As the subtitle suggests, Off to War is told in the voices of soldiers’ chil dren. When this book was written, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America estimated that “1.2 million young people in the United States have at least one parent in the armed forces” (11). These young voices remind us that for every soldier sent away from home, others remain behind. In their own words, these youngsters tell Ellis their problems, fears, and how they cope while their parents are thousands of miles away, fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. 2009 Winner Society of School Librarians International Honor Book Award, 2009 Canadian Children’s Book Centre–Best Books for Kids and Teens, 2008 Library Media Connection Editor’s Choice Awards–Social Studies. lmp

Canadian and American children tell what life is like when a member of their family goes off to the Iraqi or Afghanistan war, discussing the things they do to keep in touch and the significant changes in their lives that result from the separation.