The War of Jenkins' Ear

The War of Jenkins' EarBy Michael MorpurgoSummary: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.

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.

"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