The Button War: Great War Story

Publishers Weekly (starred review) praises the book for its powerful portrayal of the lasting impact of war on a child’s sense of order, morality, and security. The strongly visual scenes are said to leave a lasting impression on readers.

Twelve-year-old Patryk, who knows little of the world beyond his tiny Polish village, lives under Russian occupation. When the Germans bring the Great War to his doorstep, Patryk and his friends, led by Jurek, find themselves caught up in a dangerous game of dares. What starts as harmless pranks escalates into looting the bodies of dead soldiers, all in pursuit of military buttons. As the village changes hands between nations, the line between their “button war” and the real war becomes increasingly blurred.

Author Avi, known for his historical fiction, delivers a stark and powerful account of the boys’ desperate quest to prove themselves in the midst of war. The book, now available in paperback with a newly imagined cover, tells the story of how a seemingly innocent dare spirals out of control, leading to devastating consequences for the boys and their village.

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