A largely unexplored area of wartime experiences, Children of War is, while well researched and well written, a very difficult read. The subject is by definition very emotive and some of the stories and accounts are extremely harrowing.

Covering not only the Home Front in Britain at that time, many of the accounts have been gathered from the theatres of war across Europe and Russia, all as heartbreaking as each other, as the bravery and tenacity of the subjects is detailed. From accounts of the Lusitania through the Zeppelin bombings of London, to the little 14 year old Russian girl, Sofja, who dressed as a boy and joined the child soldiers, this is a stark and honest account of hardships faced.

With an enormous bibliography providing further research, anyone studying this period of history needs to consider this as compulsory reading in order to gain a balance of view, not only of military warfare but the social life as well, and particularly its impact on the most vulnerable members of society.

Tastes Through Time website

This excellent work takes the reader to the heart of what it was like to be young in WW1 and we can only agree with the child who said ‘What was done to us was wrong’

Martin Willoughby, The Wessex Branch of the Western Front Association

This is a wonderful book, with heart-wrenching and inspiring moments in equal measure, and full of unforgettable characters. It’s fundamental to remember WWI, and its impact on everybody, particularly the children. We should never forget the price paid by both sides, and we must remember there is no such a thing as winning a war, only surviving it, and that applies to whole generations of people, to countries, and to the world at large. I recommend it to anybody interested in gaining a different perspective on WWI, to those researching the topic, to historians, and, in general, to anybody who wants to learn a bit more about that historical period and how it affected the youngest of the population.

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Author Translator

..deserves a place on the shelf next to other childhood histories of the First World War and is highly recommended for anyone interested in how war is experienced through the eyes of a young child.

The Journal of Military History

Review by Barbara Taylor

I have to applaud Dr Newman for this book. The research to select her examples, and then decide on those she had to omit, must have been overwhelming and at times heart breaking. Some of the reminiscences are frankly shocking. This is a work which should be compulsory reading for any who are thinking of starting or going off to fight in a war!

Western Front Association

All in all, it's an excellent book for anyone whose ancestors were growing up at the time of the Great War - there is a section at the back listing sources used in the book, as well as other books and websites of interest for those who want to know more.

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Lost Cousins

As featured on The Miniatures Page

The Miniatures Page

Drawing on an impressive list of resources, much of which she translated herself, Newman explores how the first global conflict affected children and young people, many of whom left diaries and accounts of what they experienced. I did not realise there were so many children and young people on board the British Royal Mail and passenger liner “Lusitania” when she was torpedoed and sunk. Those accounts are particularly heart-breaking, as are the accounts of those who were killed, badly injured and/or rendered homeless during the devastating explosion that took place at the munitions factory in Silvertown.

I found a great deal in this book about which I was unaware – I was particularly interested to read accounts written by German children of what life was like for them. All in all this is an excellent book which should be required reading in schools.

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Fascinating Facts of WW1

This terrific book looks at the effect of WW1 on the children who were affected by it. All too often, books about war concentrate on the adults. Vivien's accounts of primary and secondary school children in England, France and Germany are measured and often heartbreaking. A fantastic read.

Books Monthly

...anyone with ancestors who were children during the First World War will find much of interest in this well-written, insightful work.

WDYTYA? Magazine, November 2019 – reviewed by Michelle Higgs, Tracing Your Medical Ancestors

I would definitely recommend this book to others and it’s not your usual war book or memories, it is good to hear the viewpoints from lots of children. The author has written a very thought out book with lots of great research and beautifully written.

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UK Historian

The memoirs of the children give a detailed insight into their lives during the First World War. I found some of the stories so sad... This book gives a different view of what war was like on both sides, and would make a good addition to any book collection.

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Armorama