Book Review: A Rose for the Anzac Boys

A thoughtful and thought-provoking fictionalised account of the role of women during the First World War, A Rose for the Anzac Boys (HarperCollins, 2008) is an insightful work of young adult fiction with an obvious message to share about the impact of war both at home and on the battlefield. Author Jackie French successfully strives to bring to life the many personal conflicts and compromises inflicted on everyday people by The Great War, drawing on a foundation of research including private letters and diaries.

Central Characters and Storyline of the Anzac Boys

Midge Macpherson is a 16-year-old New Zealand girl enrolled in an English finishing school when her two brothers go off to war. Her best friends are Anne, the youngest daughter of an aristocratic British family and Ethel, the daughter of a Yorkshire wholesale grocer.

The three girls struggle with their inactivity and the irrelevance of their studies in deportment and home management skills while their brothers and loved ones are fighting in France, Belgium and Gallipoli. Stirred into action by a telegram telling her that her twin brother is missing in action, Anne rallies her friends to join her as she sets off for France with a plan to start a canteen to provide meals to the troops travelling to the Western Front.

As they deal with the tens of thousands of soldiers who pass through their lives, the girls discover hidden strengths and abilities. They unearth a sense of purpose in their desire to contribute to the well-bring of the soldiers and are impacted by the connections that they make with the local French villagers, other volunteers and the soldiers themselves.

While the story focuses primarily on Midge, the characters of Ethel and Anne also highlight the lost dreams, contradictions and almost unbearable cruelties of war as well as showing the opportunities it provided for women to step out from their conservatively defined roles of wife and homemaker, and act with courage, integrity and perseverance in the face of incredible challenges.

World War I and the Role of Women in War

In addition to the detail-laden story, a 26-page author’s note provides a summary of the significant events of the war. This is not an in depth commentary, but rather a general overview to give added meaning and understanding to the reader in relation to the specific events of the book.

A glossary of basic war-related or historical terms used during the dialogue will also assist readers.

Information on the role woman played in the provision of medical care, transport and supplies during World War I is included, outlining the lack of organisation, planning or tactics for the soldiers and the necessity for families at home, most specifically women, to be largely responsible for providing clothing and food for their loved ones at war.

Sensitively Written World War I Fiction for Teens

A versatile author with numerous award-winning books published in a variety of genres, French handles this subject with incredible skill and deftness, while still delivering a powerful and direct message to her audience. The character-driven plot will perhaps appeal more to female readers, but the message of the novel is one that is instructive for all.

A Rose for the Anzac Boys is a novel with a significant emotional impact. It is an ideal introduction to the personal impact of the complexities and contradictions of war. It does not seek to glorify war, but rather to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and to acknowledge the tireless efforts and sacrifices of so many everyday people whose lives where turned upside down by the decisions of a few.

Related article: The Holocaust in Teen Fiction

A Rose for the Anzac Boys

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