New Windmills: the War of Jenkins' Ear [Hardcover]

Michael Morpurgo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 1994 | Series: New Windmill

One of a series offering classic and contemporary fiction for schools to suit a range of ages and tastes, this book explores group mentality and the treatment of people who don't conform. It tells the story of "new boy" Christopher and the feud between the school boys and the local boys.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite the title, this is no historical novel, and the eponymous 18th-century war does not enter into the fervid plot. The war here is of the type waged primarily in fiction: an all-out battle at a boys' school. An innocent mistake triggers a series of brutal skirmishes between the privileged students of Redlands, an English boarding school, and the boys from the village. As the "toffee-noses" fight the "oiks," even the headmaster and teachers take sides, and class hatred erupts full force. Morpurgo (Waiting for Anya), however, throws in a wholly unexpected twist in the form of Christopher, a Redlands boy who, by means of a few arguable "miracles," secretly persuades several fellow students that he is Jesus. Desperate to stop the war, Christopher and his apostles turn the other cheek and in fact bring about peace. Morpurgo seems to want the reader to believe in Christopher as a Christ figure, or at least to subscribe to Christopher/Christ's teachings, but the is-he-or-isn't-he puzzle leaves little occasion for contemplating homilies. The various elements of the plots are neither believable nor sufficiently consuming to invite a suspension of disbelief-they are simply incongruous. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9?The new term at Redlands begins routinely for Toby Jenkins, except for the presence of a new boy, Christopher, who confidently stands up to the headmaster. After his initial clash with authority, Christopher becomes a model student and befriends Toby. He tells Toby of his many visions, reveals that he is the reincarnated Jesus Christ, and vows to try to save the world. Aware of Toby's doubt, he promises that a miracle will occur. Several days later, Toby becomes his first disciple. When the students become embroiled in a war with the local village boys, it is Christopher who becomes the voice of peace, tolerance, and love to both sides. School officials eventually find out about the young man's claims, expel him for blasphemy, and force Toby to renounce him publicly or be expelled himself. Worried about his parents' reaction, he forsakes Christopher as a fraud, though in his heart he still believes in him. Through vivid and memorable characters, rich details of the rural setting, and ample dialect to spice the interesting dialogue, Morpurgo captures the flavor of an English boarding school in the 1950s. He tackles provocative themes, dealing with the issues of hate, revenge, prejudice, and especially faith in an intelligent and fresh manner. While this novel is likely to be controversial, it will interest YAs and will assuredly provide them with numerous discussion possibilities.?Tim Rausch, Crescent View Middle School, Sandy, UT
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 148 pages
• Publisher: New Windmills (June 20, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0435124226
• ISBN-13: 978-0435124229
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Thought Provoking, June 30, 2001

By 

John (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The War of Jenkins' Ear (Hardcover)

The War of Jenkins' Ear is one of the most amazing novels I have ever read. This novel is considered young adult fiction, but the themes expressed here are for people of any age. The plot focuses on Toby. Toby attends a boarding school in England in the 1950's which he detests. But one year, everything changes because of a new boy in school, Christopher. Christopher is certainly different from the other boys at school, and he soon reveals to Toby that he has visions which tell him that he is the second coming of Jesus. Toby is picked as his first deciple.

Michael Morpurgo uses his unique premise perfectly to comment on life on different levels. First off, he captures the life around the boarding school extremely well. The element of class warfare between the oiks (village children) and the toffs (boarding school children) is present. Morpurgo also captures the intensity of the relationships between the students and between the students and their teachers at the isolated school. The element of first love is also introduced, and the characters in the novel are all fully developed. Morpurgo is most successful at studying the nature of faith, though. He presents how difficult it is to believe in the face of convention, and he also shows the extraordinary powers that faith in something can bring. The novel is also very successful at commenting on what peoples' lives around the Jesus Christ must have been like.

The War of Jenkins' Ear is a fascinating novel. Everything about it makes you think. Even the title can have a symbolic meaning. I think The War of Jenkins' Ear should easily go down as one of the great young adult reads of the century.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The War of Jenkins' Ear, March 4, 2004

By 

Ben Phung (Cerritos, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The War of Jenkins' Ear (Paperstar) (Mass Market Paperback)

The War of Jenkins' Ear
By Michael Morpurgo

Summary:
There are lots of wars in this world, but one is very special. It all began in Toby's second year in the school of Redlands. He was a regular student, until a strange kid called Christopher came along. He wasn't really scared of anything not even of the headmaster. He then shared a humongous secret with Toby, Hunter, and the littleSwann. They were of coursevery suspicious of course, and were wondering if it was really true. They then truly believed him, and wonders began to happen. The four of then swore to never reveal the secret, but something unexpected came. It turned everybody's life upside down except Christopher's who had all along predited it.

Why I liked it:
It is an interesting book where you really wonder if it could be truly like that back in time. It really makes me feel like I was in the school of Reedlands when the author started telling about the school, Toby, and Christopher. One example could be, "Beside Rudolph, stiff in her graygreen suit with a butterfly brooch, stood Mrs. Stagg." What made me like this book the most was that it makes me wonder if it could be true when Christopher revealed the secret, "It's Jesus, I know it is." Normally I would be bored to death, but it really made it so it was not like a bible book. That's why this book was interesting to me in the first place when I was choosing a book to read.

What part of the story was my favorite:
My favorite part of the story was the ending. It had a great turn in which I never expected. It was the time when nobody had faith in Christoopher anymore, but then proved to everyone even the mean Rudolph that what he said was true. As a result, it strengthened the beliefs of Toby, Hunter, and Swann even more.

5.0 out of 5 stars Will change your life! It did mine., February 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The War of Jenkins' Ear (Hardcover)

"If a grain of wheat does not fall unto the earth and die, it is but a single seed. But if the seed dies, it will produce many seeds." (Jn 12:24) A seed must fall to the ground and die if it is to give new life. This is what this book did for me, it was the seed that once possesed life and fell into the dirt (Me) and gave new life to me enabling me to realize my own lack of faith, detestive prejudces, enormus doubt, lack of humility, servanthood, trust, obedience, vulnerability, the realization to a calling greater than myself, the reponsibility I have in life, and the purpose for living. Since I have read this book I have seen myself relate so much to Toby Jenkins and his experiences, and its only been one day since I have read it. This book is a great way to relating Christ in the 20th Century to the young adult as well as the eldest adult. I believe this book is awsome for everyone no matter what the age. It is full of principles we all can use, not only in our lives with God, but also in our daily lives with people. I give this book an ASTOUNDING 10 because it not only told a story but changed my life. I would love to read more books like this. Matt Casper, Georgia Southern University