Enemy soldiers shoot at each other from their foxholes while recalling how their “manuals” describe the enemy—a monster who will kill them and their families. Eventually, hunger and cold drive the soldiers from their hiding places, and as one soldier approaches the foxhole of another, each is surprised to find many common items—family pictures and a manual sharing lies about the enemy. The concept of common life experiences and dreams invariably leads to discussions about the origins of peace—and war. Simple sketches on a barren, white battlefield illustrate this tale of the senselessness of war. 2010 USBBY Outstanding International Books List, 2010 NCSS/CBC Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies. jm

Originally pub lished as L’Ennemi in French by Êditions Sarbacane France, in 2007.