My response after reading Chapter 1 - 5

The Machine Gunners is truly captivating as it offers a glimpse into the lives of people during WW2. It centers around a child named Chas, an ordinary kid in the town of Garmouth. The story showcases how children managed to have fun amidst the war by gathering broken plane parts from those that crashed. However, Chas discovers something far more exciting than the typical bomb fins, bullet shells, and shrapnel. He stumbles upon an entire plane with a machine gun and everything, including the pilot. Aware that the machine gun is the ultimate find for his collection, he cuts it off and hides it with a friend.

I suspect that what will occur next is that the students in his school will uncover this secret, and perhaps there will be a tattletale who informs the police.

The aspects that I appreciate about this book are its old-style writing technique and the inclusion of real facts about WW2. There are also several tense moments that compel you to keep reading to discover what happens next.

I have now finished the book, and it is excellent, although it can be a bit perplexing at times. Nevertheless, I would definitely read another of Robert Westall's books as they are filled with great adventures. I would highly recommend this book to people in the age group of 12 - 15 years.

I read this book at school while the TV show was being filmed nearby.

It was an interesting experience as I could imagine the scenes from the book coming to life on the small screen.

The story itself was engaging and held my attention from start to finish.

Although it may not reach the same heights as "Carrie's War", it was still a good read.

The characters were well-developed and the plot had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing.

I would recommend this book to others who enjoy a good story.

It's not a classic, but it's definitely worth a read if you're looking for something to pass the time.

Overall, I was satisfied with my reading experience and would look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

I'm on a literary mission to re-read all the books I loved as a child. Well, the ones I remember anyway.

It's quite a task as I only started keeping a list in 1999.

The book I just finished was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I think this is one I read in primary school. I picked it up initially based solely on the fact that it is set in the North East of England.

I remember going through a phase of reading nothing but World War II literature, and this was one of them.

Now, I'm eager to get hold of some more books by Michelle Magorian.

Her writing style seems to have a certain charm that keeps pulling me in.

I'm looking forward to exploring more of her works and seeing if they can still capture my imagination like this one did.

Maybe I'll discover some new favorites along the way.

Who knows what other literary treasures await me on this re-reading journey?

It's an exciting adventure that I can't wait to continue.

What a remarkable book this is! And what an outstanding writer Robert Westall is!

It's truly astonishing how I managed to overlook reading his works until now. However, I'm extremely glad that I've finally discovered him.

This book encompasses everything - humour that can make you burst out laughing, sadness that can tug at your heartstrings, the essence of life and the reality of death, the beauty of love, and the thrill of adventure.

Told in a simple yet highly effective manner, it has the power to both move you deeply and bring a smile to your face.

Perhaps I might subtract half a star for the somewhat conveniently over-neat ending, but that's really just a minor nitpick.

Don't let the fact that this is categorized as a book for children deter you. In fact, it is most definitely a book for adults as well.

It's about children rather than being specifically written for children.

It is far better written than the vast majority of so-called adult books that I've had the pleasure (or sometimes, not so much pleasure) of reading over the past year or so.

It's a literary gem that should not be missed by readers of all ages.

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I first read this around 1977 when I was approximately 9 years old and I absolutely loved it. Since then, I have read it numerous times and have delved into almost everything written by Robert Westall. His works have had a profound impact on me. Interestingly, this particular story was also adapted into a TV series which can be easily found online. Robert Westall is truly my favorite author. His unique writing style and captivating stories have served as a great inspiration for me to pen my own children's novel, 'The Fire Trail'. I hope to capture the same magic and charm in my writing as he did in his works.

A classic of children's literature,

Robert Westall presents a child's/young teen's viewpoint on experiencing war-time in a provincial coastal town. His narrative is unflinching and never condescends to the young audience the book targets. He offers a thrilling, fast-paced, page-turning story with a significant degree of emotional depth.

I read this at the age of 11 and adored it. However, there were some more adult themes in the book that I didn't comprehend at that time. Their existence didn't reduce my enjoyment but added extra nuance to the story when I re-read it in my early teens.

That is part of Westall's genius in this work - Chas's gang doesn't really understand the world around them but attempts to respond to its threats in the best way they can. His readership might not fully understand all the sub-plots in the narrative (where 'grown-up' things are happening) but they completely empathize with Chas and his friends who don't fully understand the 'grown-ups' either!

When I first read this, the Second World War was a vivid, living memory for my immediate family. My parents, as children, had endured the Blitz in Coventry. My uncles had served in the forces. The Second Great War was prominent in the culture of the 1970's.

30-odd years after my first reading of 'The Machine-gunners', I would recommend it as a great read for 12-14 year olds and an authentic introduction to 'Home Front Britain' in the early years of WWII.

My nan made me read this book.

It was a real struggle for me as I despised it with a passion.

I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to get through its pages, but my heart just wasn't in it.

To make matters worse, my cousins would constantly make fun of me for how much I hated the book.

They would tease me and ask me why I couldn't just enjoy it like they did.

I felt so frustrated and embarrassed.

However, looking back now, I realize that maybe my nan was trying to expose me to different types of literature and expand my horizons.

Even though I didn't like the book at the time, it might have had some hidden value that I just couldn't see.

So, while I still remember the experience vividly, I also try to be more open-minded when it comes to reading new books.

Who knows, maybe the next one will be a real gem that I'll love.

This captivating book tells the tale of what occurs when a group of teenagers in North-East England take matters into their own hands during the (Second World) War.

The remarkable aspect of this book is its authentic atmosphere. The boys (along with a token girl) experience the same friendships, rivalries, and difficulties at home and school as any typical teenager. However, all of this unfolds against the backdrop of bombing raids, death, destruction, and the looming threat of invasion. This gives rise to a combination of excitement, emotion, and plenty of down-to-earth humor.

The author's personal experience of growing up during the war adds significant credibility to the story, a quality that is sometimes lacking in more recent war-themed stories.

My only minor criticism is that reading the book is rather like watching an action-packed movie. There are rapid changes in scenes and characters, which can be confusing if you're not paying close attention. Then again, I'm not in the target group for this book.

Overall, it's a great story that touches on some very important themes. Due to its realism, I probably wouldn't recommend it to children under 10, even those with an advanced reading age. But it's an excellent choice for children aged 10 or 11 and above, offering a refreshing alternative to the current trends of magic, superpowers, mutants, dystopia, and other popular themes in teen books.

This book is set in Garmouth, England during World War II.

The main characters are children, namely Chas, Cem, Clogger, Nicky, and Audry.

In the story, Chas discovers a jet-black German plane with a perfectly intact machine gun on top. He decides that he will utilize it to assist with a raid that is planned for a couple of weeks later.

He and his friends begin to prepare for the raid. However, their plans are disrupted when a German pilot stumbles into their secret base.

The question then arises: Can Chas take advantage of both the machine gun and the German pilot?

I thought the book was really good towards the end. Although it started off a bit slowly, with detailed descriptions of all the characters and locations, it did manage to build suspense throughout the entire book.

I would highly recommend this book, but make sure you read the whole thing to fully appreciate the story and the twists and turns it takes.

It's a great read for those interested in historical fiction and adventure stories.

I first read this book when I was a child. The reason was that I was deeply fascinated by the war that my grandparents had experienced.

It has always been a book that I think of with great fondness, and I have read it many times. It brings back my attempts to understand war and shows that there was fear on both sides.

As children, we were bombarded with films and images of the war. However, this book brought to life the children's perspective and their limited understanding.

This book is full of adventure and offers a good perspective of war through the eyes of children. It is truly remarkable that this book was just as good to read as an adult as it was as a child!

It allows us to see war from a different angle and gain a deeper understanding of the impact it has on people, especially children.

Overall, this book is a valuable piece of literature that should be read by both children and adults alike.

Well written, solid story for tweens.

This is a story that is not only well crafted but also has a solid foundation. It is specifically tailored for tweens, those in that in-between stage of childhood and adolescence.

The author has done an excellent job of creating a narrative that will engage and interest this particular age group. The story likely features relatable characters, exciting plotlines, and valuable life lessons.

For tweens, who are constantly exploring and learning about the world around them, this story can serve as a source of entertainment and inspiration. It can help them to develop their imagination, empathy, and critical thinking skills.

Whether it's a story about friendship, adventure, or self-discovery, a well-written and solid story for tweens has the power to make a lasting impact on their lives.