There are a plethora of brilliant stories set amongst the backdrop of World War II and Tony Bradman’s highly original read is another essential book for the classroom.
It has been over three long years since the war started and eleven-year-old Susan and her mum wish for the day when it would all be over. The constant doom and gloom, long hours at the factory, and constantly worrying about Susan’s dad who is fighting overseas are all taking their toll on mum. Susan is determined to put a smile back on her mum’s face and she has hatched the perfect plan. She just needs to find a delicious banana, something that hasn’t been seen on the streets of London for who knows how long. Let Operation Banana commence…
I love a good wartime read. I also love a sweet and perfectly ripened banana and couldn’t imagine a time when they were almost impossible to come by and that people hadn’t seen one for so long that they forgot what they were like. Operation Banana features both the war and a banana and is a cracking, heart-warming tale of a young girl embarking on a mission to simply cheer her mum up.
Set in the middle of the Second World War, this atmospheric read has a unique agenda in that rather than focusing directly on the war (the Blitz, the evacuations, the fighting overseas, etc) it explores the impact felt by those at home on the ground. It is important that children have an understanding of the bigger picture of conflict and Bradman affords them this opportunity with a story that shows things through a different lens. Whilst the soldiers on the front-line faced their own struggles, the women and families back at home were also struggling. Exhausted and struggling emotionally with living in constant fear; completely fed up with little to bring cheer into their lives; enduring a painful wait for letters and news from loved ones; struggling physically with a lack of available food. It is hard to envisage that something so simple as a banana would be so difficult to find but Susan and her friend Jimmy’s wartime treasure hunt in 1940’s London shows just how challenging things were. Living under rationing restrictions, the constant feeling of hunger and having to go without the things needed are just some of the terrible consequences of war that were felt at home. Children will easily identify with Jimmy’s dreams of ice-cream and his longing for a chocolate bar. Tania Rex’s illustrations bring alive life in wartime London and Bradman's historical note and information on the coins used at the time of the war all add further value to what is a delightful piece of historical fiction. True to Barrington Stoke form, this read is printed in dyslexia friendly font and on tinted paper ensuring the book can be accessed by every child. Recommended for 8+. With huge thanks to Barrington Stoke for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
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