRADUCE: the people)
The main focus (character-wise) was on the group of 7 friends in this village:
• Patryk: the stubborn MC
• Jurek: crazy dude
• Wojtex: always references his dad
• Drugi: the runt of the group
• Makary: the good friend
• Raclaw: the sensible one
• Ulryk: the religious one
’Kay, now I can’t pronounce half of those names, BUT that’s ok. I can’t pronounce anything heh heee... I figured out some syllable sounds in me brainz. :)
So, this friend group I found to have an interesting dynamic. They overall had pretty much defined charismas, buuut some of them blended together a little (Wojtex, Makary, Raclaw, Ulryk). They were all still very different, but felt a little samey sometimes.
I also thought it was an interesting plotline that these 7 friends made a dare of who could steal the best buttons (and win their evil dead teacher’s beating cane). It’s such a boy thing to do lol and the tension of the dare was really written well. (SIDE NOTE: their dialogue was also very good!)
Jurek was the one really keeping it running – I don’t know WHAT THE HECK was up with that kid, but he was really crazy. I think his character (being obsessed with buttons and himself and being defiant) was really written well. The progression of him becoming more unstable until the very end was also really good (and terrifying, of course).
Patryk and the others were always a bit hesitant about the buttons compared to Jurek. They all didn’t want Jurek to win, but they quickly realized what they were doing was verrryyy dangerous..
Little Drugi died because he was beaten by a soldier for trying to steal a button (Drugi’s innocence was also written well; he thought it’d be nice to win the button competition because nobody ever really gave him credit for anything else since he was always made out to be the stupid one).
Wojtex was shot and killed because he dropped a button, revealing he had stolen things (showing he was a very lumbering character, which VERY unfortunately resulted in his death….)
Raclaw was shot as a result of a baaaaaaaad idea – he was the sensible one who didn’t want to trick the Germans into thinking there were “only four” Russians in the woods (Jurek’s idea), but he got caught up in this mix, and got shot .-.
Makary just went along with everything until there was only him, Jurek, and Patryk left in the button competition. He just didn’t want Jurek to win. But then, IN A MASSIVE TWIST OF THE PLOT, Patryk hears a gunshot when Makary tries to steal a French button. Overall, Makary was faithful to his friends and the competition, but yeeahh he be dead now……
And then there’s Patryk, who is really hesitant about the buttons this entire time. He’s stubborn and doesn’t want Jurek to win, he doesn’t want to be weak, but he also doesn’t want to lose any more friends. Patryk’s conflict was also written very on point.
Overall, even though some of the side characters blended together a BIT, I think overall the friend group of the Polish village fit very well together with the plot.
4. EL FIN (TRADUCE: the end…..)
Wow oh wow. I think Jurek *stealing a pistol to shoot Makary to win the button competition* is a TRUE twist of the end…. AKA showing how crazy this dude is. Also, on pg. 228 of 229, the most SINISTER moment of Jurek:
“As I stood there, to my amazement, I saw someone climb atop the wreckage. I recognized him right away: Jurek.
“As I watched, he held up his hand. There was moonlight enough for me to see what he was holding in his right hand. Something shined even in the meager light. I had no doubt: it was that Cossack skull and bones button. The other hand held the cane.
“He held them aloft and then, not to me, not to anybody, he cried out, ‘Everyone! Look at me! I’m the king! Jurek the Brave! King of everything!’”
TALK ABOUT SINISTER bruh… So that was a good part of the end. The only thing I didn’t like about the end was when Patryk said literally along the lines of “I went to find my parents, found them, and we left.” It was QUITE abrupt, so like if it was just a tadddddddd more detailed and less random, plus paired with the last sentence – “They silently hugged me and then we started walking together toward a city whose name I did not know” – then that would be a total JUNAZEQUAAA ending.
5. MI PENSAMIENTOS!!!! (TRADUCE: my thoughts)
OVERALL, I enjoyed The Button War! While there were a FEW things my writer/ultra.analytical. self didn’t like, as a whole, the book was really good on setting, most characters, plot, THE SINISTERNESS!, not-an-overboard-of-historical-facts, ETCCCCC.
So yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Hmmmm what to discuss… *thinks of ridiculous category names* OOOOH SPANISH!!!
1. LA UBICACIÓN!!!!!!!! (TRADUCE: “the location”)
Yesh, the location… (FYI, when you’re semi-bilingual, GOTTA USE IT!!!!!!!!)
I found the setting of The Button War to be quite a unique one: a small town somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Poland that’s pretty much isolated from everything. A LOT of historical fiction books take place in settings that we all know are obvious sources of historical drama. (I say this because as someone who has done this herself…IN MY DEFENSE, I wrote that book when I was 11 years old). While this method is indeed a method to create upheaval in the book, it can be reeeaaaaaalllllyyyyy uncreative in my opinion. LUCKILY, The Button War has not done this! I think it’s a really cool perspective to have a historical fiction story take place in a setting that is “unlikely” – as in, hardly mentioned in the spotlight of most history books. Now, of course we know Poland was involved in WWI (it was split between 3 empires, according to Wikipedia – Austria-Hungary, German Empire, & Russian Empire; so, conflict there). But history books focus on far fewer details and instead focus on overview things (in this case, battles in Poland or something like that between various empires and countries – I know France also got involved). Not attacking history textbooks or anything – they can’t cover EVERYTHING. That just makes it all the more interesting to see books that do focus on an overlooked/unseen detail of a war. In this case, a town somewhere in Poland: what was this time like for them? All in all, The Button War, to me, provides a perspective that I would otherwise never have known about. And that’s cool!!
2. LA CONFUSIÓN (do we need a traduce? Lol)
Going along with my previous point about the secluded setting, I also found how the people in the village reacted to the disruption of their lives to be well written. After all, they were a secluded village in the nowhere of Poland! They did not know why Russians and Germans and Austrians (+France) were fighting over their home, bombing things, or bringing in so many strange weapons. Despite these things, for most of the book, the villagers just tried to go on with their lives after episodes of destruction. What else could they do?
I found the overall confusion of the villagers in regard to the outside world to be really effective in the overall story. It made sense and felt accurate. (YES YES I am nooooo historical expert genius with a fancy Ph.D. but, to me, the reactions of the villagers seemed characteristic of who they were, where they lived, etc.)
3. LA GENTE (TRADUCE: the people)
The main focus (character-wise) was on the group of 7 friends in this village:
• Patryk: the stubborn MC
• Jurek: crazy dude
• Wojtex: always references his dad
• Drugi: the runt of the group
• Makary: the good friend
• Raclaw: the sensible one
• Ulryk: the religious one
’Kay, now I can’t pronounce half of those names, BUT that’s ok. I can’t pronounce anything heh heee... I figured out some syllable sounds in me brainz. :)
So, this friend group I found to have an interesting dynamic. They overall had pretty much defined charismas, buuut some of them blended together a little (Wojtex, Makary, Raclaw, Ulryk). They were all still very different, but felt a little samey sometimes.
I also thought it was an interesting plotline that these 7 friends made a dare of who could steal the best buttons (and win their evil dead teacher’s beating cane). It’s such a boy thing to do lol and the tension of the dare was really written well. (SIDE NOTE: their dialogue was also very good!)
Jurek was the one really keeping it running – I don’t know WHAT THE HECK was up with that kid, but he was really crazy. I think his character (being obsessed with buttons and himself and being defiant) was really written well. The progression of him becoming more unstable until the very end was also really good (and terrifying, of course).
Patryk and the others were always a bit hesitant about the buttons compared to Jurek. They all didn’t want Jurek to win, but they quickly realized what they were doing was verrryyy dangerous..
Little Drugi died because he was beaten by a soldier for trying to steal a button (Drugi’s innocence was also written well; he thought it’d be nice to win the button competition because nobody ever really gave him credit for anything else since he was always made out to be the stupid one).
Wojtex was shot and killed because he dropped a button, revealing he had stolen things (showing he was a very lumbering character, which VERY unfortunately resulted in his death….)
Raclaw was shot as a result of a baaaaaaaad idea – he was the sensible one who didn’t want to trick the Germans into thinking there were “only four” Russians in the woods (Jurek’s idea), but he got caught up in this mix, and got shot .-.
Makary just went along with everything until there was only him, Jurek, and Patryk left in the button competition. He just didn’t want Jurek to win. But then, IN A MASSIVE TWIST OF THE PLOT, Patryk hears a gunshot when Makary tries to steal a French button. Overall, Makary was faithful to his friends and the competition, but yeeahh he be dead now……
And then there’s Patryk, who is really hesitant about the buttons this entire time. He’s stubborn and doesn’t want Jurek to win, he doesn’t want to be weak, but he also doesn’t want to lose any more friends. Patryk’s conflict was also written very on point.
Overall, even though some of the side characters blended together a BIT, I think overall the friend group of the Polish village fit very well together with the plot.
4. EL FIN (TRADUCE: the end…..)
Wow oh wow. I think Jurek *stealing a pistol to shoot Makary to win the button competition* is a TRUE twist of the end…. AKA showing how crazy this dude is. Also, on pg. 228 of 229, the most SINISTER moment of Jurek:
“As I stood there, to my amazement, I saw someone climb atop the wreckage. I recognized him right away: Jurek.
“As I watched, he held up his hand. There was moonlight enough for me to see what he was holding in his right hand. Something shined even in the meager light. I had no doubt: it was that Cossack skull and bones button. The other hand held the cane.
“He held them aloft and then, not to me, not to anybody, he cried out, ‘Everyone! Look at me! I’m the king! Jurek the Brave! King of everything!’”
TALK ABOUT SINISTER bruh… So that was a good part of the end. The only thing I didn’t like about the end was when Patryk said literally along the lines of “I went to find my parents, found them, and we left.” It was QUITE abrupt, so like if it was just a tadddddddd more detailed and less random, plus paired with the last sentence – “They silently hugged me and then we started walking together toward a city whose name I did not know” – then that would be a total JUNAZEQUAAA ending.
5. MI PENSAMIENTOS!!!! (TRADUCE: my thoughts)
OVERALL, I enjoyed The Button War! While there were a FEW things my writer/ultra.analytical. self didn’t like, as a whole, the book was really good on setting, most characters, plot, THE SINISTERNESS!, not-an-overboard-of-historical-facts, ETCCCCC.
So yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
June 6, 2018
A quick read that immerses you in the time period and what it was like to be a Polish kid caught in the middle of the fighting in World War 1.
Avi’s works have always been well written from a kid’s perspective, something that’s surprising difficult to capture many times–the questions, the moral dilemmas, and especially, the conversation tones. Patryk, the narrator, has a voice that successfully expresses all these notes. While the questions as to why things were happening might have seemed over done to some, to me it just showed how quick questions run through minds before settling on one question, or none at all.
Patryk is friends with a group of boys who decide that collecting buttons from the uniforms of the troops (Russians, Germans, French) who are fighting over their small Polish village. What starts out as a simple reckless competition–Patryk knows it’s wrong, but his arrogant friend, Jurek, is just such an @$$hole that Patryk can’t imagine him winning–turns darker and darker, until Jurek becomes so determined to win that he (possibly) does something unforgivable. The end (and even some bits in the middle) might be considered too dark and violent for some readers, especially considering this is children’s/middle grade. However, it’s not much worse than many other kids books that focus on the world wars from a young perspective, and not sugar coating the history is always a plus in my book. Serious questions and actions such as these come up at every age, especially in a war-torn village, where no one is quite sure why they’re caught in the middle.
There are very few Blatant Historical Facts in this, and I agree with some other reviews that pointed out it wasn’t very obvious that this was based on real events. A historical note at the end of the book, describing the conflict of WW1 and the reasons why the village was being fought over, would have been very welcome, especially seeing as so many children’s/middle grade books focus on the Second World War, not the First, so kids might not have gained the historical context of this war from other books.
Otherwise, it was well written, fast paced, and captivating, and I would most definitely recommend it to kids who are interested in history and the effects it has on everyday people.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
Avi’s works have always been well written from a kid’s perspective, something that’s surprising difficult to capture many times–the questions, the moral dilemmas, and especially, the conversation tones. Patryk, the narrator, has a voice that successfully expresses all these notes. While the questions as to why things were happening might have seemed over done to some, to me it just showed how quick questions run through minds before settling on one question, or none at all.
Patryk is friends with a group of boys who decide that collecting buttons from the uniforms of the troops (Russians, Germans, French) who are fighting over their small Polish village. What starts out as a simple reckless competition–Patryk knows it’s wrong, but his arrogant friend, Jurek, is just such an @$$hole that Patryk can’t imagine him winning–turns darker and darker, until Jurek becomes so determined to win that he (possibly) does something unforgivable. The end (and even some bits in the middle) might be considered too dark and violent for some readers, especially considering this is children’s/middle grade. However, it’s not much worse than many other kids books that focus on the world wars from a young perspective, and not sugar coating the history is always a plus in my book. Serious questions and actions such as these come up at every age, especially in a war-torn village, where no one is quite sure why they’re caught in the middle.
There are very few Blatant Historical Facts in this, and I agree with some other reviews that pointed out it wasn’t very obvious that this was based on real events. A historical note at the end of the book, describing the conflict of WW1 and the reasons why the village was being fought over, would have been very welcome, especially seeing as so many children’s/middle grade books focus on the Second World War, not the First, so kids might not have gained the historical context of this war from other books.
Otherwise, it was well written, fast paced, and captivating, and I would most definitely recommend it to kids who are interested in history and the effects it has on everyday people.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
July 14, 2018
This is an allegory type of story, where the plot really just serves the theme ("War is horrible for both sides and especially those noncombatants caught in the middle"), so it's not going to have a happy ending. And it doesn't. It was an okay book; the characters were not seen long enough to become fully rounded, it's a short story really. It takes place in a nameless Polish village during World War I, a town that ends up being bandied between the Russian and the German troops at various times. The poor townsfolks never really know who's going to be in charge next, as both sides end up attacking and also occupying the village. The boys who are the main characters get caught up in a competition started by the school bully to see who can steal the coolest button from a soldier's uniform. This leads to bolder and more stupid forays into the enemy encampments, just to get those buttons, with some close calls as well as some awful consequences for some of the boys. I think this could also be a book for teaching about peer pressure and standing up to bullies. The basic takeaway: war has been going on forever and pretty much never changes; it's ultimately senseless and civilians always get caught in the middle, and the reasons for the conflict are often very unclear. Will we ever learn not to succumb to our baser instincts? Appropriate book for middle grade and up, although there is a lot of violence depicted.
Read
December 3, 2019This is a powerfully vivid WWI novel set in Poland. It starts out with a child’s game as the war rages in the background. The game? Who can collect the best buttons taken from the enemies uniforms? One day a plane flies over and the Germans bomb the schoolhouse prompting the long-residing Russian soldiers to leave the little town of Patryk. Patryk is just a small isolated village yet it is Frequented by the comings and goings of military men.
Jurek, the cruel, conniving leader of Patryk’s group of young classmates, declares a daring challenge: whoever procures the best button from a soldier’s uniform gets to be king. Patryk is determined to beat Jurek at his own game, but he is no match for Jurek’s determination to win at all costs, even as the game turns deadly.
The chilling story is told from Patryk’s point of view. The underlying theme is how war can forever alter a child’s or anyone really but in this case it’s the children, sense of order, morality, and security in the world.
The text is very visually depicting with the smoky forest after battle, the soldiers marching in perfect formation, and a chilling final image of Jurek.
Ages 10–14 Historical fiction. A quick read. 540L
Jurek, the cruel, conniving leader of Patryk’s group of young classmates, declares a daring challenge: whoever procures the best button from a soldier’s uniform gets to be king. Patryk is determined to beat Jurek at his own game, but he is no match for Jurek’s determination to win at all costs, even as the game turns deadly.
The chilling story is told from Patryk’s point of view. The underlying theme is how war can forever alter a child’s or anyone really but in this case it’s the children, sense of order, morality, and security in the world.
The text is very visually depicting with the smoky forest after battle, the soldiers marching in perfect formation, and a chilling final image of Jurek.
Ages 10–14 Historical fiction. A quick read. 540L
April 26, 2021
I've not spent a lot of time reading YA or middle grade books before this year, and I have to say that I'm very disappointed about that fact. I'm amazed at the subject matter which is covered in these tales...at the gravity and messaging of them. I always thought books for kids were watered down, and meant to make kids feel better. The few that I've read in the past year have been eye opening, and much better than most of the "adult" books I've read.
I assumed that this would be about a group of kids battling over buttons...and it is, but oh my lord it is so much more. With a back drop of a small town in Poland stuck in between Russian and German soldiers, it's about a group of boys who decide they are going to steal buttons from them.
The reveal of the war is beautifully done, and then the story just gets darker and darker. There are themes of mental health, the devastation of war, honesty, loyalty and friendship. It all leads up to a shocking conclusion, that was more startling, horrific, and picturesque than any book I've read for a while. There is a description of one of the main characters in the last few pages which will stay with me for quite some time. This was just masterful.
I assumed that this would be about a group of kids battling over buttons...and it is, but oh my lord it is so much more. With a back drop of a small town in Poland stuck in between Russian and German soldiers, it's about a group of boys who decide they are going to steal buttons from them.
The reveal of the war is beautifully done, and then the story just gets darker and darker. There are themes of mental health, the devastation of war, honesty, loyalty and friendship. It all leads up to a shocking conclusion, that was more startling, horrific, and picturesque than any book I've read for a while. There is a description of one of the main characters in the last few pages which will stay with me for quite some time. This was just masterful.
Read
August 17, 2018It’s like non-fat* version of ‘Lord of the Flies’ and I give zero fucks about any of them.
*fat = interesting story
*fat = interesting story
June 18, 2018
It's August 1914 and World War I has just begun, and it has arrived in 12-year-old Patryk's small Polish village, within Galicia, a kingdom in eastern Europe that has seen varying occupations over its history. Presently, it is occupied by the Russian Army, who pretty much leave the villagers alone.
Though Patryk and his six friends like to hang out by the village's water pump, they also have a favorite spot in the woods just outside their village. One day, while playing there, Patryk finds an old button. When his friend Jurek sees it, he demands it be given to him: "Give it. I'm king here!" (pg 5) Jurek is a rather cruel, sneaky boy, an orphan who lives in poverty with a sister that hates him, and he's a boy who has no boundaries in his craving for power. That doesn't stop him from claiming he is a descent of King Boleslaw, making the village and surrounding area rightfully his, including Patryk's found button.
Soon after, Jurek shows Patryk a button from the uniform of a Russian soldier, claiming he cut it off one of the uniforms his older sister had just laundered. Jurek invites Patryk to meet him later that night so he can also get a uniform button. Later that night, they run into another friend, Raclaw, who tells them that the Russian soldiers are leaving the next day because the Germans are coming, as they take him to get his own button.
Sure enough, the Russians leave and the Germans arrive and life changes for everyone in the village. And as the boys pass their buttons for the others to envy and admire, Jurek gets an idea for a contest: "Whoever gets the best buttons, wins. Winner gets to be king. Means everyone has to bow down to him. Best dare ever. Buttons." (pg 62). Only military buttons are acceptable, and no asking for a button, they have to be stolen.
With the Germans come bigger, more dangerous weapons, restrictions on life for all villagers, unwelcome billeting, and very tantalizing buttons. But what begins as a typical dare soon turns dangerously serious and deadly, as Patryk realizes that Jurek will stop at nothing to get the best button and be king over them all. Patryk's plan is to get the best button so he can win and stop the deadly competition.
The Button War is quite simply Avi-brilliant. Like William Golding's Lord of the Flies, it is an allegorical statement about bullies, their will to power, and the people who empower them. In its simplicity, young readers may begin to understand how power struggles, whether in the schoolyard or the world stage, can happen. In this novel, the fallacy of Patryk's thinking he can end the insanity of the contest by getting the better button fails because Jurek keeps changing the rules to the competition so that they are always in his favor, and the boys, including Patryk, continue to feed his craving for power by complying with those changes, thereby giving him the power he so desires.
The setting of the story, a small village in Galicia, is unusual, but I thought it worked perfectly for what Avi was trying to say. It was a small enough place to see how war can impact the lives of people, especially children, and for witnessing the death and devastation that war, world war or button war, brings. In fact, sensitive readers may have difficulty with some of the scenes in this novel.
The Button War is an action-packed, exciting coming-of-age novel. One that I found I couldn't put down once I began reading it. I only wish it has some back matter about WWI, a short history of Galicia, if for no other reason than to find out who King Boleslaw was, and a map, which is always helpful and welcome. On pages 25 and 26, the boys do discuss what country this are in and the answers give some idea of Galicia's history (which I ultimately did look up in the encyclopedia). This doesn't diminish the novel in the least, it just would have in nice to have.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was an ARC received from the publisher, Candlewick Press
Though Patryk and his six friends like to hang out by the village's water pump, they also have a favorite spot in the woods just outside their village. One day, while playing there, Patryk finds an old button. When his friend Jurek sees it, he demands it be given to him: "Give it. I'm king here!" (pg 5) Jurek is a rather cruel, sneaky boy, an orphan who lives in poverty with a sister that hates him, and he's a boy who has no boundaries in his craving for power. That doesn't stop him from claiming he is a descent of King Boleslaw, making the village and surrounding area rightfully his, including Patryk's found button.
Soon after, Jurek shows Patryk a button from the uniform of a Russian soldier, claiming he cut it off one of the uniforms his older sister had just laundered. Jurek invites Patryk to meet him later that night so he can also get a uniform button. Later that night, they run into another friend, Raclaw, who tells them that the Russian soldiers are leaving the next day because the Germans are coming, as they take him to get his own button.
Sure enough, the Russians leave and the Germans arrive and life changes for everyone in the village. And as the boys pass their buttons for the others to envy and admire, Jurek gets an idea for a contest: "Whoever gets the best buttons, wins. Winner gets to be king. Means everyone has to bow down to him. Best dare ever. Buttons." (pg 62). Only military buttons are acceptable, and no asking for a button, they have to be stolen.
With the Germans come bigger, more dangerous weapons, restrictions on life for all villagers, unwelcome billeting, and very tantalizing buttons. But what begins as a typical dare soon turns dangerously serious and deadly, as Patryk realizes that Jurek will stop at nothing to get the best button and be king over them all. Patryk's plan is to get the best button so he can win and stop the deadly competition.
The Button War is quite simply Avi-brilliant. Like William Golding's Lord of the Flies, it is an allegorical statement about bullies, their will to power, and the people who empower them. In its simplicity, young readers may begin to understand how power struggles, whether in the schoolyard or the world stage, can happen. In this novel, the fallacy of Patryk's thinking he can end the insanity of the contest by getting the better button fails because Jurek keeps changing the rules to the competition so that they are always in his favor, and the boys, including Patryk, continue to feed his craving for power by complying with those changes, thereby giving him the power he so desires.
The setting of the story, a small village in Galicia, is unusual, but I thought it worked perfectly for what Avi was trying to say. It was a small enough place to see how war can impact the lives of people, especially children, and for witnessing the death and devastation that war, world war or button war, brings. In fact, sensitive readers may have difficulty with some of the scenes in this novel.
The Button War is an action-packed, exciting coming-of-age novel. One that I found I couldn't put down once I began reading it. I only wish it has some back matter about WWI, a short history of Galicia, if for no other reason than to find out who King Boleslaw was, and a map, which is always helpful and welcome. On pages 25 and 26, the boys do discuss what country this are in and the answers give some idea of Galicia's history (which I ultimately did look up in the encyclopedia). This doesn't diminish the novel in the least, it just would have in nice to have.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was an ARC received from the publisher, Candlewick Press
May 9, 2020
I'm reading a lot of biting reviews of this book, and I don't quite understand why. I have twin boys who are 11, and even though the idea of this button dare and what it inevitably leads to is horrifying, it is completely believable. Peer pressure, not having a clear understanding of war or death, being bored, competitive, all of those things make Patryk and his friends seem very believable to me.
Especially knowing the background-- that this whole idea is based on a true story, complete with the actual buttons. Many people seem to not understand that this is an allegory for war in general and also for the senselessness of WWI, during which it is set. Everyone knows human nature can be dark and evil. This serves as a reminder, a warning about that. Innocent ideas and dares and peer pressure can lead to death. They do all the time. Think about why you're doing what you're doing and know when to stop. As readers, we see the terrible consequences for not doing that.
Some people said this is too dark to be YA book. I think it is a YA book that does, if you read it as it is meant to be read, exactly what Avi meant for it to do. It's an important idea for young kids to understand. Think about peer pressure decisions most YA readers are making or on the cusp of making- stealing, drugs, sex, drinking and driving, online bullying, these are real. And I say that with some authority, as I am a high school English teacher and mother of three boys.
Read it for what it is. It does not have a Hollywood ending. It is not an uplifting story. It is a lesson and a warning about human nature.
Especially knowing the background-- that this whole idea is based on a true story, complete with the actual buttons. Many people seem to not understand that this is an allegory for war in general and also for the senselessness of WWI, during which it is set. Everyone knows human nature can be dark and evil. This serves as a reminder, a warning about that. Innocent ideas and dares and peer pressure can lead to death. They do all the time. Think about why you're doing what you're doing and know when to stop. As readers, we see the terrible consequences for not doing that.
Some people said this is too dark to be YA book. I think it is a YA book that does, if you read it as it is meant to be read, exactly what Avi meant for it to do. It's an important idea for young kids to understand. Think about peer pressure decisions most YA readers are making or on the cusp of making- stealing, drugs, sex, drinking and driving, online bullying, these are real. And I say that with some authority, as I am a high school English teacher and mother of three boys.
Read it for what it is. It does not have a Hollywood ending. It is not an uplifting story. It is a lesson and a warning about human nature.
September 5, 2023
"The Button War" is a grim, fast-paced novel about a group of boys who try to get buttons off soldiers' uniforms (as part of a contest to get the "best" buttons). They live in Poland, and the story is set during World War I. One of the things that stood out about this story is how it portrayed war. It shows how horrific war can be, especially the toll it takes on civilians. Thus, it doesn't glorify war, but it doesn't overdo it either. I found the portrayal to feel realistic and chilling.
I have mixed views about the characterization, especially of the main character and the antagonist. The main character, Patryk, is passive. He knows that what Jurek is doing is dangerous and wrong, but struggles to speak out and often goes along with Jurek's plans. There isn't much character development for his character. The same could be said for Jurek as well. Throughout the book, he remains cold, pragmatic, and power hungry. I wasn't a fan of either character or any of the other characters in general. With that said, their characterization does fall in line with the book's focus on how cruel war can be and depicts how ruthless people can be in their desire for power.
As for the other story mechanics, I thought they were done well. The pacing was fast, but not too fast and is in line with other YA stories. There was a good balance of showing vs. telling too.
Altogether, I thought that "The Button War" was a decent book. The characterization is a mixed bag for me, but it does depict war in a realistic manner and doesn't glorify it. The pacing was appropriate and there weren't info dumps either. I have mixed views of the ending, but it's more of a personal preference.
I have mixed views about the characterization, especially of the main character and the antagonist. The main character, Patryk, is passive. He knows that what Jurek is doing is dangerous and wrong, but struggles to speak out and often goes along with Jurek's plans. There isn't much character development for his character. The same could be said for Jurek as well. Throughout the book, he remains cold, pragmatic, and power hungry. I wasn't a fan of either character or any of the other characters in general. With that said, their characterization does fall in line with the book's focus on how cruel war can be and depicts how ruthless people can be in their desire for power.
As for the other story mechanics, I thought they were done well. The pacing was fast, but not too fast and is in line with other YA stories. There was a good balance of showing vs. telling too.
Altogether, I thought that "The Button War" was a decent book. The characterization is a mixed bag for me, but it does depict war in a realistic manner and doesn't glorify it. The pacing was appropriate and there weren't info dumps either. I have mixed views of the ending, but it's more of a personal preference.
March 24, 2019
BOOK TALK: What says status in your world? Designer clothing, name brand sneakers, size of house, number of cars? Or is it a collection you have of the latest fad item? In a small town in Poland during WWI it was buttons. Buttons stolen from soldiers’ uniforms. Most buttons are taken secretly from sleeping solders. Patryk was so much to be accepted and to belong he has trouble listening to the voice of caution in his head warning against following Jurak. Most of the time the button collection is a harmless pastime, that is until it turns deadly.
SPOILER: In a world of books with hopeful endings Avi reminds us there are far more sad endings than happy or hopeful endings in war. The reader is placed in the world of children making their way through multiple occupations. Parents are distracted and the boys make their own “war” of sorts with life and death results. Coupled with the hurry-up-and-wait days of conflict the boys struggle with the microcasum of pecking order inspiring war. Buttons are the commodity, bravado and peer pressure abound. If you are looking for feel good, skip this one. But if you are willing to wade into reality, this is your next read.
SPOILER: In a world of books with hopeful endings Avi reminds us there are far more sad endings than happy or hopeful endings in war. The reader is placed in the world of children making their way through multiple occupations. Parents are distracted and the boys make their own “war” of sorts with life and death results. Coupled with the hurry-up-and-wait days of conflict the boys struggle with the microcasum of pecking order inspiring war. Buttons are the commodity, bravado and peer pressure abound. If you are looking for feel good, skip this one. But if you are willing to wade into reality, this is your next read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
3.5 stars.....maybe...4. My son read this book, loved it and begged me to read it. I picked this book up for him because he recently found a military button in our yard with his metal detector and also, he is obsessed with the military, soldiers and war. I like to point him to books to open a dialogue about heavy topics because, sometimes lets face it, mom's word doesn't carry a lot of weight these days and I can be a bit protective - and he knows it. I can see why my son loved it. I, however, thought it was lacking in what most middle grade books have and that is hope. Honestly, if I had read this book first, I probably would not have let my 10 yo read it; 12 years old - definitely. I should have been clued in when the librarian commented "whoa, AVI can be deep". I wouldn't say this book was 'deep' but there were some tough, real life situations that shocked my son. I was so glad he wanted me to read it and wanted to talk about it with me. We had some very good conversations after reading this book.
January 28, 2023
To be honest I personally didn’t like this one. I found it to be highly predictable and rather annoying. It was really just a different retelling of the Lord of the Flies. I think the mom in me mainly just wanted to reach through the pages and shake the kids for their absolute ignorance and constant poor behavior choices.
However, I can see where this would be good for a middle schooler to read. The story highlights true issues with always feeling to prove yourself and the pack mentality that drives so many adolescents. Even when the worst possible things happen, to continue to make the same decisions even when you know what the outcome will be just because you’re friends are doing it.
Essentially this story is based in a Russian occupied Polish village at some point during WWI. The two main characters Patryk and Jurek are both vying for control of the group of friends, all be it Jurek is the more dominant personality. A dare to collect the best button and become ”king” leads to a constant changing of the rules and deadly consequences.
August 5, 2025
A good little YA novel. Fast-paced with lots of inner conflict. Written at a lower, approachable level.
CCs: without going into it too much, a young kid has to struggle with obeying his parents to stay away from a troubled kid, or protect his other friends by trying to win the game to prevent the troubled kid from winning, since his victory would end in him beating up the other kids.
Also, the main character sees a classmate die towards the beginning, and virtually no one discusses it and that seems to be hard on him. Throughout the story, this foolish contest leads to injury after injury, death after death of those around him. The kids don’t know how to process it at all, and there’s no adult who knows the conflict or tries to guide them through it. The adults seem about as dazed at all the pain and don’t handle it at all either.
CCs: without going into it too much, a young kid has to struggle with obeying his parents to stay away from a troubled kid, or protect his other friends by trying to win the game to prevent the troubled kid from winning, since his victory would end in him beating up the other kids.
Also, the main character sees a classmate die towards the beginning, and virtually no one discusses it and that seems to be hard on him. Throughout the story, this foolish contest leads to injury after injury, death after death of those around him. The kids don’t know how to process it at all, and there’s no adult who knows the conflict or tries to guide them through it. The adults seem about as dazed at all the pain and don’t handle it at all either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2020
In Poland, four friends find the Great War right at their doorstep and embark on a war of their own, trying to find (steal) the best button from the military men’s uniforms. It’s quite depressing and filled with horror and death, as one would expect in the middle of a war, but it is told from the viewpoint of a twelve-year-old so it’s tone is kind of innocent. The writing is excellent for the most part. The only thing I really didn’t like was most of the time the dialogue attributions were so-and-so said, followed by what they said. That is quite awkward to read out loud (it probably wouldn’t have seemed so stilted if I head read it silently to myself). I recommend it to older elementary kids on up to adults.
July 21, 2018
I gave this book 4 stars because it was well written and not because I liked it. It made me think of the Lord of the Flies. However, war and bullying are not subjects to enjoy. I felt that the story will give children a sense of what it is like to be in the middle of a war. But the main story was about the boys. Jurek was a bully who was unhinged and this made him doubly dangerous. The results were just as drastic as the results of the war.
February 6, 2019
I just finished a Skype session with Avi about this book. I applied last summer or rather put my name into a drawing to do a book club with the author and 6 other people. He does this several times a year. Go into his blog site, which is a fascinating place -https://www.avi-writer.com/blog/ to find out more. This book is his 78th book. What a fascinating and talented author. The cover of this novel is buttons which he collected . We talked a lot about his writing as a craft and how he does it. I asked about one of the main characters, Jurek. I am a teacher and throughout my career have often taught poor children and often the ones that make you angry and impatient are the ones that need the most love. Jurek reminded me of those children. I asked Avi about how does Jurek get food if no one really takes care of him. He said he probably scavenges and steals and sometimes eats with his friends.
I also asked him what is with authors often choosing 12 year old protagonists like the group in this story. Why is that age so good? He mentioned that they haven't gotten into the issues of sexuality yet but are sort of moving out into the world exploring and doing things. Avi told us he is working on 3 new books. I got a chance to gush about how much I love the story of Poppy in his Dimwood Forest series. He said actually he has almost completed work on a new book in the series about Poppy - it's how she met Ragweed. It comes out in 2020. He said the Poppy book came out 25 years ago ! The other books he is working on are a book about the California Gold Rush from a San Francisco setting, another book that takes place in Venice with a Renaissance setting, and an American Revolution story for yet another book. This man doesn't slow down! He does 70 - 80 revisions to his books before they are finished, he said.
He is fascinating and so talented - and 81 years old!
Anyhow it was a great privilege to talk to him and ask questions. I listened way more than I talked. So I want to put down my opinions here about Button War. It is a fascinating story with escalating conflicts that become life and death situations for the boys in the story. Some of the characters die ! The setting is WWI in Poland which at the the time was Galicia where these 7 boys lived in a small town that had stayed the same for "a thousand years - and they expected it would be the same for another 1000 years." There were about 1000 people living in this small town and no one is wealthy though some people are better off than others. What struck me in the beginning chapters of the book is that the people of the town are used to being conquered by bigger countries' armies. They never know if the new invaders are going to be kind in any way, or how they will be treated. Often times, the invading soldiers billet themselves into the homes of these people. That is a common practice and it's shocking, too.
Americans have such good fortune to have never lived like these people. The way they live is in stark contrast to the information age which we now live in. This would be so fun to talk to students about the differences. I found it interesting that at one point, Patryk, the main narrator, comes upon his father in the house who is reading a newspaper while the village is being taken over by a new army. He asks him what he's doing - he's trying to find out about the war. From a newspaper! But that's all they had and old news by the time they get it! No cell phones there, obviously. No TV or CNN ! Later in the story, Patryk asks his dad if the invading armies are their enemies. His father says - they aren't Polish are they? A great thought provoking answer.
I have read some reviews about this book where people say why is this story about collecting buttons? Like, that's boring. Avi told us about how this story is based on a story his father-in-law told him, about 40 years ago, about growing up in a small Eastern European village much like this one - and how the women in the village did laundry for the soldiers. The boys would sneak up on the washing and cut off a button to collect. All the buttons were different with fascinating symbols that were about the armies and the different regiments. I can see how in a village where everyone is poor, no one has anything of value, just like this story, and then these foreigners come in with shiny pretty buttons. It makes sense to me. The competitions between the boys makes sense to me also.
One of the women in my Skype session with Avi asked him, why does Jurek have to survive and in such a way at the end? Avi said he listens to the story as he's writing it. What happens in the end is what naturally flowed to him as he wrote the story. There is evil in the story and character of Jurek as there is in real life.
This is a story about what it would be like to try and survive a terrible war which is devastating to your village, friends and family, and everything you have ever known. This becomes a very suspenseful and interesting story. There are twists in the plot which I didn't expect. I love the points of view about living in a small Polish village. What would it be like to live in a place that is always under threat from foreigners who want to take over your land? This book is highly recommended. Excellent work, Avi ! It was great talking to you tonight!
I also asked him what is with authors often choosing 12 year old protagonists like the group in this story. Why is that age so good? He mentioned that they haven't gotten into the issues of sexuality yet but are sort of moving out into the world exploring and doing things. Avi told us he is working on 3 new books. I got a chance to gush about how much I love the story of Poppy in his Dimwood Forest series. He said actually he has almost completed work on a new book in the series about Poppy - it's how she met Ragweed. It comes out in 2020. He said the Poppy book came out 25 years ago ! The other books he is working on are a book about the California Gold Rush from a San Francisco setting, another book that takes place in Venice with a Renaissance setting, and an American Revolution story for yet another book. This man doesn't slow down! He does 70 - 80 revisions to his books before they are finished, he said.
He is fascinating and so talented - and 81 years old!
Anyhow it was a great privilege to talk to him and ask questions. I listened way more than I talked. So I want to put down my opinions here about Button War. It is a fascinating story with escalating conflicts that become life and death situations for the boys in the story. Some of the characters die ! The setting is WWI in Poland which at the the time was Galicia where these 7 boys lived in a small town that had stayed the same for "a thousand years - and they expected it would be the same for another 1000 years." There were about 1000 people living in this small town and no one is wealthy though some people are better off than others. What struck me in the beginning chapters of the book is that the people of the town are used to being conquered by bigger countries' armies. They never know if the new invaders are going to be kind in any way, or how they will be treated. Often times, the invading soldiers billet themselves into the homes of these people. That is a common practice and it's shocking, too.
Americans have such good fortune to have never lived like these people. The way they live is in stark contrast to the information age which we now live in. This would be so fun to talk to students about the differences. I found it interesting that at one point, Patryk, the main narrator, comes upon his father in the house who is reading a newspaper while the village is being taken over by a new army. He asks him what he's doing - he's trying to find out about the war. From a newspaper! But that's all they had and old news by the time they get it! No cell phones there, obviously. No TV or CNN ! Later in the story, Patryk asks his dad if the invading armies are their enemies. His father says - they aren't Polish are they? A great thought provoking answer.
I have read some reviews about this book where people say why is this story about collecting buttons? Like, that's boring. Avi told us about how this story is based on a story his father-in-law told him, about 40 years ago, about growing up in a small Eastern European village much like this one - and how the women in the village did laundry for the soldiers. The boys would sneak up on the washing and cut off a button to collect. All the buttons were different with fascinating symbols that were about the armies and the different regiments. I can see how in a village where everyone is poor, no one has anything of value, just like this story, and then these foreigners come in with shiny pretty buttons. It makes sense to me. The competitions between the boys makes sense to me also.
One of the women in my Skype session with Avi asked him, why does Jurek have to survive and in such a way at the end? Avi said he listens to the story as he's writing it. What happens in the end is what naturally flowed to him as he wrote the story. There is evil in the story and character of Jurek as there is in real life.
This is a story about what it would be like to try and survive a terrible war which is devastating to your village, friends and family, and everything you have ever known. This becomes a very suspenseful and interesting story. There are twists in the plot which I didn't expect. I love the points of view about living in a small Polish village. What would it be like to live in a place that is always under threat from foreigners who want to take over your land? This book is highly recommended. Excellent work, Avi ! It was great talking to you tonight!
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