BLITZED

In this children's book, which adults and older children will also love, 10-year-old George gets the surprise of a lifetime when he slips from an English suburb in 2002 into London during the Blitz. George is a bored tear-away kid who is fascinated by the "glamour" of the long-past war. In the company of 1940s kids, he discovers what it was really like, and without realizing it, also learns manners and empathy. Christian Rodska lifts this wonderful book into perfection. His characterizations of everyone from 5-year-old children to overworked parents to the men who manned the anti-aircraft batteries are perfect. And his George, who tells this first-person story, is a wonderfully shaded portrayal--moving from in-your-face wise-guy kid to wise-guy kid who grows up a bit. Rodska's pace is quick or measured, as the action demands, but always clear--an enhancement, never an intrusion. Terrific. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]