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On the centenary of the beginning of WW1 - Monday 4th August 2014 - Scholastic launched the first book in an exciting new series.  The five authors were on hand to share what the theme of their book was going to be about, which battles those protagonists would fight in, and what their speciality was. It was really interesting to hear the serendipity moments the authors had while researching their books and how they were going to connect from one book to another.

Susan Brocker's book 'Riding Into War' was officially launched that night. Susan told us about her connection with the Great War. Her Grandfather McGee, a Mounted Rifleman, fought at Gallipoli, and lost his brother there. She used it as inspiration for her book.

Riding Into War is about 17 year old Billy Bowman and his best friend Jack signing up for war with their horses in August 1914. At the beginning of the story the boys are keen for adventure and travel, and are really excited to take up arms. We read about their experiences at Awapuni training camp, on board the ship taking them to Egypt, and at training camp in the desert. By then the boys are desperate to get into the action and fear the war will be over before they get a chance to fight. They needn't fear - they're despatched to Gallipoli (without their horses) and from the moment they land at ANZAC cove they're right in the desperate, horrific action.

Susan's love of horses shines through in this story through the main character's care of his horse and others. I won't give away what happens to the two boys but Billy does meet nurse Harriett the main character in the next book in the series, written by Diana Menefy due out next year.

Diana Menefy told us that her character Harriett would be one of the first 50 nurses to arrive in Alexandria to care for the many thousands of wounded soldiers. Diana found through her research that the nurses worked seven days a week sometimes 20 hours a day. If they got to the point of utter exhaustion and began weeping - they'd be given a couple of hours rest to compose themselves and then they'd be back into the horror of trying to save the soldiers.

Diana showed us photographs of the floating hospitals that would pick up the soldiers from Turkey (Gallipoli) and sail back to Egypt. Only the severely wounded soldiers could have a bed - the rest lay on the floor. It is where the term 'walking wounded' came from - if they still had their limbs, no matter what other horrific wounds they had - they had to walk to the hospital.

Diana hinted at a possible friendship/romance with a soldier that may feature in David Hair's book - due out in 2016. David Hair had only started researching his book. His main character would be in the New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion.  They became the diggers and took part in the Battle of Somme in 1916. David found an interesting real character in his research who could foretell some of the disasters that would happen. David intends including him in the story.

Brian Falkner is writing the fourth book in the series due out in 2017. Brian's book is so far off he has only just begun his preliminary research. He wants to bring in the theme of the rise of technology. Brian told us that planes featured the first time in this war, as did tanks, and both caused many thousands of injuries. Brian discovered two real soldiers - Sir Keith Parks who destroyed 20 aeroplanes, and the ace pilot Keith Caldwell who destroyed 25 enemy aeroplanes, both of whom he wants to include in his story somehow. And yes his main character is going to be a pilot.

Brian told us that the life expectancy of the Royal Flying Corp pilots was about two weeks in the war. He's going to share some of his research in a blog he is going to write about his unfolding story: www.brianfalkner.com

Des Hunt's book in the series is loosely based on his Uncle's war. Des told us that his Uncle never talked about his experiences to the family but he did confide in Des, when as a youngster Des would stay on his Uncle's farm. Des said his Uncle's love of animals and the land will come through in his main character's story. Des wants to include about the use of chemistry in the war so it will be interesting to see if his character or soldiers in his battalion experience mustard gas poisoning. This story focusses on the last year of the Great War - 1918 - in France (book due out 2018).

Each book will feature a timeline of the year their main character features in, a glossary of key military words, photographs from the time, and an extensive bibliography.

Scholastic has chosen five excellent writers. Susan Brocker has set a high benchmark, of which the others will sure to maintain. Children will enjoy reading about the adventures during the Great War but will also learn about the horrors of war through graphic descriptions, which will have the side-benefit (for the teenagers/adults reading the books) of creating empathy for the soldiers whilst acknowledging the realities of war.

Kiwis At War: 1914 Riding into War by Susan Brocker (Scholastic)
ISBN: 978-1-77543-206-7
RRP $19.50  paperback,  RRP US$9.50 e-book
Ages 12+
216 pp
Teacher notes here

Melinda Szymanik’s compelling story A Winter’s Day in 1939,published in print form in March 2013, will be available as an ebook from ANZAC Day, 25 April 2013.

The ebook’s release date follows hot on the heels of the book’s Wellington launch at The Children’s Bookshop on Saturday 13 April. The ebook will be available initially for Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CHKOQYCand can be purchased for $9.99.

This debut ebook marks the beginning stages of a move to release more new Scholastic New Zealand novels in electronic form.

About the book
A Winter’s Day in 1939 is a harrowing, compelling story of courage and hope, based on the author’s own father’s journey across Europe during World War Two.

Taken from their home in Poland, forced to leave their country, put to work in Russian labour camps, frozen and starved, 12-year-old Adam and his family doubt that they will ever make it out alive.

Even if they were to get away, they might freeze to death, or starve, or the bears might get them.

For the Polish refugees, the whole of the USSR becomes a prison from which there is seemingly no escape.

Recommended age: 10+ years

About the author
Melinda Szymanik is the author of the picture books Clever Moo and The Were-Nana, which won the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Children’s Choice Award in 2009. Melinda has written two other novels, Jack the Viking (Scholastic, 2008) and The Half Life of Ryan Davis (Pear Jam, 2011). She has also had three picture books published with Duck Creek Press, and published a teen chapter e-book earlier this year. Melinda has a Masters in Zoology, has nearly finished her Diploma in Children's Literature, and writes full-time in Auckland.