The Tortoise and the Soldier

August 31, 2015
Foreman (War Boy) offers a fresh variation on the wartime soldier and animal buddy theme. Based on actual events, the story is told in dual flashbacks. Trevor Roberts, a British journalist, recalls a formative assignment as a young reporter (“really,
I was just the office boy”) for his village newspaper during the 1950s. He is asked to cover the annual hibernation awakening of Ali Pasha, a giant tortoise (and local celebrity) owned by former Royal Navy WWI sailor Henry Friston (whom Foreman met as a boy). Instantly connecting with Trevor, Friston shares his wartime photos, memorabilia, and diary. The entries spark Friston’s passionate, sometimes humorous, reminiscences of harrowing battles with Turkish soldiers in Gallipoli, homesickness, and concern for his brothers fighting in France. The heart of the story is Friston’s serendipitous encounter with Ali Pasha, who catapults onto the soldier’s head during a skirmish and becomes a lifelong companion. The multilayered storytelling, Foreman’s dramatic watercolor illustrations, and reproductions of period mementos provide a nuanced portrait of the bonds between Friston and Ali Pasha, as well as between the older man and a curious journalist-in-training. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from September 15, 2015
Trevor Roberts is a cub reporter in a small town in eastern England during the 1950s whose big break as a journalist comes when he interviews a World War I Navy veteran about his famous pet tortoise. Foreman's book is based on the true story of Henry Friston, who was shipped off to Gallipoli as a gunner on the battleship HMS Implacable. Henry's detailed narrative, which unfolds over days of interviews, and pages from his diary recount desperate naval battles, the hazardous landing of Allied troops on the Turkish coast, and the close shave that brought young Henry his unusual pet, christened Ali Pasha, who saved his life and became his constant companion and troop mascot. The text deftly conveys both the thrills and horrors of war and touches on some important moral issues, particularly when Henry comes to understand during a truce that the enemy is no different from him and his British companions. Foreman is that rare artist who writes as well as he illustrates. His simple but engaging text is complemented by his charming, movement-filled watercolor vignettes and spreads, reproduced in black and white. The story teaches history with a light touch, and the focus on the emotional bond between the young soldier and his beloved tortoise will captivate even the most cynical heart. An original middle-grade novella with unusual richness and depth. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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October 1, 2015

Gr 3-5-Based on a true story, this book opens with a young reporter for a British newspaper interviewing veteran Henry Friston about the pet tortoise he obtained when he served as a sailor in World War I. Friston relates his life story and shares his diary, describing his childhood as a poor student who daydreamed about traveling the world. As a young man, he joins the Royal Navy on the eve of the war. He rescues the wounded on Gallipoli, where he encounters the tortoise, names it Ali Pasha, and brings it aboard his ship. Ali becomes a mascot for the gun crew. After witnessing more action, Friston returns to England with Ali Pasha to live out the rest of his days as a gardener, with Ali becoming a local tourist attraction. This is an intriguing story that provides vivid accounts of battles and insight into one who fought. Haunting drawings convey the grimness of war in a way that children will find relatable, while maps and a few photographs flesh out the events. The title is somewhat misleading, as the tortoise is a fairly minor character (the bulk of the story focuses on Friston's war experiences). The book lacks a glossary for those not versed in Briticisms. Minor criticisms aside, this is a captivating story that will be read in one sitting. VERDICT An enticing and well-written tale that will be relished by those who enjoyed Michael Morpurgo's War Horse (Scholastic, 2007).-Margaret Nunes, Gwinnett County Public Library, GA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 15, 2015
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* A fine storyteller and a notable English illustrator, Foreman constructs a riveting tale-within-a-tale. In the framing story, Trev is a young journalist-in-training in the 1950s. Sent out to report on Mister Friston's tortoise for his local paper, he meets Henry Friston, a veteran of WWI, and Ali Pasha, the tortoise he befriended in a crater during the Battle of Gallipoli. Trev relates Henry's story beginning in childhood, but focuses on his wartime experiences in the Royal Navy: the hard work at sea, the thrill of seeing the world, and his abject terror on the battlefield. Passages from Henry's diary appear at intervals, offering close-up views of events. The watercolor artwork is varied in composition and tonesometimes dramatic, occasionally comical, and always engaging. A good choice for independent readers who want war stories but may not be ready for more horrific accounts, this beautifully illustrated book also reads aloud well. A few period photos appear in the back matter, where Foreman reveals that the Henry Friston narrative is based on fact. As a boy during WWII, he knew Friston, his son, and Ali Pasha. A memorable story of war, growing up, and, yes, a tortoise.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)