Kipling's Choice (Bccb Blue Ribbon Fiction Books (Awards)) [Hardcover]

Geert Spillebeen (Author), Terese Edelstein (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Bccb Blue Ribbon Fiction Books (Awards) | Publication Date: May 30, 2005

As a young man, Rudyard Kipling was devastated when his military application was rejected because of poor eyesight. Although Rudyard would go on to win England’s highest accolades, he never got over this lost opportunity to serve his country.

When World War I broke out, John, like his father before him, wanted to fight for his country. When his military application was threatened for the same reason as his father’s—poor eyesight—Rudyard took matters into his own hands. Determined not to let history repeat itself, the elder Kipling applied all his influence to get his son a commission.

The teenager who had lived his life in comfort and whose greatest concern had been pleasing his father now faced a much greater challenge—staying alive in his first battle.

Geert Spillebeen’s moving fictionalized account follows the true story of John Kipling, a young man whose desire to live up to the family name threatens his very survival. It also draws attention to the senseless suffering and loss of life in this and every war.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. "It is his very first field battle. And his very last as well." First published in Belgium, this fictionalized biography begins as Lt. John Kipling, age 18, lies dying in France in World War I. The narrative contrasts the gruesome details of his personal injuries and the slaughter around him with his glowing memory of how his beloved father, the world-famous writer, used his influence to get the authorities to overlook John's poor eyesight so that he could fight in a glorious adventure for the British Empire against "barbaric Huns." Like Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful (2004), the power of this story is in the contrast between the war and the home front. The translation is clear and direct, and, without heavy messages, the changing viewpoints reveal the patriotic blather and racism that drove the acclaimed writer to send the boy he loved to die in a war he knew nothing about. The family story is heartfelt--the letters, the memories, and the loss. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"This well-written novel combines facts with speculation about John Kipling’s short life and gruesome death. A riveting account of World War I, Kipling’s Choice could become the next great war novel." School Library Journal, Starred

"This powerful anti-war novel, amde even more powerful by its roots in a famous author's real life and his evolution from war zealot to embittered, broken father, deaerves a place beside All Quiet on the Western Front." --Kirkus, starred Kirkus Reviews, Starred

"The power of this story is in the contrast between the war and the home front. . . . The changing viewpoints reveal the patriotic blather and racism that drove the acclaimed writer to send the boy he loved to die in a war he knew nothing about." --Booklist Booklist, ALA

"The novel subtly conveys the complexities and ironies of the father/son relationship. Between the lines readers will detect that John desperately needs approval from his father and Rudyard just as desperately wants his son to become what he could never be: a war hero." -- Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 147 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; None edition (May 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618431241
• ISBN-13: 978-0618431243
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,600,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kipling's Choice review, February 12, 2007

By 

Jstacey "Jim Stacey" (Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kipling's Choice (Bccb Blue Ribbon Fiction Books (Awards)) (Hardcover)

I found this book a fascinating read. I was aware that it was based a nucleus of fact, namely how the son of Rudyard Kipling died in action on the Western Front, and that there was a fictional "infill". The story seemed very vivid, as if I were there myself, dying in No Mans Land. It was quick and easy to read, and left me with a srong feeling of the futility of war.

Jim Stacey, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland

0 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars different than others, April 5, 2007

By 

Lori A. Schuler (Frankenmuth, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kipling's Choice (Bccb Blue Ribbon Fiction Books (Awards)) (Hardcover)

I thought this book was different than any other book that i have ever read. It kept going from the present time of what was going through rudyard kiplings head as he lay on the ground wounded back to what he was thinking about from his past. This book made me feel really bad for young rudyard kipling, because throughout most of the book he was helpless do to his near fatal injuries. He literally lay paralized on the ground completely helpless. The worst part about that was people were stealing things from him when he couldnt do anything about. Even the germans were taking things from him. It would have been better if they just shot him to put him out of his missery if they werent going to help him. But overal i thought the book wasnt the best ever written, but was very enjoyable to read. I would recamend this book to anyone whon likes a good war story.