Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.
If you're looking to connect World War II history with some Christian fiction for reading aloud or independently, Whatsoever Stories is a place to look. We've recently had the opportunity to review one of their new releases, Prisoner of War by Kinsey M. Rocket, and have enjoyed it.
Prisoner of War is well done.
Prisoner of War begins with action and continues to engage throughout.
The story centers around an attempt to save over 100 unarmed men from a POW camp under German control during World War II and moves back and forth between what is happening with the imprisoned characters and what the men of the Wings of Service - who plot to save the POW's - are doing.
Switches in location/scene are indicated by visual breaks in the text.
(When reading aloud, I indicated the switch by saying things like, "back to the POW's", "scene change," or "back to the Wings of Service" to help my son follow along without the visual cue of the stars.)
The book is intended for readers 12 years old or older, but I believe can be enjoyed by families with younger children as well. It is definitely written with an aim to engage readers while honoring Christ, and, as it says in the front pages of the book and on the Whatsoever Stories website:
"The purpose behind Whatsoever Stories is to produce wholesome, God-honoring books that parents can trust to uphold biblical principles and that will give young people good things with which to feed their minds so that good things can come forth from them."
The story centers around an attempt to save over 100 unarmed men from a POW camp under German control during World War II and moves back and forth between what is happening with the imprisoned characters and what the men of the Wings of Service - who plot to save the POW's - are doing.
"The purpose behind Whatsoever Stories is to produce wholesome, God-honoring books that parents can trust to uphold biblical principles and that will give young people good things with which to feed their minds so that good things can come forth from them."
Prisoner of War fits this mission, and, although intended for readers 12 years old or older, could be enjoyed by families with younger children as well I believe.
My son enjoyed this Christian historical fiction book.
When I asked my son for his thoughts for this review, he said:
My mom and I have been reading Prisoner of War recently. I have found it to be an interesting historical fiction novel set during World War II.
The book focuses on two storylines that intersect. One is about a U.S military man - Charles Brentley - who gets captured by German soldiers and is put in a prison camp, where and he and his prisonmates try to escape. The other storyline is about an air rescue squad that attempts to rescue the soldiers in the prison camp. The stories intersect with an American special agent - William Whitlock, who swaps places with an enemy soldier and becomes the inside man at the prison camp.
The book is a Christian one, so there are references to God and the Bible, and one of the rescue squad people named Zach gets converted.
I think the book is a decent one. The plot is exciting and easy to follow along. Sometimes, I found the story a little predictable and wordy, but I enjoyed it overall.
I would recommend this book as an independent read for fifth graders on up. Families could also read it together. People who like history, aviation, World War II, and Christianity might like this book.
Learn More
Prisoner of War is a 381-page paperback that seems to have a good binding and thick pages.
Each of its three main parts has a black and white illustration on its title page.
Before the historical fiction story unfolds, there is a Historical Note.
Then, at the end of the book, there is an Afterward which is a letter from the author to the reader that speaks to the reader about the author's hope that the tale has spoken to the reader's heart and encourages the reader to embrace Christ.
There is also a brief section in the back called "Inspiration" which summarizes the true incidents and facts that inspired the author.
Finally there is a glossary and a very brief author bio which, among other things, states that the author is a homeschool graduate!
You can preview the book here.
Thirty-five Homeschool Review Crew families reviewed Prisoner of War, Trial at the Ridge (mean for ages 10-14), or Farmyard Faith (meant for ages 10-adult). Be sure to click through to find links to each of the blog, social media, or video reviews.
