Stay Where You Are and Then Leave (2024)

After reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, I was sold on John Boyne as well as the enjoyment of reading young adult novels.

In this wonderful children's story, Alfie's determination to locate and rescue his beloved father leads him on a heartfelt and eventful adventure. While secretly working as a shoeshine boy to help his mother put food on the table during WW1, the nine year old lad discovers an important clue regarding his father's whereabouts and plans a secret mission resulting in his first ever train ride and some pretty unnerving experiences when he arrives at his destination.

Although the mission doesn't go quite as planned, Alfie ultimately learns the definition of the traumatic condition known as "shell shock" as well as what it means to be called a "conchie" (conscientious objector) during wartime and receiving the dreaded white feather in public.

Great little novel filled with love and friendships.

"It has to end one day. Wars always do. The new ones can't
start if the old ones don't end."

I don't read children's literature much these days but this book, Stay Where You Are and Then Leave by John Boyne caught my eye. I loved John Boyne's adult novel about the Great War, The Absolutist and I was curious about how he would handle this subject in a book especially for children. As it turns out, John Boyne has written an honest but sensitive book about what it was like to be a child during World War I.

We meet the protagonist of this story, Alfie Summerfield, on his fifth birthday. Alfie lives with his parents, Georgie and Margie, in the house in which he was born; lives across the street from his grandmother; and has a best friend named Kalena Janacek who also lives in his neighborhood and who is determined to one day, become the Prime Minister of England. Alfie's entire secure world is found on the street on which he lives. Alfie is a joyous and inquisitive boy who loves nothing better than visiting Mr. Janacek's sweet shop. At his fifth birthday party, there is a sense of anticipation and fear in the air among the grownups in his life, which worries him. Although Alfie doesn't yet understand, the fear and anxiety he senses are due to the Great War which is about to begin. Although Georgie promises his family that night that he will not enlist and go off to war, he breaks his promise the very next day when he returns home, dressed in uniform and proudly proclaiming he is "ready to do his bit" for his country.

The story moves forward four years and Alfie is 9 years-old. Despite the constant assurances that the war would be "over by Christmas" (but WHICH Christmas?), the war drags on. Georgie is still away from his family; Margie has been forced to take a job working long hours as a nurse and Alfie has taken the idea that he is the man of the house seriously and has set up a shoe shine stand in King's Cross Station, secretly giving most of what he earned to his mother. There is a new air of maturity around Alfie and although he is not as joyous as he had been, there are still glimpses of his ever-present inquisitiveness.

The Great War has not been kind to the people anxiously waiting at home.. many people are impoverished; goods needed for daily life are scarce and there is an atmosphere of suspicion and malice hanging over not only Alfie's neighborhood, but the whole country. To Alfie's horror and confusion, Mr. Janacek and Kalena are arrested and taken away to prison because they are suspected of being spies (because Mr. Janacek is an immigrant from Prague). Georgie's best childhood friend, Joe Patience (who also lives in the neighborhood), has become a pariah because he is a conscientious objector.. a 'conchie'. And on top of all of these bewildering developments, Georgie has stopped writing letters to Margie and Alfie. In fact, Alfie is startled to realize that it has been a year since he and his mother have received a letter; and the last letter Margie received seemed to be filled with gibberish and nonsensical rantings... "Stay where you are and then leave.". Alfie is confused and worried, but obtaining information from Margie is impossible. She insists that Georgie cannot write letters to them because he is on a secret mission which will end the war. Of course, the problem is that Margie can't seem to meet Alfie's eyes while she is making those assurances.

Alfie's confusion and hope that his father will return home soon are at war with his growing certainty that his father is dead... until one day in King's Cross Station , while shining the shoes of a military doctor. Alfie discovered the first real clue about what had REALLY happened to Georgie, and this discovery made his heart soar and sent him on a truly wondrous mission of his own to find his father.

I was so impressed by John Boyne's handling of the subject of war in this story for children. This is a heartwarming story but is never overly sentimental; nor does it glorify war. Mr. Boyne discusses war and its complexities but never in a way that seems heavy handed for children. He introduces com complicated concepts ... such as what it means to be a conscientious objector, without moralizing the issue. He presents both the person who chooses to fight in the war and the person who objects to war as possessing equally valid, strongly-held beliefs. He also introduces the condition of shell shock (which we now refer to as PTSD) with sensitivity and at the same time acknowledges how the scrambled brain of a person with this condition can be quite alarming to children. And most of all, through the eyes of his delightful protagonist, Alfie Summerfield, he allows adults to see that although we sometimes forget, children are often very perceptive and can see what we often miss.... that the act of war is truly absurd.

Although I'm not an expert on rating children's literature, I would say that this book would be appropriate for most children over the age of 8. If you have a child in your life and you wish to introduce him/her to the idea of war in general or World War I in particular, I highly recommend this book.

Superb writing!
Terrific storyteller.
This was a nice story about a boy facing the changes during WWI.
Some parts were very touching.
It did bring back memories of my early life, when I was younger than 11, my mom taking me to visit a relative at a retirement home. I was so scared and uncomfortable at that place, and afraid of ageing.
Anyways, I was engaged from the beginning and I was so glad that this was free of sentimentalism.
It was a great break from reading crime fiction.

Dies ist mein 2. Buch von John Boyne und diesmal ein Jugendbuch,welches im 1. Weltkrieg spielt. John Boyne schafft es hier auf wenigen Seiten eine Intensität der dramatischen Ereignisse im 1 Weltkrieg zu transportieren,das man wie gebannt den Hauptprotagonisten Alfie folgt. Er ist gerade Mal 5 Jahre alt,als sein Vater Georgi in den Krieg zieht und wie schnell muss er nun erwachsen werden. Man ist so bei den Protas,ob Alfie ,Margie die Mutter oder Georg,man fühlt und leidet mit. Ein sehr gelungenes Buch über eine ernste und nicht zu vergessene Zeitepoche. Das Ende hat mir auch sehr gut gefallen, bis auf eine Kleinigkeit,auf die ich nur schwer eingehen kann ohne zu spoilern. Aber es gibt in dem Buch 2 Protas,die am Anfang und ganz knapp am Ende auftauchen die meines Erachtens mehr Beachtung verdient hätten. Trotzdem eine echte Leseempfehlung für Jugendliche aber auch für grosse Leute wie mich.😉

Meu primeiro John Boyne já começou muito bem! Livro de criança na guerra sempre funciona muito bem. Eu tenho uma quedinha por coisa que passa em alguma época histórica.

Eu fiquei super preso na história até o fim. As páginas voavam. Mega recomendo e fiquei com muita vontade de ler mais do autor!

Tengo tantos sentimientos encontrados con Quédense en la trinchera y luego corran que no pude ponerle más de dos estrellas después de tratar de ordenarlos. Por una parte, siento que la historia que Boyne quiso contar es respetable. Por otro lado, siento que falló en la forma de hacerlo. No he leído otros libros del autor como para saber si algunas cosas que hallé aquí se repiten indefectiblemente en su narrativa o si sólo dio la casualidad de que empecé a leerlo por uno de los peores libros que escribió. Puede que sea la opción B y el cincuenta por ciento de la calificación sea mi culpa.

Alfie Summerfield es un niño de cinco años que vive en Londres cuando estalla la Primera Guerra Mundial, justo el día de su cumpleaños. Su padre (Georgie) se alista en el ejército y pasarán cuatro años hasta que reciba noticias de él, ya que su madre (Margie) es reacia a dárselas. En ese período de tiempo la situación económica se endurece y Alfie sale a trabajar como limpiabotas en King´s Cross, a escondidas de Margie. Y justo gracias a eso se enterará del verdadero destino del padre.

Quédense en… es una promesa, una gran promesa sobre una historia conmovedora que te hará llorar hasta el hartazgo por las desgracias que pasa el niño. Alfie es lo suficientemente simpático y rebelde como para que una lo adopte en seguida pero el desarrollo de los acontecimientos no lo ayuda a tener un giro, no lo complementa. Alfie es un personaje que queda flotando en una marea de texto que pretende reflejar su inocente perspectiva y lo hace débilmente y a medias. Hay algo artificial en la construcción del drama. Sí, pensé “pobrecito” muchas veces, poniéndome en la piel de un/a hijo/a que debe convivir con la idea de que el padre puede morir en el frente en cualquier segundo, y así y todo las lágrimas se quedaron en mis ojos. Las escenas que deberían tener mayor carga dramática no están muy bien desarrolladas y carecen de sentimientos. Para colmo, durante buena parte del libro no pasa nada relevante. Falta el impacto, una vuelta de tuerca que extraiga el acartonamiento de la narración, la cual es excesivamente sencilla para mi gusto, aun entendiendo que la perspectiva es la de un chico. Lamentablemente, esto se traslada a los diálogos y, cuando les toca hablar a los personajes, lo hacen con una cadencia extraña. Parecen caricaturas rellenas de discursos arquetípicos. La abuela que dice que están “todos acabados”, la madre que sólo grita y anuncia que están al borde de la indigencia (sabe contar dinero pero es incapaz de explicarle al niño por qué las mujeres no podían votar), el extranjero al que se lo llevan por si las moscas y se ofende, el objetor de conciencia socialista, todos suenan mal. Lo peor de todo es que el padre, que tiene la parte más difícil de los diálogos por el trastorno que padece, tampoco sale airoso.

Otra cosa que no me gustó: los personajes femeninos son pésimos. No porque sean malas personas y estén bien construidas, no. Según mi punto de vista, son horribles a propósito, porque cuando se las pone en la balanza con los personajes masculinos (comentario al pasar: todos dicen algo malo sobre las mujeres en algún momento) pierden. Las mujeres que se quedan en la casa no hacen más que quejarse (como Margie) o marcar de la cobardía ajena (como la abuela de Alfie). A pesar de que ambos géneros no puedan escapar de lo arquetípico que ya señalé, algunos indicios en la narración me llevan a pensar que está decidido de antemano a quién le tengo que ofrecer mi absoluta consideración y a quién no. Los personajes masculinos tienen tiempo para hablar de los traumas y de los padecimientos (me parece perfecto que se resalte esto, pero no "en detrimento de"), sean soldados o no, mientras que a los personajes femeninos les falta vida interior. Margie se desgasta por sostener el hogar, pero más allá de que ella misma cree que es una inútil, no sé nada de ella. Podría decir un par de cosas más pero me las reservo porque no es mi intención polemizar.

No todo es malo en el libro. Creo que tiene una buena construcción histórica que da un panorama muy general de la guerra y de lo que se vivía en Londres en particular. El escepticismo de la gente ante la neurosis de guerra, la propaganda para reclutar hombres, el padecimiento de la gente en el hospital, las plumas blancas y humillantes, el movimiento sufragista… Eso está bien y hasta aprendí mucho sobre el contexto. Tal vez le falta insertarse de un modo natural y no con un personaje que lo saque a colación (como Joe o las personas que van a lustrarse los zapatos). Me gustó mucho también el atrevimiento de Alfie, que a los nueve años decide por sí mismo y tiene determinación (obviamente, no estoy de acuerdo con el trabajo infantil o lo que hace en el hospital, pero me refiero a la convicción de hacer algo y preguntar por el padre aunque la madre no responda). Alfie enfrenta la realidad sin chistar.

Así que esta es mi impresión sobre Quédense en…, un libro que empecé con mucho entusiasmo por el tema que trataba y terminé con un gusto amargo. No me convenció debido a sus constantes desaciertos y hasta me encontré haciendo muecas frente a hechos inverosímiles (como el de un Primer Ministro lustrándose los zapatos tranquilamente mientras habla con el niño o el de una madre distraída que no reconoce a su hijo cuando está agachado y no se da cuenta, para colmo, que hay días que falta a la escuela) . Me encantaría leer El niño con el pijama de rayas para saber si estos problemas son constantes. Y si es así, John Boyne definitivamente no es para mí.

Reseña en Clásico desorden

When WWI changed the lives of not only those who went to war, but also those who stayed behind, what must it have been like for a five year old child whose loving Father is suddenly no longer there.....
Alfie’s Dad had always been a Dad who was very much part of his son’s life, and the little boy is bereft when his adored parent marches off to do his bit in France.
As the months turn into years, and eventually even his Dads letters stop coming, Alfie, growing up, and realising his Mum is struggling, decides to do his bit too, and earn a little money to try and help out.
This leads to a startling discovery, and starts Alfie on a secret quest to solve a mystery, and bring about a miracle of sorts.

The horrors of the trenches, the constant bombardment, the death all around, the squalor and deprivation, and, most probably, the growing feelings of futility that so little was being gained at such a huge human cost, brought about the new phenomenon of shell shock, a condition we recognise now as PTSD.
Back in the days of WWI though, it was looked upon as being something shameful, and the powers that be of the time thought of it as soldiers shirking their duty. These men were often sent back to fight much too quickly, others were left to suffer a lifetime of psychological damage, the lucky few benefited from a few forward thinking doctors who realised that there were methods of helping these men return to a normal life.
This book looks at these, and other issues that affected people thrown into being at war, economically, physically, mentally, and morally, through the eyes of a child, a young boy who stole my heart as I read about his bravery and determination, and his quest to try to set things right.
John Boyne does it again.......

Because of Alfie, this gets 5 stars. This is the 3rd book by this author that I've read. I didn't love his 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas'...it was only 3 stars for me. 'The Absolutist' got 4 stars. I love this author's writing. His prose is absolutely beautiful. So many times, I felt wowed. He has a gift with words.

I loved the story too. Alfie was such a sweet and endearing character. He also felt like a real child who had to grow up too fast. I was sad to see this book end. I think I'm still in mourning. I love when that happens.

Thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Company for the advanced copy

Alfie Summerfield discovers on his fifth birthday that his father is going off to war, World War I to be exact, and will return when the war is over, before Christmas. That time before Christmas lasts for more than four years. He was told by his mother that the reason why letters didn't come in through the mail was because he was on a secret mission, but to Alfie, all he could translate this to was that he was dead.

It wasn't until a chance meeting, while he was shining the shoes of a doctor, that he came to learn that his father was very much alive and was in a hospital that was just a train ride away. Now nine, Alfie has grown to be quite clever and finds his way to his father's hospital room, but the man he finds there doesn't seem like his father at all.

When I realized that this book was written by the same author of "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas", I knew that I was in for a treat. I was definitely not let down.

I thought that everything about this book was excellent: the prose, the layout, the story, how it came together, etc. It is not a very long book, but rather gets to the heart of the story, which I appreciate from an author. I felt very connected to Alfie and his determination to get his family back together.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

Ein wunderbares Jugendbuch, das viele wichtige Themen altersgerecht anreißt! Die Geschichte und die Thematik selbst sind wirklich berührend, man fiebert mit bis zum Schluss.

A finished unsolicited copy was provided by the publisher for review.

Alfie and his family live a pretty uneventful life. All he wants to do is ride the milk float with his father. Then his father does something that changes their life forever. He volunteers to be in the war.

This setting is probably what interested me in the most. If you know about The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, you'll know I pretty much cried when I saw the movie. So naturally I had to pick this one up. I liked reading about their daily lives. So simple, and so rewarding at the same time. Not a lot of problems until Alfie's father goes off to war.

Alfie had to do something to help. He was determined to help his mom by keeping his job from her.I admired his courage and his determination for his secret mission to be achieved, helping his dad. Then the end result where it nearly traumatizes him. Then letters that his mother received, she hid them From Alfie. There were so many secrets. From both sides. And keeping secrets means they're protecting one another, but yikes I wanted to just shake them.

A lot more happy things could have happened if they just told each other the truth. His friendship with his best friend was all and good, but there were no development there at all. I liked the little details like the stories that he would listen to while he would shine his customer's shoes. Even having the Prime Minister there and not realizing it was him.

The writing is written in a no nonsense way. Very straight forward and told in a child's voice, Stay Where You Are and Then Leave will have you hugging your family and telling them you love them so!

RATING 4/5

QUOTES

"It has to end one day. Wars always do. The new ones can't start of the old ones don't end." (60)

"It is far better to face the bullets than to be killed at home by a bomb." (78)

"There are plenty of ways to help the war effort. I'm not sure that killing people is the most productive." (92)

"Politics should be about doing thing, though, not just talking about doing things." (151)

"What kind of fool wouldn't be afraid, going over to some foreign country to dig out trenches and to kill as many strangers as you could before some stranger could kill you?" (175)

"Everything seems like an illusion to me. I did nothing wrong. And these people have destroyed me." (238)

"I'm nine," said Alfie for the second time. "Well, you'll be ten soon enough, I imagine. Nine year-old boys usually turn ten at some point. It's the nineteen-year-olds who have difficulty turning twenty." (122)

Stay Where You Are And Then Leave is a triumphant story of a young English boy named Alfie who's father enlists in the army during the first world war. Alfie stays behind in London with his mother, grandmother, and their various neighbours as he braves a new world that makes little sense to him. Alfie is quite charming in his own childlike innocence while exhibiting a straightforward logic that is seemingly more mature than the adults around him. The war takes a toll on Alfie and everybody around him, not knowing how his father is faring in the trenches across the English Channel. He sees his Czech neighbour Mr. Janacek and his daughter, who happens to also be Alfie's best friend, taken away and accused of as spies. Seeing his mother struggling financially, Alfie steals (or borrows as he claims) Mr. Janacek's shoe shining kit and sets up shop at King's Cross, shining shoes for various men to help him and his mother stay afloat. One day, by chance, Alfie discovers his father is in a hospital not far from London, and makes his way there in an effort to find a way to bring him back home.

John Boyne has proven himself as an author who can write fantastic books for a variety audiences, from schoolchildren or adults, and this book is no different. It's a book that tests the theory of what traditional courage really is, and is full of tenderness, remorse, and the difficulty in understanding the complexities around us, but also full of heart.

Rating: 4.5/5

DNF. Page 190.

3.75 stars

The story of young Alfie, 9 years old, who lives in England at the start of WWI. His father volunteers for military service. Four years later Alfie is still yearning for his fathers return. Between "borrowing" a shoeshine box, secret journeys on the train, secret trips to a hospital, and putting an escapee plan into practice, Alfie feels he has done the worst thing possible.

Short story from John Boyne, told with the sensitivity and acuminate that only Boyne can. Wonderful storyteller and great with young adult novels.

Check out Scott Reads It for more reviews!

Few books have left a greater impression than The Boy In The Striped Pajamas did and years after reading it, I still get goosebumps thinking about it. I decided I would read Stay Where You Are & Then Leave because I was eager to see how John Boyne would tackle World War One. Though Boyne's latest novel isn't as memorable or unique as The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, it still has a lot going for it.

Alfie's character is beaming with innocence and he doesn't fully understand what World War I is about. All Alfie knows is that his father has volunteered for the war and that he is on a "secret mission" according to his mother. Alfie presumes that his father is dead and so, he struggles to help his mother support their war-torn family. Alfie starts to skip school and shine strangers' shoes at the train station to provide his mother with some extra money. While working at the station, Alfie finds out that his father is possibly alive and could be at a hospital. Alfie believes that it's his duty to save his father from shell-shock and the hospital's clutches.

I love the way how John Boyne tackles tough issues such as an absentee parent and war from the perspective of a child. We often forget how psychologically damaging the effects of war are on those who are at home, those who wait for some news that their loved ones are alive. Alfie's story is brutal, uplifting, and extremely poignant, this is one of the better war novels for younger children.

Though Stay Where You Are & Then Leave has a fresh perspective on WWI, I can't help but feel as if it feels slightly stale. Boyne brings nothing new to the table when discussing the daily life of WWI and this take feels like it lacked originality. I'm far from an expert on WWI, but all the information in SWYA&L is so basic and doesn't feel well-researched. This novel is a great introduction to the 1st World War for kids, but I think older readers wouldn't find much merit in this book.

Stay Where You Are & Then Leave has an extremely slow beginning, in which readers learn a bit about Alfie's past and his connection to his father. It takes way too long for Boyne to introduce the main conflict of the novel, in which Alfie attempts to locate his father, due to the huge emphasis on the various ways the war has damaged Alfie's family. Some younger readers will have trouble pushing through the first half of the novel, but the 2nd half of the novel makes the sluggish beginning feel worthwhile.

Readers' impressions on this book will largely vary based on their feelings toward our main character, Alfie. While I admired his strength and determination, his character paled in comparison to Bruno's character from The Boy With The Striped Pajamas. I really wanted to fall for Alfie's character, but I felt like much of his story was intentionally written to pull on readers' heartstrings. His story felt a bit forced at times and I didn't realize feel a cavalcade of emotion like I felt I should've. I truly can't read a book and feel touched enough to cry when I feel like the author merely inserts sentimental moments just so readers will shed tears.

Stay Where You Are & Then Leave by John Boyne is far from perfect, but it is a solid novel about WWI for children. Even though the story could have been edited better, this novel will capture the hearts of young readers. I expected more from Stay Where You Are & Then Leave, but for the most part, it was an effective war tale.

John Boyne is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors, every time I read one of his books I end up reading another one straight away. Well it’s happened again, this is another book well worth reading.

Five year old Alfie Summerfield worships his father and on the day the First World War broke out his father promised he wouldn’t go away to fight, only to go back on that promise the very next day. When his father’s letters stop he is told by his mother that his father is on a special mission and not allowed to write. Alfie fears that is father is actually dead and while shining shoes at King’s Cross Station, Alfie unexpectedly sees his father’s name on papers belonging to a military doctor. Suddenly Alfie realises that his father may be alive after all and being treated in a nearby hospital. Alfie is determined to rescue his father from this strange, unnerving place.

Beautifully written and a lovely book to read, great characters with a feel good factor. Now onto the next John Boyne novel.

As 2014 is the 100th anniversary of World War I (or, The Great War), we should expect many children's and young adult historical novels to come. (I hope). I grew up watching war films and Dad's Army, so I'd love to read more novels set during that period of history. Stay Where You Are and Then Leave is one of the first novels for young people to be published ahead of the centenary, written by John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Alfie Summerfield was just five years old when World War I broke out in July 1914. His young father, Georgie, promised he wouldn't enlist voluntarily, only to break his promise the very next day, walking into the house in full uniform. Four years later, Alfie is nine years old and a little entrepreneur. Alfie has taken it upon himself to start a business shining shoes in King's Cross Station because, although his mother Margie is working as a nurse, she is barely earning enough for food, even though her work allows little time for sleep. Alfie believes, reluctantly, that Georgie died in battle, a fate that Margie struggles to accept. Alfie is working hard when he spots his father's name on a stack of papers carried by a military doctor. According to the papers, Georgie is in hospital, alive.

Stay Where You Are and Then Leave is a novel with one of the youngest narrators I've read. As I said in my review of Picture Me Gone, it is fascinating to see the world through the eyes of a child. Stay Where You Are and Then Leave begins with Alfie living a relatively calm and normal life, where instead of being preoccupied by the war, his family is his whole world. Alfie perceives the adults in his family and close-knit community to be ancient: old men, who are constantly exhausted and experience poor eyesight, even though they are in their early 20s and 30s, and he struggles to imagine what it must be like to be 21 years old. Just four years on, Alfie understands the world a little better – unfortunately too well, for such a young boy. Alfie knows that his mother is hiding letters from Georgie in her bedroom, so he sneaks in to read them, and is often confused by what he finds. Until one day the letters stop. Alfie is left wondering what has happened to his father. Margie reveals that he is part of a top-secret government mission, but Alfie believes that his mother just won't face the reality of his father's death. But is he really dead?

Stay Where You Are and Then Leave is a children's novel that packs so much history into 250 pages and should be appreciated by all ages. We have the engaging mystery of what happened to Georgie, surrounded by what's going on in the rest of Great Britain. It's a world where conscientious objectors – conchies – are treated terribly and attitudes are negative towards the suffragettes. Where bodily wounds and shell-shock are a part of day-to-day life, and are both caused by one and the same – yet are treated very differently. And where those at home experience extreme poverty and whole families are deported to work camps because of their ethnicity, despite having lived in England all of their lives. I feel like not as much attention is paid to World War I and so I'm quite excited to see just how much children will learn from Stay Where You Are and Then Leave.

Stay Where You Are and Then Leave is beautifully written and enjoyable, but it does not shy away from the harshness of wartime and the effect the war had on the entire country. Alfie is only nine years old, so he escapes battle, but what's most heartbreaking to me is that he has no idea that he'll be forced to experience exactly what Georgie has been through in 21 years time when World War II breaks out. Stay Where You Are and Then Leave is almost a crash course in World War I history, weaving an emotional story with the reality of war (we even get a little cameo from the Prime Minister at the time!) as well as an understanding of cultural attitudes. Stay Where You Are and Then Leave is a wonderful novel that shares a very important part of our history, tough to read at times but incredibly rewarding.

I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.

Dit is nu al het tweede boek van John Boyne waarvan ik niet zo onder de indruk ben. Ik geef toe, ik behoor als oudere dame niet meteen tot zijn doelgroep van pubers, adolescenten en jongvolwassen. Maar andere boeken van zijn hand vond ik wel heel lezenswaardig. Ik denk aan De jongen in de gestreepte pyjama, maar zeker ook aan Dief van de Tijd, Noah Barleywater en meer recenter De grote stilte. De jongen op de berg vond ik wat tegenvallen en dit nog meer. De manier van schrijven, de verhaalopbouw, de stijl worden steeds herkenbaarder. Die typetjes in zijn personages, dat spuien van anekdotes en details ter lering van de jeugd… Eerlijk? Het hoofdpersonage in ‘De jongen in de gestreepte pyjama’, ook maar acht à negen jaar oud, kwam zoveel geloofwaardiger over. In dit verhaal volgen de wel zeer toevallige gebeurtenissen elkaar razendsnel op. Neen. Boyne kan veel beter.

Un libro bonito que sigue la misma fórmula ganadora: infancia + guerra. La vimos con el niño de la pijama de rayas, la vimos con la ladrona de libros, y la vemos aquí. Es un libro con un final "feliz" que revela el duro pasar de los años y la evolución obligada que implica la guerra en los niños. Se lee fácil y demuestra una calidad literaria excelente. Ahora, no es un libro que impacta por su gran argumento, sus grandes metáforas o sus elaborados personajes; es sólo una historia más de guerra que se suma a tantas más que hay en este mundo. Aún estoy entre el 3,5 o el 4.

Quedense en la trinchera y luego corran de John Bonyne es una novela súper conmovedora y llena de reflexiones.
La historia comienza con Alfie cumpliendo 5 años y con el recuerdo de haber "despidiendo" a su padre.
Él fue la guerra y durante varios años ha enviado cartas pero en los últimos no han tenido noticias. Alfie Eetá seguro de que su padre no murió! Un día descubre que está internado en un hospital y hará hasta lo imposible por sacarlo..
Me enganchó desde la primera página y lo leí en una sentada, literal.
Pluma del autor súper sencilla y adictiva. Jamás deja que la historia caiga, es super atrapante. Otra cosa positiva que tiene es que no está cargada de descripciones y tiene bastantes diálogos.
Me chocó un poco leer lo crudo la vida de los soldados dentro de la guerra y fuera. John lo hace una forma sutil pero, no obstante, sigue siendo chocante. Cuenta el sufrimiento de los soldados, las familias, las personas que no quisieron ir a la guerra y aquellos que fueron desterrados por haber nacido en el país enemigo.
Le falta un poquito de profundidad a los personajes pero con todos los temas que tocan, a mi parecer, pasa muy desapercibido.
Alfie un chico muy curioso y puro. Le cuesta expresarse pero a la vez sabe el momento exacto en el que debe decir algo o no.
Realmente me gustó mucho los temas que toca y como el autor lo lleva. Si bien es una historia súper dura y cruda, tiene un mensaje muy lindo. Así que te lo super recomiendo!
💢 spoiler 💢
Me pareció muy precipitado como el padre recupera la memoria.
💢 fin 💢

Despite the heavy themes surrounding World War I this children's book is surprisingly light in tone.
Actually, to me it had vibes similar to 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl.
The atmospherical writing style certainly makes me want to discover more of this well known author whose work I'd never read before.

Some of the events were a bit too coincidental and the end maybe a bit too saccharine.
But then again, that way it leaves the reader with a hopeful feeling.
This book certainly forms a good introduction to WW I for children without avoiding important themes but also without scaring them off too much.

Beware: don't read the blurb if you don't want to know almost the entire story.

Book on CD read by Euan Morton
3.5***

The Great War (WWI) began on Alfie Summerfield’s 5th birthday, with the result that few people attended his birthday party. That was okay … more cake for Alfie! At least his Dad, Georgie, was home from his job driving the milk delivery cart. But within a few weeks, Alfie’s father joined the fight, and although everyone said “It will be over by Christmas” they didn’t specify WHICH Christmas. Now, four years later, nine-year-old Alfie is doing all he can to help his Mum survive until his father can get home.

This is a book suitable for middle-school children, but deals with some serious issues, including poverty among the families of fighting men, conscientious objectors and “shell shock” (now called PTSD).

Alfie is a marvelous character. He’s curious, intelligent, a hard worker, resourceful and tenacious. Of course, although he’s been forced to take on more responsibility due to the war effort, he is only a child, and he doesn’t fully understand all that is happening. The fact that his mother tries to shield him from adult troubles leads him to draw his own conclusions, and, ultimately, to take action to fix the problem as he sees it.

Euan Morton does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. He gives us a believably young Alfie, and I loved the voices he used for Grannie Summerfield and Joe Patience.

Does a different take on the typical "war novel for kids". It's good to see a light cast on all the mental torture endured and afflicted upon the soldiers. It is an often overlooked detail.

The story narrated through the view of a 5~9 years old boy about the WWI and the families left behind. And his adventure that saves his dad. Lovely little book (which you can probably finish in one gulp) about love and friendship :)

This review first appeared on The Book Zone(For Boys) blog

I read a lot of books. I always have, but since I started blogging I must read more than ever. Due to the volume I read some books are read, enjoyed and quickly forgotten (I also have a terrible memory). Some books linger in the memory for a little longer, for whatever reason. And then there are a small minority of books that take hold of your mind or your heart (or both) and simply refuse to let go. I read Stay Where You Are And Then Leave a month ago and even now it is still pops into my thoughts at least once a day, and John Boyne is another on the list of auto-reads.

After a couple of rather brilliant forays into the world of fantasy (Noah Barleywater Runs Away and The Terrible Thing That Happened To Barnaby Brocket), John Boyne has returned to the historical children's novel, the genre that pretty much made him a global name following the publication of The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. Much as I loved The Boy... the next two books really struck a chord with me and now Stay Where You Are has done exactly the same. I can't ell you how much I loved this book, and it is certainly a(nother) contender for my Book of the Year.

Next year is the centennial anniversary of the start of The Great War and so this is a timely release for a book that deals with one of the less spoken about horrors of that tragic time: shell shock. At the time, the condition was not at all understood and sadly many men were branded as cowards for their reaction to the horrors they experienced in the trenches, and in some case soldiers were executed for desertion that is these days thought to have been caused by shell shock. John Boyne writes about this mental illness incredibly well: he refuses to shy away from descriptions that might unnerve some readers, but he somehow also manages to add a tenderness to these scenes that will bring tears to the eyes of many readers, and his use of Alfie as his main character is the key to this.

This book is much more than just a story about a victim of shell shock though. I'm not expert historian, but for me John Boyne really brought alive the everyday travails of the people left at home. There is the conscientious objector who lives across the road from Alfie, and the abuse he experiences from people he had thought were friends for his supposed cowardice (and done so in a much better way than the truly atrocious Chickens that is on Sky One at the moment). There is also a glimpse at the way certain foreign nationals were treated as war broke out: Alfie's best friend Kalena Janáček, a girl born in the very street where the two kids live, and her Czech father are branded as spies by ignorant neighbours and then labelled Persons of special interest by the powers that be, shoved in the back of a van and taken away into custody.

As with all of his previous books for children John Boyne also manages to imbue this one with subtle humour, although he never makes light of the seriousness of the book's main themes. There is one scene in particular which really made me chuckle, as Alfie finds himself shining the shoes of the British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, chatting away to him with no clue at all as to who he is talking to. As readers we are also only able to guess as to who the man might be, our suspicions only confirmed when an unexpected person arrives on the scene.

As with many historical books, part of the real power of this story is in the subtly-included detail of the everyday lives of the characters and readers will find it very easy to empathise with all of them. There are many elements that make perfect discussion material for both English and History lessons. At school some of our Year 8s have just started studying The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in their English lessons, and I would not be surprised if this book became a study text for schools in the future. In fact, this is the kind of book that I think will grow to be loved by millions, and will one day deservedly surpass the huge success of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Stay Where You Are And Then Leave is scheduled to be published on 26th September, and is a perfect read for children as young as 9/10, teens and right up to adults (okay... pretty much everyone, but do be prepared to find it lingering in your thoughts for weeks afterwards).

To 2014 λόγω της επετείου των 100 χρόνων από τον πρώτο παγκόσμιο πόλεμο, πολλά βιβλία κυκλοφόρησαν σχετικά με αυτό το θέμα.Ένα από αυτά είναι και το «Μείνε εκεί που είσαι και μετά φύγε» που από τη πρώτη στιγμή μου κίνησε το ενδιαφέρον όχι μόνο λόγω της περίληψης αλλά και του πολύ όμορφου εξωφύλλου.
Ο μικρός Άλφι θα θυμάται για πάντα τα πέμπτα γενέθλια του καθώς ήταν η μέρα που ξεκίνησε ο πόλεμος, η μέρα που άλλαξε για πάντα τη ζωή του.Καθώς τα χρόνια περνούν ο Άλφι μαζί με τη μητέρα του τη Μάρτζι προσπαθούν να τα βγάλουν πέρα με τις δυσκολίες που καλούνται να αντιμετωπίσουν ενώ ο πατέρας του ο Τζόρτζι βρίσκεται στο μέτωπο.Μια μέρα όμως ο Άλφι ανακαλύπτει ότι ο πατέρας του δ��ν βρίσκεται πλέον στον πόλεμο, αλλά σε ένα απομονωμένο περίεργο νοσοκομείο όπου οι ασθενείς πάσχουν από μια ασθένεια που ο ίδιος δεν έχει ξανακούσει: τον νευρικό κλονισμό.Ο Άλφι αποφασίζει μόνος του να πάει στο νοσοκομείο και να φέρει τον πατέρα του πίσω στο σπίτι αλλά σε αυτή την αποστολή του δεν έχει αντιληφθεί τα εμπόδια που θα προκύψουν στη πορεία.
Το «Μείνε εκεί που είσαι και μετά φύγε» αν και ήταν μια πολύ αληθινή και ανθρώπινη ιστορία αισθάνομαι ότι αν ήταν λίγο μεγαλύτερη θα μπορούσε να συγκινήσει περισσότερο και να βοηθήσει στο να παρουσιαστούν οι χαρακτήρες πιο αναλυτικά.Όλα κύλησαν απίστευτα βιαστικά και ενώ οι περιπέτειες του Άλφι ήταν πολύ ενδιαφέρουσες εξελίχθηκαν τόσο γρήγορα που στο τέλος δεν γίνονται πιστευτές αλλά υπερβολικές. Οι χαρακτήρες δεν σκιαγραφούνται σχεδόν καθόλου και έτσι ο αναγνώστης δεν μπορεί να ταυτιστεί ούτε να κατανοήσει τα κίνητρα τους.Επίσης το τέλος το βρήκα υπερβολικά βολικό και αισιόδοξο και δεν νομίζω ότι ταιριάζει σε μια τόσο τραγική κατάσταση όσο είναι ο πόλεμος, αν και το δικαιολογώ μιας και το βιβλίο απευθύνεται σε μικρότερες ηλικίες.
Ο Τζον Μποιν έγραψε πραγματικά ένα πολύ ενδιαφέρον μυθιστόρημα για τις συνέπειες που μπορεί να έχει ο πόλεμος στις ψυχές των ανθρώπων και ειδικότερα αυτών που βρέθηκαν στα χαρακώματα και έζησαν όλες τις φρικαλεότητες αυτής της κατάστασης. Πιστεύω ότι εάν το βιβλίο ήταν μεγαλύτερο και πιο πλούσιο σε λεπτομέρειες, και αν ο γραφή ήταν πιο ώριμη θα μιλούσαμε για ένα εκπληκτικό μυθιστόρημα!

Stay where you and leave is a brilliant read which I thoroughly enjoyed.

the story is told from the point of view of Alfie who is 9. His father went to war and never returned and he can't quite fathom what happened to him because his father insist he isn't dead. Alfie helps out his mother by working as a shoe shine a few days a week and whilst doing that he finds a clue as to where his father might be and decides to investigate further.

I must admit I was never a huge fan of boy in the striped pyjamas as I found it too simplistic and I was concerned that this book would be the same for me considering the main character is so young. Luckily for me in this case it worked. I loved following Alfie as he pieced together what had happened to his father and I loved how the story addressed a lot of issues around the way serving men were treated poorly by their own regiments when they were affected by the atrocities they witnessed whilst fighting for their country. I also liked the parts of the storyline that focused on those who didn't go off and fight as they objected to the war and their treatment by the public for choosing to remain behind.

As a history teacher I really think this book is a bit of a gem. I can see myself happily using it to suggest as extended reading for those eager students who want a bit more out of the World War One unit I currently teach but we haven't got the time for in class. Being aimed at a slightly younger audience also meant it wasn't nasty or graphic in the way war stories for teens can be meaning I can happily recommend it to younger or more sensitive students without worrying about them being traumatised by what they are reading.

A really nice and thoughtful read which I really enjoyed and destined to be a modern children's classic.

Ο Άλφι ζει με τους γονείς του στο Λονδίνο μια όμορφη και γλυκιά ρουτίνα ώσπου ξεσπά ο Α΄ Παγκόσμιος πόλεμος και ο πατέρας του κατατάσσεται εθελοντής. Αυτό θα είναι η αρχή μιας σειράς από δύσκολες μέρες για την οικογένεια του παιδιού που, από τη μια στιγμή στην άλλη, μεγαλώνει μέσα στην απόλυτη ένδεια, με τη μητέρα του να κάνει πολλές δουλειές ταυτόχρονα για ένα πιάτο φαγητό παραπάνω. Ο Άλφι διαπιστώνει πως ο πατέρας του σταμάτησε να τους γράφει κι η μητέρα του του αποκαλύπτει πως είναι σε μυστική αποστολή. Τότε γιατί, από συγκυρία, ανακάλυψε πως νοσηλεύεται στο Λονδίνο; Τι συνέβη στον άνθρωπο που τον μεγάλωσε και τον αγαπά πιο πάνω από τον εαυτό του; Θα μάθει την αλήθεια ο Άλφι; Τι σχέδιο καταστρώνει και πώς θα καταφέρει να το υλοποιήσει; Ως πού μπορεί να φτάσει κάποιον η αγάπη;

Ο συγγραφέας μπαίνει στην ψυχολογία ενός παιδιού που αγωνίζεται να καταλάβει τον κόσμο γύρω του, έναν κόσμο που αλλάζει γρήγορα και άρδην. Παρατηρήσεις, απορίες, συναισθήματα, όλα πηγάζουν από ένα παιδικό κεφαλάκι που έχει όμως αίσθηση του θάρρους, του χρέους και του καθήκοντος, καθώς και χιούμορ. Ο μικρόκοσμος της γειτονιάς, με την πληθώρα των χαρακτήρων, δίνει την αφορμή στον Άλφι να περιγράψει με οξυδέρκεια και παρατηρητικότητα τα πάντα, με μια γραφή που έδωσε ζωντάνια και πνοή στους «χάρτινους» ήρωες, φέρνοντάς τους δίπλα μου και κάνοντάς με αναπόσπαστο μέλος τους. Ο επαναστάτης, η μονόχνοτη, η νοικοκυρά, ο Ε��ραίος καταστηματάρχης από την Πράγα, ο αντιρρησίας συνείδησης με το συγκλονιστικό του πιστεύω («Δεν ήρθα σε αυτήν τη γη για να δολοφονώ τους συνανθρώπους μου…Αν βγω τώρα στον δρόμο και χτυπήσω κάποιον… θα με βάλουν φυλακή… Αλλά επειδή δεν πήγα στη Γαλλία να κάνω ακριβώς αυτό το πράγμα, με βάζουν πάλι στη φυλακή. Πού είναι η δικαιοσύνη, μου λες; Πού είναι η λογική;», σελ. 170) και άλλοι έχουν τα προβλήματα της δικής τους καθημερινότητας, γίνονται ένα όταν το καλεί η ανάγκη, δεν παύουν όμως να προστατεύουν και τα ατομικά τους συμφέροντα.

Οι χαριτωμένες, καθημερινές μικροπαρεξηγήσεις, τα διακριτικά φλερτ, η ανάγκη για εξωτερικές δουλειές (κήπος, τζάμια) όταν φτάνουν νέοι γείτονες ή περνάνε άγνωστα πρόσωπα μου έφεραν γέλια και συγκίνηση ενώ σταδιακά οδηγήθηκα σε σοβαρότερα γεγονότα, όπως τις κοσμοϊστορικές μεταβολές του πολέμου: «Αυτό ήταν το θέμα με τον πόλεμο… τα έκανε όλα πολύ μπερδεμένα» (σελ. 54). Οι όμορφες και αθώες στιγμές, με τα παιδικά όνειρα, το κρέας στο πιάτο, το «σοβαρό» δίλημμα ανάμεσα σε καραμέλες ή γλυκόριζα, με τον γαλατά, τον λούστρο και τον καρβουνιάρη ακόμη σε πρώτη ζήτηση, παραδίνονται αμαχητί στη λαίλαπα του πολέμου, κατά τη διάρκεια του οποίου η γειτονιά αδειάζει σχεδόν από άντρες, που πάνε «σε κάτι που λεγόταν “Το Μέτωπο”» (σελ, 37). Οι χαρακτήρες είναι ολοκληρωμένοι, ευμετάβλητοι σε νέα γεγονότα και καταστάσεις, βάζουν το λιθαράκι τους στην ιστορία, αλλάζουν, δένουν αρμονικά σ’ ένα αρραγές σύνολο. Ταυτόχρονα, οι τίτλοι των κεφαλαίων είναι τίτλοι τραγουδιών που ήταν γνωστά στην Αγγλία κατά τη διάρκεια του Α΄ Παγκοσμίου πολέμου κι έτσι στήνεται ένα ανατριχιαστικό soundtrack που με έβαλε αμέσως στο κλίμα και την ατμόσφαιρα της εποχής.

Θαύμασα τη δύναμη του Άλφι, την αυταπάρνησή του, την πρόωρη ενηλικίωσή του. Η μητέρα του, αρχικά με πίεση, τον καταφέρνει να σταθεί στα δικά του πόδια, να φροντίζει τον εαυτό του και να διαβάζει, χωρίς να ξέρει πως ο γιος της «δανείστηκε» ένα κασελάκι λούστρου και μεταβαίνει στον σταθμό Κινγκς Κρος για να καθαρίζει παπούτσια. Και πώς μεταμορφώνεται όταν ανακαλύπτει πού βρίσκεται πραγματικά ο πατέρας του! Η προσωπικότητά του, χωρίς να χάνει τη φρεσκάδα και την αθωότητα της ηλικίας του, εμπλουτίζεται με νέες εμπειρίες, δοκιμάζεται σε νέες «αποστολές» κι ο Άλφι μαθαίνει, μέσα από μια σειρά εκπλήξεων και ανατροπών, σημαντικές έννοιες όπως εμπιστοσύνη, θάρρος, αγάπη, γενναιότητα, φιλία, ευθύνη. Όλα αυτά μάλιστα περνάνε μπροστά από τα μάτια των μικρών αναγνωστών μέσα από δυνατά και έντονα στιγμιότυπα, ρεαλιστικά δοσμένα και έξυπνα σκηνοθετημένα. Λόγια απλά, που προέρχονται από το μυαλό ενός παιδιού, κι όμως ένιωσα πως τα ξεστομίζει ενήλικος. Κι όλα αυτά κατά τη διάρκεια ενός πολέμου «που θα έχει τελειώσει μέχρι τα Χριστούγεννα». Ναι, μόνο που δεν είπαν τα Χριστούγεννα ποιου έτους.

Ο συγγραφέας αγωνίζεται να δείξει σωστά και μετρημένα πώς επηρεάζει ένας πόλεμος την ψυχοσύνθεση μικρών και μεγάλων, κρατώντας μια ισορροπία ανάμεσα στην ελαφράδα ενός έξυπνου χιούμορ και την ένταση από όσα αν��ικρίζουν οι στρατιώτες στο μέτωπο, με ανυπολόγιστες για το σώμα και το μυαλό τους συνέπειες. «Μείνε εκεί που είσαι και μετά φύγε» είναι οι εντολές των ανωτέρων όταν βγαίνουν από τα χαρακώματα ένας ένας, μια φράση εφιαλτική που επαναλαμβάνεται μηχανικά μέσα στην περιδίνηση ενός τραυματισμένου νου. Από την άλλη, έχουμε κι όσους δεν πολέμησαν είτε από δειλία (όσο ήταν εθελοντικό) είτε γιατί προτίμησαν να «κρυφτούν» πίσω από σπουδαίες θέσεις εργασίας στην κοινωνία τους. Αυτοί γίνονται στόχοι κυρίως γυναικών που τους συναντούν στον δρόμο και τους καρφώνουν ένα λευκό φτερό στα ρούχα, χωρίς να τους που ούτε μία κουβέντα, ως σημάδι δειλίας. Δεν τις νοιάζει ο λόγος, αρκεί που δεν πολέμησες και τώρα είσαι ανάμεσά τους. Κι αυτή η περιφρόνηση πονάει όσους έχουν ακόμη ενσυναίσθηση και ντροπή. Ένα λευκό φτερό, χωρίς άλλη κουβέντα!

Το «Μείνε εκεί που είσαι και μετά φύγε» είναι ένα δυνατό, τρυφερό και ταυτόχρονα χιουμοριστικό μυθιστόρημα που δείχνει τις ανυπολόγιστες καταστροφές που επιφέρει ένας πόλεμος σε μια οικογένεια ειδικότερα και σε μια κοινωνία γενικότερα. Γέλιο και δάκρυ συντροφεύουν την ανάγνωση του βιβλίου, μέσα από το οποίο ξεπηδάνε αληθινοί και ολοκληρωμένοι χαρακτήρες που συντροφεύουν ένα παιδί στην πρόωρη ενηλικίωσή του. Είναι ένα κείμενο για μικρούς αλλά και για μεγάλους, γεμάτο νοήματα, εκπλήξεις και έναν σφιχτοδεμένο ιστό πλοκής που με ενθουσίασε και με συγκίνησε.

Πρώτη δημοσίευση στο site μου: www.vivliokritikes.com/%CE%BC%CE%B5%C...

-Visión indirecta de consecuencias de la Gran Guerra.-

Género. Novela.

Lo que nos cuenta. Alfie cumple cinco años el mismo día que el Imperio Austro-Húngaro le declara la guerra a Serbia y empieza oficialmente la Primera Guerra Mundial. Georgie, su padre, pronto se alistará voluntariamente y pensando que la guerra no durará mucho tiempo. Cuatro años después, Alfie no tiene claro que ha sido de su padre, la familia pasa penalidades y el muchacho ha visto cosas que no tiene muy claro cómo interpretar.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

"Başbakan olmak isteyen bir arkadaşım var," dedi Alfie.
"Öyle mi? Adı nedir bu beyefendinin?"
"Kalena Janâček. Ayrıca bir erkek değil, kız."
Başbakan başını sallayıp bir süre sessiz kaldı. "Janâček dedin değil mi? Avusturyalı mıydılar? Yoksa Polonyalı mı?"
"İngiliz. Kalena bizim evden üç ev uzakta doğdu. Babası Prag'dan gelmiş."
"Öyleyse yarı Avusturya-Macaristan yarı İngiliz olmalılar."
"Arkadaşım bir kesir değildi efendim."

Bir çocuğun gözünden savaşa tanıklık ettiğiniz o etkileyici kitaplar... İşte onlardan biri daha.