This book is based on the true story of Patrick Condon a young old Irish boy. Patrick's family was very poor. His parents lied about his age and sent him to work as a dockworker. Patrick hated his job so he enlisted in the army when he was 12 years old. In order to get in, he lied about his name (calling himself John after his brother's name) and age because he was too young. Patrick passed the physical fitness test and was excited to be accepted into the military because this was his dream. He could escape his unhappy life at home. Early in his military career he became friends with two other soldiers, Tom and Michael. Both men knew that Patrick was too young to be in the military but it doesn't matter to them because he was a hard working soldier. Patrick learned a lot from the older men. He liked wearing a uniform, shooting his rifle, and being respected by the people he met. Patrick desired more action though. When World War I broke out in 1914, Patrick was put through a crash course in preparation for the real fight. Patrick and his friends, Tom and Michael, were assigned to the Second Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment. In January 1915, Patrick's Battalion was sent to the front lines in France. In the trenches, the young teen realized that the military isn't all fun and games. He panicked the first time he was hit with shrapnel. During the same gun fire, his buddy Michael was killed in front of him. Patrick had a strong fear of dying but continued to fight in the trenches while being attacked with gas. He fought for many months in very bad conditions around a hot spot called the "Mouse Trap" thanks to the help of his friends and the noncommissioned officers leading his company. Ultimately, he was severely wounded battling against young German soldiers in close range combat for the "Mouse Trap" and then attacked with chlorine gas. Whiling dying on May 24,1915, he is asked his age. He finally told someone that he would have been fourteen next month. Eight years after Patrick's death, he was found in a mass grave site extremely close to his older friend Tom. Their bodies are exhumed and reburied next to each other in the British Cemetery in Flanders, Belgium. Patrick or otherwise known as John Condon was youngest military casualty of World War I.

I rated this book four stars because I thought Patrick's story was interesting. I also rated this book four stars because I liked the WWI history the book gives. I think all ages would enjoy this book. I would recommend this book to people who like military books. I was surprised when I found out that Patrick was a real person. I thought this story was fascinating because Patrick didn't find going to war scary, like other people would. I found Patrick being the youngest casualty of World War I fascinating. ( )

Interesting perspective on World War I. ( )