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Eleven Eleven by Paul Dowswell - Review

Friday, May 13, 2016

Where did I get it? My local library, it was in the Young Adult section which is immediately on the left as you walk in, which I think is fab because it grabs young people straight away. 
What's it about? It's the 11th of November 1918 and at 5am a bunch of old men have just signed the peace declaration that will end the First World War. They decide to officially end it at 11am, liking the significance of the hour and the day, but that means that troops must keep fighting for the next 6 hours. The book concentrates on three different young men - one German, one English, and one American.
Axel is a brand new German recruit, only sixteen years old, and he's been moving through France with his regiment. He's told to go up a tower to keep watch for enemies on the move. 
Will is eighteen and is serving under his brother, Jim. Their company has heard that there are some Germans in the forest so set off to look for them. 
Eddie is American, and a little older than the others, and he's a fighter pilot. He's killed three of the enemy, but he'd like one more to go home with, so even though all planes are grounded he sets off anyway determined to make one last kill. 
The book ticks by the hours left of the war in a really clever and suspenseful way, leaving the reader to question who will live and who will die by 11am. 
What age range is it for? 14+
Are any main characters LGBTQ+? No
Are any main characters non-white? No
Are any main characters disabled either mentally or physically? Not really, I mean it's about war so obviously there's bloodshed.  
Is there any sex stuff? No
Are drugs mentioned or used? No
Is there any talk of death? Yes, and it's a little bit graphic although not too much at all. 
Are there swear words? Only a few
Would I recommend the book? Kind of, if this is your kind of thing then it's a decent book. I felt though that it dragged quite a bit and took a while to get going. It took me a while to read because I kept putting it down 
How many stars? Six out of ten   
Where is the book going now? Back to the library! 

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