Bertie’s War is a novel about a 7th grade girl growing up in the turbulent times of the early 1960’s. Bertie is at the confusing age between child and young woman. In many ways she is still a child and enjoys imaginary play. However, she uses her play to escape from reality. The book focuses on her fears about the threats of nuclear war and her strained relationships with her family, especially her relationship with her father. Bertie begins to understand a little more about the nature of God as she is disciplined by her father. The discipline that she receives is not what either she or the reader expects.
I read the book myself because I didn’t think that my 6th grade son would enjoy it and I thought that the themes would be beyond my 4th grade daughter’s understanding. After completing the book, I believe that I made the right decision. I personally liked the book, but I think that Bertie was a bit on the melodramatic side. Since we have enough drama at our house already, I don’t want to encourage negative attitudes. It is a book that I will hold on to read when we are studying the 20th Century. It would be a good book to read with your children so that you can discuss Bertie’s behavior and wrong thinking with them.
Bertie’s War was written by Barbara Tifft Blakey who is also the author the Total Language Plus language arts program. The book was published by Kregel Publications, which publishes a wide variety of resources for homeschoolers. One that we have used previously is the Kregel Pictorial Guide to the Tabernacle . Bertie’s War is available at the Kregel website for $7.99.
To read more reviews of Bertie’s War, visit the Homeschool Crew blog.
Disclosure: This product was provided to our family for free as members of the 2009-2010 Old Schoolhouse Magazine Homeschool Crew. Reviews and opinions expressed in this blog are our own.
By Kristen H.