Charlie Wilcox [Paperback]

Sharon E McKay (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

In 1915 in Newfoundland, fourteen-year-old Charlie, anxious to disprove his parents' belief that his club foot makes him unfit for fishing and seal hunting, stows away on a sealing vessel only to find himself on a troop ship headed for the war in Europe.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A riveting story of friendship, loyalty, bravery, and honor. Despite being born with a clubfoot, 14-year-old Charlie is determined to "go to the ice" as a seal hunter off the coast of his native Newfoundland just like his father. However, his parents want him to have a better life and plan to send him to college. Determined to prove his courage, Charlie runs away and sneaks onto what he believes to be a sealing ship, but is actually a boat carrying soldiers to England to fight in World War I. While waiting for passage home, he works as an orderly at a makeshift hospital in France and sees the grisly results of the fighting. When his ticket finally arrives, he gives it to a friend whom he believes needs it more. Charlie heads for the front, where he witnesses the carnage of trench warfare during the Battle of the Somme. After helping to save another friend's life, he joins a mobile-hospital unit and remains with it until the end of the war. Although the story begins slowly, once the action starts it never lets up. The characters are so finely drawn that readers come to know them well and understand their thoughts and actions. The chapters on the war leave no doubt as to the horrors encountered by the soldiers and those who cared for them. There are no glorified heroes here, only ordinary people caught in extraordinary events doing what they believe to be right.
Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Stoddart Kids; 3rd Printing edition (October 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0773760938
• ISBN-13: 978-0773760936
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,496,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A Thrilling Story To Keep You On The Edge Of Your Seat!~, December 4, 2003

By 

Musicgirl (Markham, Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charlie Wilcox (Paperback)

This story was about a young boy named Charlie Wilcox who is borned weighing 2 pounds and with a club foot. He is a really brave and caring person. He is on a boat going to sealing but instead he is going to the war. There his friends Martina and Micheal are fighting. Micheal was killed and Martin was badly hurt that you could see his bones his leg was badly injured. He had these super human stength and had all these courages to help keep Martin alive. He loves this girl named Lily Mackenzie but she had married Dr.Daniels and was pregnant. To find out what will happen next.. heheh.. find out yourself!~ Read it it's a super book!~!