Wonderful Read
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I have to agree with the other reviewer. I think I read this about 20 years ago, and I recall that it was recommended to me by the local library purchasing clerk. It is definitely a 'can't put it down' read for young boys in particular as it charts Conrad's involvement in the war and escaping from evil clutches etc. I haven't read it since but it stands out for me, from possibly 300+ volumes (with Duncton Wood) as having changed me in some way when I was young. I have 2 kids now, and as soon as my young boy can read something of this length I will be putting in his Christmas stocking for Xmas. Go on, if you want to get something meaningful for your kid that isn't an electronic or heavily marketed toy, get this....
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A wonderful comic fantasy for kids.
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I read this book many years ago as a kid and I remember it being the first book that made me really laugh out loud so that people stared at me. It's not just funny, though. In the protagonist, Conrad Pike, there's a character that kids can identify with. Conrad is clever but misunderstood, frustrated with his childhood and in constant conflict with his dad. He begins to have fantasies about the second world war that become increasingly real, even leaking evidence into the here and now. These incidents lead Conrad into adventures that are exciting and at times, immensely moving and always howlingly funny. A great book. Buy it and read it to your kids.
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A well-disguised lesson
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I first read Conrad's War as a young boy who was very much into war and guns. The summary provided by my library card-catalogue suggested it would be right up my alley, and it was. The funny thing is that as I read I began to take Conrad's journey along with him into the scary, dirty and cruel side of war. I changed reading this book. There wasn't any huge epiphany, just a slow awakening to the possibility that maybe war wasn't such a game. As an adult I re-read Conrad's War for old time's sake. I can still rank it as one of my favorites - certainly not as well crafted as Tolstoy or Austen, but for sheer fun it will always hold a spot on my shelf. And for what it did in my life it will always be near the top of my list of recommended books for children.
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