Review of Wonks
Posted: 31 Dec 2021, 07:19
[Following is a volunteer review of "Wonks" by William Reese Hamilton.]
During WWII, the Japanese Imperial Army invades Manila after General MacArthur declares it an open city. The non-Asians are rounded up and placed in settlement camps, cutoff from the rest of the world. For Johnny Oldfield, the invasion has not only changed his life but also separated him from his father Ben, whose whereabouts are unknown. Johnny and his mother Ruth, a headstrong nurse, slowly settle in the camp and are integrated into a social group of interesting characters like: Harry Barnes, a storyteller making his way from China with an urn containing the ashes of a friend, Southy who is a former pro-boxer and a friend of Ben and Polecat, an unusual child with a strong hatred for the Japanese and a companion to Johnny on numerous escapades. Johnny also has his adventures with a group of rebellious kids, usually running around like a pack of Wonks. Wonks by William Reese Hamilton narrates the ordeals of growing up during one of the harshest times in human history.
The novel Wonks narrates the adventures Johnny undertakes during a time of war and hardship. The book shows how a child perseveres in a world of cruelty and uncertainty in order to survive the hardships of war. Johnny is forced to abandon his childhood due to circumstances beyond his control and yet he still manages to find a bit of amusement during troubled times. The character Johnny embodies strength and courage and can be an inspiration especially to children going through traumatic times. The story is filled with details of the war which may not be known by people of the modern world. There are many war stories which have not yet been told and this book avials the the opportunity to find out some of the incidences that occured during the war that may otherwise have been ignored.
There are hardly any negative aspects with the book except for the mild violence when narrating some of the tragedies of the war such as the executions of war prisoners. This may be discomforting to young readers or readers who dislike violence. However, this is only limited to a few scenarios in the book and should not be a major deterrent to reading the novel.
I give Wonks a rating of 3 out of 4 . The book is interesting and very educative about the incidences that transpired during WWII. The book has a unique perspective in the war since it tells the story through the eyes of a child.
I recommend the book to all readers. Young readers may find Johnny Oldfield to be intriguing and older readers may be interested in the historical details of the war. The book has something for everyone and people are bound to enjoy the story.
******
Wonks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
During WWII, the Japanese Imperial Army invades Manila after General MacArthur declares it an open city. The non-Asians are rounded up and placed in settlement camps, cutoff from the rest of the world. For Johnny Oldfield, the invasion has not only changed his life but also separated him from his father Ben, whose whereabouts are unknown. Johnny and his mother Ruth, a headstrong nurse, slowly settle in the camp and are integrated into a social group of interesting characters like: Harry Barnes, a storyteller making his way from China with an urn containing the ashes of a friend, Southy who is a former pro-boxer and a friend of Ben and Polecat, an unusual child with a strong hatred for the Japanese and a companion to Johnny on numerous escapades. Johnny also has his adventures with a group of rebellious kids, usually running around like a pack of Wonks. Wonks by William Reese Hamilton narrates the ordeals of growing up during one of the harshest times in human history.
The novel Wonks narrates the adventures Johnny undertakes during a time of war and hardship. The book shows how a child perseveres in a world of cruelty and uncertainty in order to survive the hardships of war. Johnny is forced to abandon his childhood due to circumstances beyond his control and yet he still manages to find a bit of amusement during troubled times. The character Johnny embodies strength and courage and can be an inspiration especially to children going through traumatic times. The story is filled with details of the war which may not be known by people of the modern world. There are many war stories which have not yet been told and this book avials the the opportunity to find out some of the incidences that occured during the war that may otherwise have been ignored.
There are hardly any negative aspects with the book except for the mild violence when narrating some of the tragedies of the war such as the executions of war prisoners. This may be discomforting to young readers or readers who dislike violence. However, this is only limited to a few scenarios in the book and should not be a major deterrent to reading the novel.
I give Wonks a rating of 3 out of 4 . The book is interesting and very educative about the incidences that transpired during WWII. The book has a unique perspective in the war since it tells the story through the eyes of a child.
I recommend the book to all readers. Young readers may find Johnny Oldfield to be intriguing and older readers may be interested in the historical details of the war. The book has something for everyone and people are bound to enjoy the story.
******
Wonks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon