“Brothers Far From Home” by Jean Little

Brothers Far From Home:

The World War I Diary of Eliza Bates,
 Uxbridge, Ontario, 1916

(Dear Canada Book)

by Jean Little

Synopsis: 

It has been two long years since Eliza's beloved older brother, Hugo, went away to war. Caught up in his enthusiasm, she couldn't understand her parent's less-than enthusiastic reaction. Now that her other brother Jack has also enlisted, she yearns for the safe return of both brothers. If only she had a friend that she could talk to about her feelings....

(from Amazon)

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

4.5 stars & 5/10 hearts. This is one of my favourite Dear Canada books. I love Hugo and Jack and Rufus, and even Richard a little. It’s also very funny sometimes, and it has some very good quotes. Don’t let the opening paragraph make you shy off. Eliza is like that only in the first entry and she never acts like that again. She and Verity are a little nasty at first but not even one-quarter though the book they’re good friends. There is a mention of “girls’ bodies changing” and a couple mentions of a kiss; one mention of Eliza making a bit fun of a fictional heroine who “saves her kiss for her husband”; and in the Historical Note a mention that the soldiers urinated on their handkerchiefs & held them to their months to try to protect themselves from poison gas. Hugh and Jack’s relationship is so sweet, even if you barely see it, and the Infants & Isaac bring a lot of humour and realisticness to the story. I also enjoyed how I’ve read many of the books Eliza mentions!

A Favourite Humorous Quote: “In our house there is always noise, someone singing, the Twins and Belle scrapping, Father roaring ‘Who hid my spectacles?’ or ‘Who took the newspaper?’, Mother talking to herself, Verity practising her violin or elocution, Susannah or myself practising on the piano. Or Ezekiel [the parrot], of course. He says things like, ‘Move along, sir.’ Or ‘Brush your hair, you bad girl.’ Jack taught him that.”

Get this book:

Canada | America