Summer Reading Challenge: The Silver Sword

By Jake Weatherill from Lewisham Branch

 

Hey kids! So this is my last Silly Squad blog, and I decided to use it as an excuse to stroll down memory lane (again). The book I have chosen is The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier. I first remember being read this book at Story Time by my Year Six teacher Mrs Rogers (who also read Kensuke's Kingdom to me so really deserves a little shout out). I remember the class being held in suspense by the book.

 

 

 

Entry for Poland from the Encyclopaedia Britannica

 

We loved it so much that a few months later she took us to see the play at The Young Vic. I think that is part of the reason it stuck with me so much. I also think my love of history meant it left a strong impression on me, especially as it's based upon a true story. Our story is set in Warsaw, Poland.
The year is 1940. World War Two is raging. The Nazis have invaded, and occupy large swathes of Poland. Joseph Balicki is the headmaster of a primary school and married to the Swiss Margrit. They have three children, Ruth, Edek and Bronia. During a lesson Joseph turns a picture of Hitler around to face the wall.

 

 

 

 

However this small act of rebellion is reported to the Nazis. Such a thing is not acceptable. In the middle of the night Joseph is arrested by Storm Troopers and taken away to a prison camp, leaving his family to fend for themselves. Joseph spends a year in a prison camp before making his escape. Quickly he decides to head back to Warsaw and find his family. 

 

Entry from the The Oxford Companion to World War II in Oxford Reference Online

 

While Joseph was in the camp the Nazis came back and arrested Margrit. In an attempt to stop his mum being taken away Edek finds a gun and opens fire on the truck.  Ruth realises they can't stay at home, so the children climb up on top of the house and escape over the rooftops, seeing their home blown up in the process. They spend the winter in a cellar of a bombed out house on the other side of the city. The tale twists and turns as we follow Joseph on his quest to find his family, and Ruth, Edek and Bronia to find their parents, which runs through a master pickpocket and his Silver Sword. It's a story full of danger, but is also full of hope.  

It's as much about the inner good of humans, as it is a family's quest to be reunited during the dark days of World War 2. I hope you have enjoyed these blogs. If you have please let us know or get your grown up to tell us! Who knows? Maybe I will be back again with some stuff for you guys, but until then take care out there.

 

 

 

  If you want to read it you can get your grown up to call us on 020 8314 8430 and see if we have it available for Click & Collect.

   

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did you know that we have an online Reference Library which can help you do your homework? With your library card, you have  free access to Encyclopedias, Newspapers from as far back as 1710, magazines, comics and books too. Visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/elibrary with your library card to find out more.