Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.
The kids and I have enjoyed a new read-aloud called Prisoner of War from Whatsoever Stories for the past several weeks. We have been reviewing it as part of the Review Crew, and it has been great. The author, Kinsey M. Rockett, has written an intriguing Christian fiction story.
Prisoner of War- Summary of the Story
Prisoner of War is an engaging story set during World War II. The young author, a homeschool graduate, got her start in poetry and short stories. Now she has three novels, one of which is Prisoner of War.
Summary
The story follows two storylines. One is of Lieutenant Nathanael Whitlock and the other of Sargent Brentley. In the end, both storylines come together.
First, the book starts with Sargent Brentley flying over France in February 1943. While out on a night mission, the Germans attack Brentley and his fellow crew members. This isn’t a good thing because they are in German-occupied France. Eventually, the crew is forced to bail out of the damaged plane. Once on the ground, they are captured by the Germans. Soon after, they end up in a Prisoner of War camp.
Next, we are introduced to Lieutenant Nathanael Whitlock, as he is landing at a base in England where he and his crew will be stationed. While he settles into his new assignment, Nathanael learns of the crew that went down in France. So naturally, Nathanael wants to rescue those held in that Prisoner of War camp. So soon, he and others are developing a plan to save the prisoners.
Throughout the story, you see Nathanael and fellow airmen working on their plan to save the prisoners. Yet, at the same time, Brentley and a group of prisoners are plotting to escape that same prison.
Both groups are working quickly because the prisoners will soon move to a larger prison, making an escape or rescue next to impossible. However, will Brentley and the prisoners escape before they can be rescued by Whitlock and his men?
The story is filled with exciting missions, well-developed characters, and well-researched information about World War II. Your kids will be drawn into the story. Plus, they will get a sense of the planes, bases, and missions during this time.
Connections to Other Books
If Nathanael Whitlock sounds familiar, this is because Miss Rockett has an earlier book about Nathanael. However, the other book, Trial at the Ridge, is set during his younger years on his farm (which other Crew members reviewed). However, you do not need to know that story to read Prisoner of War. The book provides enough information to understand what is going on and what has happened in the past.
More About This Book
Prisoner of War is a soft-covered Christian fiction book written for ages 12+. This book does have a more complex topic and vocabulary. Thus, I agree that this book would be better for older kiddos and adults.
There is a lot included within these 381 pages. The book has very few drawings but does include an illustration of the Prisoner of War camp and one of an airplane. Since the book is for an older audience, there is no need for pictures.
The book also includes historical notes that help give a lot of background to help kids and adults understand the historical context. It is very useful information and worth reading.
At the back of the book, you can find a glossary. I am so glad it did. The author explains the meaning of many German and French words along with military terms. It is very helpful.
Being a history major, I found the Inspiration section fascinating. This section teaches about real situations, missions, and such that inspired the story’s events. My daughter and I had fun reading through them one evening.
Christian Fiction for the Family
For the review, we read Prisoner of War together as a family. My kids and I would sit together during the evenings, and I read a chapter or two from the book. We would read 3 to 5 nights a week depending on our hectic schedule.
My daughter is 15, and my son is 13 at the time of the review. This is a pretty long book, so we still haven’t quite finished it. Although, all of us are thoroughly enjoying it and can’t wait to see how it ends.
We had so much fun reading this book together. We’d have great discussions about the characters and make predictions on what might happen (like will one of the men get swept downstream when the dam blows). It was great to have this time discussing a story with my teens.
When I asked my kiddos what they thought of the book, my son said that it is an excellent story. He enjoys the characters, the action, and the dialog in the story.
Next, my girl said she thought the story was captivating. The characters are well fleshed out, the conflicts among characters are realistic, and the plot is engaging. She is enjoying the book and can’t wait to finish it.
How You Can Use This Christian Fiction Story
I think this book is well-written and perfect for family read-aloud or to include in your homeschool as part of history or reading time. It is even a great free reading book; it is that enjoyable.
In addition, the book would be excellent for a WWII study. It is good quality Christian fiction that would add another perspective to those involved in the war.
If you have military buffs in your homeschool, they would really enjoy it. They’d learn about the planes, the types of missions, and Prisoner of War camps and air bases. Plus, the kiddos would read descriptions of various military missions.
I appreciate this book is Christian fiction. The main characters have strong ideals and faith, which is a positive message for kids. You also don’t need to worry about inappropriate topics and questionable material popping up in the story. It is good to read about characters with Christian beliefs.
My kids and I would highly recommend this book. To learn what other homeschool families thought of this book and others books published by Whatsoever Stories, click on the banner below to read more reviews.
Happy Homeschooling!
