After the War Was Over - Michael Foreman

...and consequently review, the sequel After the War Was Over. I had really enjoyed War Boy, so tackled the follow on book with enthusiasm. I wasn't disappointed either!

==THE AUTHOR==

Michael Foreman was born in Suffolk in 1938 ~ in the village of Pakefield near Lowestoft. From being a small boy he drew pictures and wrote stories and eventually ended up getting an MA from the Royal College of Art! Foreman is now a professional ...
...==THE PLOT==

After the War Was Over follows on from Foreman's semi-autobiographical account of a boy's life in a small village during the Second World War. The story in this book takes place (not surprisingly from the title) during the period following the end of the war. It shows the changes that are occurring in the country and way the young boy must adapt to these alterations in his life. The Victory celebrations give way to a clear ... more

Following on from my review of Michael Foreman's War Boy I thought I would re-read, and consequently review, the sequel After the War Was Over. I had really enjoyed War Boy, so tackled the follow on book with enthusiasm. I wasn't disappointed either!

THE AUTHOR

Michael Foreman was born in Suffolk in 1938 ~ in the village of Pakefield near Lowestoft. From being a small boy he drew pictures and wrote stories and eventually ended up getting an MA from the Royal College of Art! Foreman is now a professional illustrator and writer and spends his time flitting between his homes in London and St. Ives in Cornwall. He has won many awards for his work ~ one of these was the Kate Greenaway Medal for War Boy. His illustrations are distinct and very easily recognizable. He writes for a variety of audiences, including younger and older children and also for adults.

THE PLOT

After the War Was Over follows on from Foreman's semi-autobiographical account of a boy's life in a small village during the Second World War. The story in this book takes place (not surprisingly from the title) during the period following the end of the war. It shows the changes that are occurring in the country and way the young boy must adapt to these alterations in his life. The Victory celebrations give way to a clear up (of bomb sites and defenses) and big changes in lifestyle for the nation. From Foreman's viewpoint as a young boy we see him growing up and discovering girls, music, football and art. His is a very personal view of post-war changes; his life in the 40s and 50s shows him encountering new things in a brand new world.

WHAT I THOUGHT

From the typical Michael Foreman illustrations on the cover, right through to the last page, I was hooked once again by After the War Was Over. It is obvious from the outset that this is a world that Foreman is very familiar with - the attention to detail and the little snippets of life could only have been produced by someone who had actually experienced them. I loved the mini-tales of post war life that intermingle with the soft, colourful pictures, all of which present a vivid snapshot of Foreman's childhood. He combines personal insight with factual data - the pages also have cuttings of adverts and images to echo the memories he is relating to the audience. I particularly liked the adverts and cuttings, finding them very interesting as well as adding a historical context to Foreman's story.

As an introduction for children to this historical period this story could prove a valuable resource. Whether you are a teacher or a parent (or any adult who is reading this) you will find that Foreman's book raises questions and provokes discussion. Books that present the facts are valuable, but these accounts are perhaps more so because they put flesh on the bones and give faces to the people who lived through the adapting world of post war Britain. After the War Was Over is actually a history lesson with fun and pictures!

Foreman's recollections are presented in a lighthearted yet informative manner. The reader learns lots, often without actually realizing it! We are told about the new pre-fab housing, refugees, beaches cleared of the barbed wire defenses, rationing and lots of other things that a child would come across. There are some things that I learned from the book too. Things I had probably been told but hadn't retained - for example, that rationing was still very much in evidence for a good few years after the war and that there were still American soldiers around for a while after the war had finished.

Foreman's childlike eyes saw it all as an adventure. Growing up was an endless voyage of discovery for him and also for the country as a whole. His childhood discoveries mirror the changes in the nation as a whole - it is almost as though the country is a wide-eyed child finding its way in an evolving world! There is definitely a feeling of uncertainty in the air too. Not only is this a happy time of victory and post war euphoria, it is also a time of sadness - not all families had fathers that returned from battle and not all those returning from the war had certain futures due to lack of jobs, etc. Pictures of the good times are painted, such as the big victory street parties following the declaration of peace. Foreman also shows us the not so good in his story, but the eyes of the child has the balance set mainly towards optimism for the future and enjoyment of the adventures ahead!

The beautiful watercolour illustrations make this book a real pleasure to read again and again. Most books I would borrow from the library and read maybe once or twice. After the War Was Over is one of those rare books that I would recommend buying and dipping into many times. Each time the reader will spot something new in the pictures being painted on the pages. The book is recommended for children aged eleven and above. I would actually place its appeal a little wider; younger children will enjoy the pictures and adults will enjoy the history and in many cases nostalgia of the images and text. It spans the gap between the picture book and the factual text book, providing a good way to educate a child without bombarding them with facts and figures. Reading this book will perhaps give a spark of interest that could lead to the child wanting to learn more…and that has got to be a good thing!

I have no hesitation in recommending After the War Was Over! I enjoyed it and I hope that you will too.

BOOK DETAILS

Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Pavilion Children's Books; New Ed edition (19 Mar 2007)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1843650886
ISBN-13: 978-1843650881

Currently listed on Amazon at £6.59, a saving of £3.40 on the recommended retail price of £9.99. 

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