The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett

This year has been all about war stories. This book is set during World War I. Although, the story is not happening on the battelfields but in the French countryside (a village and a forest away from the front), it carries a message agains the violence of war.

Donkey

When two little girls find a blind soldier in the woods they are happy to help him and keep his secret. Teh soldier is blinded by all the violence and suffering he has seen on the battlefield. That is why he doesn't want to fight any more and wants to return home to England. In order to help the soldier the girls have to involve their older brother. Coco, the youngest, is fascinated by a little silver donkey the soldier carries in his pocket.

"I will not take pleasure in the suffering of others. I would rather endure suffering myself, then see it inflicted on the world in my name".

A big part of the book are the four donkey stories that the soldier tells the kids.

Anti-war messages

Some people will never learn to treat life as it should be treated: with justice, and with grace.

All four stories are very sad. They are all about helping others even it means sacrificing your own life. The donkey in all four stories helps people even when they are not good to him.

At the end, the kids help the soldier find his way home (away from the war) and he slowly starts regaining his vision.