What do you think?
Rate this book
Off to War: Voices of Soldiers' Children
Society of School Librarians International Honor Book
Deborah Ellis has been widely praised for her gripping books portraying the plight of children in war-torn countries. Now she turns her attention closer to home, to the children whose parents are soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In frank and revealing interviews, they talk about how this experience has marked and shaped their lives.The children, who range in age from 7 to 17, come from all over North America. They were interviewed on military bases, in the streets, in their homes and over the phone. The strength of Off to War is that the children are left to speak for themselves, with little editorial interference beyond a brief introduction.
Includes a glossary, a list of organizations and websites and suggestions for further reading.
Deborah Ellis has been widely praised for her gripping books portraying the plight of children in war-torn countries. Now she turns her attention closer to home, to the children whose parents are soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In frank and revealing interviews, they talk about how this experience has marked and shaped their lives.The children, who range in age from 7 to 17, come from all over North America. They were interviewed on military bases, in the streets, in their homes and over the phone. The strength of Off to War is that the children are left to speak for themselves, with little editorial interference beyond a brief introduction.
Includes a glossary, a list of organizations and websites and suggestions for further reading.
176 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2008
6 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Ellis
59 books600 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Deborah Ellis has achieved international acclaim with her courageous and dramatic books that give Western readers a glimpse into the plight of children in developing countries.
She has won the Governor General's Award, Sweden's Peter Pan Prize, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the University of California's Middle East Book Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award.
A long-time feminist and anti-war activist, she is best known for The Breadwinner Trilogy, which has been published around the world in seventeen languages, with more than a million dollars in royalties donated to Street Kids International and to Women for Women, an organization that supports health and education projects in Afghanistan. In 2006, Deb was named to the Order of Ontario.
Deborah Ellis has achieved international acclaim with her courageous and dramatic books that give Western readers a glimpse into the plight of children in developing countries.
She has won the Governor General's Award, Sweden's Peter Pan Prize, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the University of California's Middle East Book Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award.
A long-time feminist and anti-war activist, she is best known for The Breadwinner Trilogy, which has been published around the world in seventeen languages, with more than a million dollars in royalties donated to Street Kids International and to Women for Women, an organization that supports health and education projects in Afghanistan. In 2006, Deb was named to the Order of Ontario.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 13, 2008
It probably happens less in New York than in other parts of the country, but as a children’s librarian I occasionally get a request for children’s books discussing the war in Iraq or Afghanistan. And frankly, there’s not a whole lot to choose from. On the fictional side of the spectrum you can probably grab a copy of Alan Madison’s 100 Days and 99 Nights, though I don’t believe it actually names the war the dad’s gone off to. The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman was one of the first books I’d read where a character’s dad is in Iraq (and not Desert Storm), but it’s fairly peripheral to the action. And then of course there was Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers, but by that point you’re squarely in YA territory. Things were even bleaker in the non-fiction area of things until the appearance of Deborah Ellis’s Off to War: Voices of Soldiers’ Children. Known primarily for gritty YA novels that discuss children’s lives in other countries, Ellis takes a back seat in this book and let’s the kids take center stage. Interviewing some forty-odd children between the ages of six and seventeen, Ellis’s military children talk about what it really feels like to have a member of your family going off to war. If you’ve ever wondered, now you can know.
What does it feel like to be left behind? To watch someone you love put themselves into danger on a regular basis? To find that the person who left is not always the same person who comes back? Author Deborah Ellis systematically speaks to a wide swath of soldiers’ children, always coming back to the same questions. What does your parent do? How long have they been gone? How much do you miss them? The reader never reads Ellis’s questions, only the responses of the kids. The result is that the children have the book almost entirely to themselves. Through their eyes we hear stories like those of Matt, Allison, and Lewis who love their dad and want to follow in his footsteps. Or Mikyla and Marina who sense changes in their father after he’s returned from overseas. We hear the voice of an anonymous 17-year-old girl whose already violent father was pushed over the edge when he came back from war, or the kid who had to deal with an abusive mother when the stress of his father’s departure became too much. Each section begins with an explanation of some aspect of what the children will be discussing, whether it’s where they’re stationed, the role of US Special Forces, or simply what post-traumatic stress disorder is like. The book ends with a Glossary of terms and a bibliography for further reading
As a human rights activist, Ellis isn’t interested in launching into some kind of self-righteous political statement with this book. In fact, the book appears to have been put together with great care in terms of politics and points of view. There is a wide range of kids, opinions, political views, and personal accounts here. Some kids, most I would say, repeat the party line. That we’re fighting them over there so that we don’t have to fight them over here. That we’re over there to help the Iraqis achieve democracy. Other kids take different points of view. One discusses her abhorrence of the war and of President Bush, even as she adores her military dad. Another child of pagan parents (and the section regarding pagans in the military is a fascinating read in and of itself) expresses her own opinions on the matter. But more than any of this, Ellis is interested in the children and what they really think. They are the true focus of the book.
What I think is important to remember here is that Ellis does not edit these kids’ opinions or justifications. Several discuss the fact that a lot of military personnel die overseas because they haven’t been trained properly. This may be true, but you sense that perhaps the kids are also saying this because they feel that their own parents have been trained sufficiently to keep themselves alive. At the same time you have kids saying things like, “There’s always going to be something that happens and people are always going to fight. One of the jobs of the army is to deal with people who rebel against things and people will always rebel.” Harsh. And when a kid sees a link between 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq there isn’t a section in the book that says, “This isn’t true”, or “This kid doesn’t have all their facts straight.” You’re getting their thoughts and their opinions straight from their mouths without interference.
You grow also attached to the kids too, some more than others. Ashley, for example, has a wry sense of humor. When asked about what she wants to be when she grows up she says, “I have no idea what I’ll do with my life. My hobbies are playing sports and aggravating my older sister, but it’s not really possible to make a career out of that.” And it’s hard not to worry about the anonymous 17-year-old who wants to escape her father’s abuse but doesn’t know how. Here’s a kid who lied to family services because she didn’t want to suffer her dad’s retribution. What happens to her? We never know.
After reading the kids’ accounts after a while you begin to detect patterns or similarities. On their future jobs, the kids split into two groups. Either they want to follow in the footsteps of their parents and, often, grandparents and join the armed forced or they want to grow up to be pediatricians, vets, or people who help others in some capacity. Almost all of them say that their mothers are particularly strong individuals. You also begin to notice when Ellis has asked the same question over and over again. Questions like, “What is your advice for other military kids?” (the child whose father died in the war answers this with a blunt, “I don’t have any. I’m not a military kid anymore.”). Or, “Has your parent changed since they came back from the war?”
I guess I sort of walked into this book forgetting that it was Canadian. Groundwood Books, after all, is a Canadian press based out of Toronto. It didn’t really occur to me any too regularly, though, until little things started cropping up. The overwhelming love of Tim Horton’s doughnuts, for example. Or the fact that the informational bits at the beginning of each section will give away the intended readership with sentences like, “There is not a Canadian equivalent” (in this case referring to The National Guard). To be fair, for all the off-hand references to Timbits and the like, Ellis does slow things down a bit to explain the Canadian situation to those readers not familiar with their politics. So it is that on page 152 we get an explanation of Canada’s role in Afghanistan and, to a lesser degree, Iraq. We see children in American families as well as Canadian. It all works together without a hitch.
If I’d had my druthers I probably would have ended Off to War with the interview of siblings Oliver, Kira, and Jasmine. Together the three seem to sum up what the book’s been saying the best. The three have different opinions on things and would have made for good closure. It got me to thinking about the way in which these interviews are laid out. When you begin, all the kids in it are so happy with the military that they want to join it like their parents have. As you continue through, you see the opinions break apart and change. By the end, you’ve met a variety of ages and ethnicities, as well as the kids that have had to deal with emotional abuse, physical abuse, and the death of a parent.
Some people are going to take a glance at this book’s subject matter and rush to conclusions in terms of its content. Too bad since I think Ellis has struck a perfect balance here. This is the kind of book that children from military families will want to read, while civilians (particularly anti-war civilians) will find that the range of opinions and types of kids in this collection yield fascinating stories. There’s something for everyone here. Ellis isn’t interested in propping up one opinion or another. Everybody has his or her say. The one thing they all have in common is that their parents are often gone. And no matter what your politics, that’s always a hard thing on the kids. I look forward to reading Ellis’s next book, Children of War: Voices of Iraqi Refugees.
Ages 10 and up.
What does it feel like to be left behind? To watch someone you love put themselves into danger on a regular basis? To find that the person who left is not always the same person who comes back? Author Deborah Ellis systematically speaks to a wide swath of soldiers’ children, always coming back to the same questions. What does your parent do? How long have they been gone? How much do you miss them? The reader never reads Ellis’s questions, only the responses of the kids. The result is that the children have the book almost entirely to themselves. Through their eyes we hear stories like those of Matt, Allison, and Lewis who love their dad and want to follow in his footsteps. Or Mikyla and Marina who sense changes in their father after he’s returned from overseas. We hear the voice of an anonymous 17-year-old girl whose already violent father was pushed over the edge when he came back from war, or the kid who had to deal with an abusive mother when the stress of his father’s departure became too much. Each section begins with an explanation of some aspect of what the children will be discussing, whether it’s where they’re stationed, the role of US Special Forces, or simply what post-traumatic stress disorder is like. The book ends with a Glossary of terms and a bibliography for further reading
As a human rights activist, Ellis isn’t interested in launching into some kind of self-righteous political statement with this book. In fact, the book appears to have been put together with great care in terms of politics and points of view. There is a wide range of kids, opinions, political views, and personal accounts here. Some kids, most I would say, repeat the party line. That we’re fighting them over there so that we don’t have to fight them over here. That we’re over there to help the Iraqis achieve democracy. Other kids take different points of view. One discusses her abhorrence of the war and of President Bush, even as she adores her military dad. Another child of pagan parents (and the section regarding pagans in the military is a fascinating read in and of itself) expresses her own opinions on the matter. But more than any of this, Ellis is interested in the children and what they really think. They are the true focus of the book.
What I think is important to remember here is that Ellis does not edit these kids’ opinions or justifications. Several discuss the fact that a lot of military personnel die overseas because they haven’t been trained properly. This may be true, but you sense that perhaps the kids are also saying this because they feel that their own parents have been trained sufficiently to keep themselves alive. At the same time you have kids saying things like, “There’s always going to be something that happens and people are always going to fight. One of the jobs of the army is to deal with people who rebel against things and people will always rebel.” Harsh. And when a kid sees a link between 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq there isn’t a section in the book that says, “This isn’t true”, or “This kid doesn’t have all their facts straight.” You’re getting their thoughts and their opinions straight from their mouths without interference.
You grow also attached to the kids too, some more than others. Ashley, for example, has a wry sense of humor. When asked about what she wants to be when she grows up she says, “I have no idea what I’ll do with my life. My hobbies are playing sports and aggravating my older sister, but it’s not really possible to make a career out of that.” And it’s hard not to worry about the anonymous 17-year-old who wants to escape her father’s abuse but doesn’t know how. Here’s a kid who lied to family services because she didn’t want to suffer her dad’s retribution. What happens to her? We never know.
After reading the kids’ accounts after a while you begin to detect patterns or similarities. On their future jobs, the kids split into two groups. Either they want to follow in the footsteps of their parents and, often, grandparents and join the armed forced or they want to grow up to be pediatricians, vets, or people who help others in some capacity. Almost all of them say that their mothers are particularly strong individuals. You also begin to notice when Ellis has asked the same question over and over again. Questions like, “What is your advice for other military kids?” (the child whose father died in the war answers this with a blunt, “I don’t have any. I’m not a military kid anymore.”). Or, “Has your parent changed since they came back from the war?”
I guess I sort of walked into this book forgetting that it was Canadian. Groundwood Books, after all, is a Canadian press based out of Toronto. It didn’t really occur to me any too regularly, though, until little things started cropping up. The overwhelming love of Tim Horton’s doughnuts, for example. Or the fact that the informational bits at the beginning of each section will give away the intended readership with sentences like, “There is not a Canadian equivalent” (in this case referring to The National Guard). To be fair, for all the off-hand references to Timbits and the like, Ellis does slow things down a bit to explain the Canadian situation to those readers not familiar with their politics. So it is that on page 152 we get an explanation of Canada’s role in Afghanistan and, to a lesser degree, Iraq. We see children in American families as well as Canadian. It all works together without a hitch.
If I’d had my druthers I probably would have ended Off to War with the interview of siblings Oliver, Kira, and Jasmine. Together the three seem to sum up what the book’s been saying the best. The three have different opinions on things and would have made for good closure. It got me to thinking about the way in which these interviews are laid out. When you begin, all the kids in it are so happy with the military that they want to join it like their parents have. As you continue through, you see the opinions break apart and change. By the end, you’ve met a variety of ages and ethnicities, as well as the kids that have had to deal with emotional abuse, physical abuse, and the death of a parent.
Some people are going to take a glance at this book’s subject matter and rush to conclusions in terms of its content. Too bad since I think Ellis has struck a perfect balance here. This is the kind of book that children from military families will want to read, while civilians (particularly anti-war civilians) will find that the range of opinions and types of kids in this collection yield fascinating stories. There’s something for everyone here. Ellis isn’t interested in propping up one opinion or another. Everybody has his or her say. The one thing they all have in common is that their parents are often gone. And no matter what your politics, that’s always a hard thing on the kids. I look forward to reading Ellis’s next book, Children of War: Voices of Iraqi Refugees.
Ages 10 and up.
August 15, 2019
Best known for her
Breadwinner Trilogy
, a series of children's novels which depict the hardships faced by young girls and women under the oppressive Taliban regime, Canadian author Deborah Ellis has also been involved in a number of projects interviewing real-life youngsters facing extraordinary circumstances. From African children infected with the HIV virus, to Israeli and Palestinian children struggling to come to terms with the seemingly endless cycle of violence around them, Ellis has consistently used her work to highlight the effects of adult activities on children. Off to War is the product of her latest project, and presents the author's interviews with children of American and Canadian soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Allowed to speak for themselves, the children included in this collection are as diverse in their experiences, responses and views as any other group of North Americans. Some feel very strongly that anti-war protests are wrong, while others attend them. Some are very informed about the current political situation, while others try to avoid listening to the news. But whatever they think (or don't) of the conflicts in question, or of the military in general, all of them express their sadness at being parted from their fathers and/or mothers, and describe their struggles to maintain a "normal" life in the face of abnormal circumstances.
Of obvious interest to military personnel and their families, Off to War should also prove quite informative for teachers and librarians who work with affected children and communities, as well as general readers who want to gain a better sense of the human cost of military service. I'm a great believer in the importance of the personal "testimony," both in history and current affairs, and commend Ellis for presenting the testimonies of a group too often overlooked in the decision-making process: children.
Allowed to speak for themselves, the children included in this collection are as diverse in their experiences, responses and views as any other group of North Americans. Some feel very strongly that anti-war protests are wrong, while others attend them. Some are very informed about the current political situation, while others try to avoid listening to the news. But whatever they think (or don't) of the conflicts in question, or of the military in general, all of them express their sadness at being parted from their fathers and/or mothers, and describe their struggles to maintain a "normal" life in the face of abnormal circumstances.
Of obvious interest to military personnel and their families, Off to War should also prove quite informative for teachers and librarians who work with affected children and communities, as well as general readers who want to gain a better sense of the human cost of military service. I'm a great believer in the importance of the personal "testimony," both in history and current affairs, and commend Ellis for presenting the testimonies of a group too often overlooked in the decision-making process: children.
January 17, 2020
I don’t know how to begin writing about this book because technically it is something that you cannot review. Off to War is an anthology of stories about children whose military parents are / were deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and other war-ravaged countries. Although it was compiled by Deborah Ellis, the stories were written entirely by children, in their thoughts and words. There’s no plot nor storyline to examine, just pure observation delivered by young, innocent minds.
Reading this book made me feel as if the world turned upside down, where adults could learn a valuable lesson from children instead of the other way around. Most of them sounded grown for their age and considering the circumstances they’re in, seemed to handle the situation fairly well.
I must admit though that whenever there is a talk of war, I kind of dismiss the idea (or rather forget the fact) that apart from the soldiers engaged in the actual combat, there are also the families who are left behind and are being affected, ultimately by what is going on, regardless if the war being fought is won or lost.
The emotional toll on these kids is also intense. They are being forced to think of things way above and beyond the concerns of average children their age. Instead of simply being anxious about studies or projects or enjoying extra-curricular activities at school or in the community, they are pressed to think of more serious affairs i.e. military life and whether their parents would make it alive or not.
This book is certainly an eye-opener, I don’t think I would ever look at a soldier or their kids with the same eyes again.
Reading this book made me feel as if the world turned upside down, where adults could learn a valuable lesson from children instead of the other way around. Most of them sounded grown for their age and considering the circumstances they’re in, seemed to handle the situation fairly well.
I must admit though that whenever there is a talk of war, I kind of dismiss the idea (or rather forget the fact) that apart from the soldiers engaged in the actual combat, there are also the families who are left behind and are being affected, ultimately by what is going on, regardless if the war being fought is won or lost.
The emotional toll on these kids is also intense. They are being forced to think of things way above and beyond the concerns of average children their age. Instead of simply being anxious about studies or projects or enjoying extra-curricular activities at school or in the community, they are pressed to think of more serious affairs i.e. military life and whether their parents would make it alive or not.
This book is certainly an eye-opener, I don’t think I would ever look at a soldier or their kids with the same eyes again.
September 16, 2008
This book would have appealed to me whether I was writing Kathryn's Hero or not, but it held even more appeal because of my current project. Here I had facts in my hand - I had kids thoughts and reactions and actions to the war. I could read these and see how accurately my character really is in the situation I've thrown her into.
Now my novel was based off my experiences, feelings, thoughts, but I'm 29 and I'm writing this from a 12 year-olds viewpoint. So much said mimics reactions/feelings that my main character experiences that I really feel like I've captured something that could be amazing.
On to the book itself. As I write this I'm about half way through. It's a fast and easy read. Some of the children's stories I find more interesting than others, but all have offered an insight to the world of military life and war. Some of these experiences I can relate to (growing up an Army Brat), so give me goosebumps because they bring back the all to recent memories of my own from when my brother was in Afghanistan last year.
I definitely think this is a book worth everyone's time to read. What's amazing is the resilience of kids. What they can go through and the perspective they bring to the war(s).
Now my novel was based off my experiences, feelings, thoughts, but I'm 29 and I'm writing this from a 12 year-olds viewpoint. So much said mimics reactions/feelings that my main character experiences that I really feel like I've captured something that could be amazing.
On to the book itself. As I write this I'm about half way through. It's a fast and easy read. Some of the children's stories I find more interesting than others, but all have offered an insight to the world of military life and war. Some of these experiences I can relate to (growing up an Army Brat), so give me goosebumps because they bring back the all to recent memories of my own from when my brother was in Afghanistan last year.
I definitely think this is a book worth everyone's time to read. What's amazing is the resilience of kids. What they can go through and the perspective they bring to the war(s).
October 15, 2008
My main issue with this title is a stylistic one: the "voices" of the children all sound alike, be them an 8-year-old girl or a 16-year-old boy because the way Ellis transcribed the interviews: everyone speaks in perfect grammar, complex sentences and all. Every "voice" is clear and eventually stale, without personality. I don't know how it will reach the intended audience (children) without boring them after the first 3 interviews. You can see that there is a set of questions that these children have to answer: what it's like when Daddy (or Mommy) is deployed; where is he/she; what will be your advice to other soldiers' children? etc. (And the order of the questions are the same, too.)
I have no dispute that this is an important topic, that these children were telling their real life stories with different views that need to be shared, and that this author spent her time and energy to collect and put together these stories, but these elements do not automatically a good book make: and Ellis and her editorial team definitely missed the mark in shaping the narratives or maybe just in retaining the real individual voices of these children.
I have no dispute that this is an important topic, that these children were telling their real life stories with different views that need to be shared, and that this author spent her time and energy to collect and put together these stories, but these elements do not automatically a good book make: and Ellis and her editorial team definitely missed the mark in shaping the narratives or maybe just in retaining the real individual voices of these children.
July 16, 2022
I find this a vey good book because it gives us an insight of what it’s like as a military kid, having your parent(s) go to a war torn country and even wondering if they’ll even come back home safe. There are different children but a lot of them were talking about how thy try to help one parent thats home with them; this includes by often doing chores, and household work. Also i feel like as soon as the children of veterans realise what could happen to their parents while they’re away, every single child talk about how they really miss their parents and often keep a stuffed animal or something to keep with them while they’re away. Overall it’s great book and an easy 4/5.
March 30, 2018
Deborah Ellis reminds readers of how insightful children are. Their voices are heartbreaking at times.
October 19, 2018
The book is amazing you get to see what kids/family’s do when there ether their mom or dad are at war.
March 24, 2025
Good read for a different perspective
August 21, 2009
This is powerful but depressing stuff. It's some of Ellis' best work because she takes a break from fiction to tell the true stories of military kids whose mothers and fathers are/were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have to say, the kids' voices come through very well in the short (3-5 pages per family) stories about how being the children of soldiers has affected their lives. Ellis made sure that a broad spectrum of perspectives were included. Some kids are for the war, others are against it. Some kids talk about a feeling of belonging that comes with being part of the military, others describe the feeling of isolation and not being able to identify with non-military kids. Some parents come back and are able to fit back in with their families while others become angry and abusive. It's really hard not to feel emotional while reading this and I think you really do empathize with everyone featured in this book. I think, more than anything, it helped me understand why some families join and it helped me to see that it obviously isn't an easy decision, even though we often oversimplify things and think it is.
I am sure kids will value these stories, especially if you make them part of a unit. I hope to include a few of these when my students are reading Ellis' fictional The Breadwinner in order to supplement the whole experience and to get them thinking about the other side of things. I was surprised by how many of my male students were interested in learning more about war. I know so many of them will feel pressure in high school to sign up for the military and I want them to understand the consequences (both good and bad) of making this kind of decision. I definitely hope to use parts of this book in my teaching because I felt like I learned a lot from it, too.
I am sure kids will value these stories, especially if you make them part of a unit. I hope to include a few of these when my students are reading Ellis' fictional The Breadwinner in order to supplement the whole experience and to get them thinking about the other side of things. I was surprised by how many of my male students were interested in learning more about war. I know so many of them will feel pressure in high school to sign up for the military and I want them to understand the consequences (both good and bad) of making this kind of decision. I definitely hope to use parts of this book in my teaching because I felt like I learned a lot from it, too.
November 29, 2015
I love the mission of this book (to share the experiences of the children left behind when parents are deployed), as well as the variation in perspectives.
One thing is pointed out frequently: kids who live off base in civilian areas often feel alone and unable to communicate their thoughts and feelings, as their classmates and friends don't understand or share their experiences. On base, the kids have a community that at least "gets it" without having to explain. It's food for thought, if you work with kids and are in a community where there are military families. Plenty of opportunity there for programs, outreach, groups, etc.
I do see what other reviewers are saying about the book being a touch over-edited (words I never thought I'd hear myself say). The individual voices of the kids begin to blur - you could flip from page 100 to page 20 and it would sound like the same kid, whether they're 9 or 17. So that is a bit of a flaw in what is otherwise a fantastic collection of perspectives and experiences. These kids are old far beyond their years, and what affected me the most were their stories of life without a parent, then life with a parent home with PTSD. It's so important for us to understand that it is not solely soldiers returning home who need care for their own sake, but for the families and communites that surround them. Everyone is surviving together, and some not well. Some heartwrenching content, there.
I liked, as well, that this book focused on many different areas of military life (in one case, religion - specifically, paganism) as well as both American and Canadian military families.
Really good. The "sameness" due to the editing is definitely a drawback, but I otherwise recommend it to children (maybe 9 and up) and adults alike.
One thing is pointed out frequently: kids who live off base in civilian areas often feel alone and unable to communicate their thoughts and feelings, as their classmates and friends don't understand or share their experiences. On base, the kids have a community that at least "gets it" without having to explain. It's food for thought, if you work with kids and are in a community where there are military families. Plenty of opportunity there for programs, outreach, groups, etc.
I do see what other reviewers are saying about the book being a touch over-edited (words I never thought I'd hear myself say). The individual voices of the kids begin to blur - you could flip from page 100 to page 20 and it would sound like the same kid, whether they're 9 or 17. So that is a bit of a flaw in what is otherwise a fantastic collection of perspectives and experiences. These kids are old far beyond their years, and what affected me the most were their stories of life without a parent, then life with a parent home with PTSD. It's so important for us to understand that it is not solely soldiers returning home who need care for their own sake, but for the families and communites that surround them. Everyone is surviving together, and some not well. Some heartwrenching content, there.
I liked, as well, that this book focused on many different areas of military life (in one case, religion - specifically, paganism) as well as both American and Canadian military families.
Really good. The "sameness" due to the editing is definitely a drawback, but I otherwise recommend it to children (maybe 9 and up) and adults alike.
April 5, 2011
Deborah Ellis interviewed the children of service members from the United States and Canada on their thoughts and opinions. We learn of their feelings about having a parent serve in a war, their life at home and how it differs from the average child, whether they plan to join the military, and what are their goals in life. Interviewed are children of varying ages, backgrounds, and situations, so the reader gets a wide spectrum of views.
I enjoyed reading the first four interviews or so, but then felt like I was hearing the same thing over and over. I wanted to notice what made this child or family different from the previous one and I didn't see much. I can see some becoming bored and not finishing the book, but I hope they will at least skip to the last two stories. One was an interview with a child whose father died in Iraq and another whose father is a conscientious objector to the war. To me, these last ones were the most fascinating, and maybe that's because they stood out from the others.
I did sense an underlying anti-war message from the author, but one I think she tried to minimize. I got the feeling that she tried to be as neutral as possible about the issue. I'm glad I read the book, for it does give one much to ponder. I just wish I could have been more engaged with the stories of these children. I give it a 'C.'
I enjoyed reading the first four interviews or so, but then felt like I was hearing the same thing over and over. I wanted to notice what made this child or family different from the previous one and I didn't see much. I can see some becoming bored and not finishing the book, but I hope they will at least skip to the last two stories. One was an interview with a child whose father died in Iraq and another whose father is a conscientious objector to the war. To me, these last ones were the most fascinating, and maybe that's because they stood out from the others.
I did sense an underlying anti-war message from the author, but one I think she tried to minimize. I got the feeling that she tried to be as neutral as possible about the issue. I'm glad I read the book, for it does give one much to ponder. I just wish I could have been more engaged with the stories of these children. I give it a 'C.'
June 21, 2016
Deborah Ellis interviews the children of deployed soldiers, mainly in Afghanistan and Iraq. It's a beautiful book to demonstrate the sacrifice of soldiers and their families, not just the cost in lives lost or physical injuries, but the emotional and mental toll war takes on each soldier and their loved ones, as told by their children. This is not a light read. Although some of the children see their parents as heroes, others describe the damaged angry parent who came home changed.
Also, as each interview is told from a child’s perspective their grasp on the politics and reasoning behind wars can be oversimplified and misunderstood so this does require discussion. Although each child is from a military family they come from vastly different backgrounds, religions and political view points, giving each interview a very different perspective.
Although there is violence described, it is told by children which keeps the content to an appropriate age level. I found if I stuck to reading aloud only the interviews of children who matched my own children's ages the content was generally age appropriate. Each interview lists the child/children's age/ages with their name so this is easy to do.
Also, as each interview is told from a child’s perspective their grasp on the politics and reasoning behind wars can be oversimplified and misunderstood so this does require discussion. Although each child is from a military family they come from vastly different backgrounds, religions and political view points, giving each interview a very different perspective.
Although there is violence described, it is told by children which keeps the content to an appropriate age level. I found if I stuck to reading aloud only the interviews of children who matched my own children's ages the content was generally age appropriate. Each interview lists the child/children's age/ages with their name so this is easy to do.
October 16, 2012
Well iam starting to read this book . It talks about a lot of sad stories because this is a book of how kids parents go of to war . They are talking about how there life changes , through how they leave . For example, Matt in the book talks about how when his dad goes to war hes like the parent there anyways that his mom is there too but hes like the dad to his brothers and sisters . He said that because when his brother or sisters need help always go to him . Matt said that when his dad comes from war he gets that time as like free time because hes not stuck at home taking care of his brothers and sisters . Then his sisters also talk about how they really miss their dad , how they wish that he was there when they need him. But they talk about how each time they want to send there dad something they put it in a box . They put there grades in there too. This book just talks about kids parent going to war and how it changes there Lifes. Some kids say that they dont even get to see their dads.
Off to war is a interesting Book
Off to war is a interesting Book
Read
December 6, 2014Ellis, Deborah (2008). Off To War: Voices of Soldiers’ Children Canada: Groundwood Books.
Cybil Award 2008
Kirkus Review August 1, 2008
Non-fiction/Informational
Junior Book Project
Children whose parents are in the military share their thoughts and feelings about their parents being in the military and when they are deployed. A must have book to have in your classroom for grades 4-8. This is a book about children of different ages and backgrounds who express in their own words how they feel about their parents being in the military; what it means to them. They also share their thoughts and feelings about when their parents get deployed. I will definitely have this book in my class for my students to get an understanding what military life is like when a member of that family is in the military. The words along with pictures of the children will engage all readers, especially those students who have parents deployed overseas. They will be able to relate with the children in the book and see that they are not alone in their feelings.
Cybil Award 2008
Kirkus Review August 1, 2008
Non-fiction/Informational
Junior Book Project
Children whose parents are in the military share their thoughts and feelings about their parents being in the military and when they are deployed. A must have book to have in your classroom for grades 4-8. This is a book about children of different ages and backgrounds who express in their own words how they feel about their parents being in the military; what it means to them. They also share their thoughts and feelings about when their parents get deployed. I will definitely have this book in my class for my students to get an understanding what military life is like when a member of that family is in the military. The words along with pictures of the children will engage all readers, especially those students who have parents deployed overseas. They will be able to relate with the children in the book and see that they are not alone in their feelings.
March 27, 2017
In Off to War, Deborah Ellis complies interviews with American and Canadian youth who’s parents work in the military. Ranging from six to seventeen, these youth talk about their emotions and lives as their parents are involved in the war. From feelings about their parents going overseas to whether the Iraq war should have happen to if they (the kids) are thinking about a future in the military, Deborah Ellis covers all. When I first started reading, I really enjoyed hearing the stories from this unknown group of kids. I did not know anyone whose parents were serving when I was in middle or high school so it was great getting a perspective on this war from families who parents are over there in the middle of it. As the book continued, the stories got monotonous and repetitive. Everything started to blend and the voices was not as interesting as before. Good topic with very informative information but needs more variety of voice.
January 26, 2015
This book is one that truly and fully encompasses the effects of war not only on the soldiers, but their families as well. Ellis's compilation of short stories from children whose parents served/is serving war is absolutely one of a kind. Her specific use of children's interviews bring out and highlights their naive and innocent minds of war. We see some similarities and differences in their perspectives and how different their life was before and after their parent/s came back. It is truly an eyeopener to the millions of families impacted by war, not in the physical sense but through family, something most people would call the most important thing in their lives. However, because of the large amount of kids interviewed, it does get slightly repetitive. Further, the book's editing takes away from the raw emotion children have, making it sound robotic and monotone. Nevertheless, Ellis does a good job in highlighting the reverberating effects of war.
October 29, 2012
The book Off to War was one of those books with lots of stories. I didn’t read all of the stories but I read most of them. These stories were children in an Army family, they explained how they felt and what they did while their parents were gone. My favorite story was with Jasmine who is 12, Kira who is 13 and Oliver who is 15. They explained what their chores and responsibilities were while their dad is gone. They also explained how they felt when they were little and how they feel now.
In this book there were stories with little kids. Most of the little kids said they want to be in the Army when they’re older. A lot of the older children said that they weren’t sure. Over all in my opinion this book was a good book and that it can give different people different emotions.
~Off to War by Deborah Ellis
In this book there were stories with little kids. Most of the little kids said they want to be in the Army when they’re older. A lot of the older children said that they weren’t sure. Over all in my opinion this book was a good book and that it can give different people different emotions.
~Off to War by Deborah Ellis
Read
November 6, 2015Deborah Ellis has been widely praised for her books about children in war-torn countries. Now, she turns her attention closer to home, to American and Canadian children whose parents are soldiers fighting — or who have fought — in Afghanistan and Iraq. In frank and illuminating interviews, they talk about how this experience has marked and shaped their lives. Twelve-year-old Darby finds comfort in sending everyday items like Twizzlers and wet wipes to a dad whose life doesn’t include simple pleasures or a daily bath.
The above is the summary provided by Goodreads.
The above is the summary provided by Goodreads.
December 8, 2008
This book was hard for me to rate. I loved the fact that it was from a child's point of view; sometimes we adults forget that war has an affect on children. However, the writing was too "clean" and the stories were edited more than they needed to be. I think the stories needed to be left in the actual words of the children. There is something to say about the innocence of childhood and how children perceive the world around them.
May 10, 2011
Well-done book; will be of great interest to military kids. Thought-provoking to hear their perspectives on why they believe we are in Iran and Afghanistan. I wish this book had been around when I was growing up. It's also amazing to me that while a lot has changed since my dad served in the military (e.g., there are tons of support groups for both kids and spouses of those serving) the feelings they shared are eerily similar to my own, back in the day.
November 1, 2014
Affecting reading for middle and intermediate level children. These interviews with real children of American and Canadian soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are at times raw, funny, reflective, and always honest. Excellent as a read-aloud, however pre-reading is key as issues from post-traumatic stress disorder, military coverups, unintentional spousal abuse, family breakdown, are discussed as the children tell their stories.
March 13, 2011
I liked the concept of this book, and found some of the interviews informative, but became bored with reading the same thing over and over about halfway through. I don't know why the children with radically differing views were saved for the end, because they made it interesting. I doubt some will stay with it to find them.
May 13, 2009
Excellent! The author interviewed several children and teens about what it's like to be a "military brat", especially when your father is overseas in places such as Afghanistan or Iraq. These kids give advice (to other kids) about how to deal when your parent is overseas and "in danger".
September 8, 2016
Deborah Ellis is a great writer and she does not disappoint with this book. Told from the perspective of kids whose parents served in Iraq or Afghanistan, Ellis constructs an honest and touching record of their experience.
July 4, 2010
Amazing to realize how war affects.not only those serving, but the childre of them as well. Some very insightful comments.
August 22, 2012
Pair this with the NFB's Children of Soldiers and you have a winning combo - amazing what young people have to say
October 16, 2012
A nice varied selection of stories straight from soldier's children about their experience with a parent in the military service.
March 19, 2013
Very interesting makes you think about how some people do life
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews