give peace a chance

Jim Murphy's TRUCE: THE DAY THE SOLDIERS STOPPED FIGHTING (Scholastic, October 2009) examines the phenomenal day during World War I when troops from both sides decided to declare a cease fire for Christmas. Without the permission of their leaders, the men who fought on opposite sides of the makeshift trenches that comprised the Western Front decided to call a halt to fighting for the holidays. The "peace" lasted almost until Easter of 1915. By then, the generals and commanders had made it clear that those not engaging in real battle would be subject to all forms of punishment. All manner of illustration combine with an engaging narrative in this wonderful example of the power of nonfiction. An afterword by the author is not to be missed.