The Great War: Stories Inspired by Items from the First World War    illustrated by Jim Kay Order:  USA  Can Candlewick, 2015 (2015) Hardcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch Eleven writers agreed to create short stories for this unusual collection which is constructed around artifacts from World War I. A sampling of the mundane items include a compass, butter dish, helmet and toy soldier. Each author then works his/her magic by creating a story that evokes the war while giving the reader a sense of the human experiences that went far beyond the headlines and battle scene bulletins. 'Each story gives us a glimpse into the millions of lives that were changed by the war. Each object brings home the reality of a war that is now fading from living memory – a war many hoped and believed would be a war to end all wars.' Jim Kay provides the art that accompanies each story. You'll also find information not only about each object used to inspire the authors but also short biographies of each writer. Youngsters in the fifth grade or higher, as well as adults, will find these stories worth reading. This collection would also be quite useful in launching a unit studying World War I. Read a few of the stories, discuss them and then get into the dates, names and factual content! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews