Ellie's War – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ellie's War

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2016

68%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

A personal WWI coming-of-age series that asks young readers: how do you grow up when everything around you is falling apart?

Ellie's War

book

2016

68%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

A personal WWI coming-of-age series that asks young readers: how do you grow up when everything around you is falling apart?

4.6

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Screenwise Verdict

Ellie's War is solid middle-grade historical fiction that doesn't shy away from the emotional weight of WWI. It's the kind of book that teaches history through the heart—you're not just learning about the Great War, you're feeling what it was like to be a kid waiting, wondering, growing up too fast.

The 4.6 Amazon rating and Scholastic backing suggest it hits the mark for its age group. But this isn't a light read. It's about separation, loss, and the kind of uncertainty that keeps you up at night. If your kid is ready for that emotional depth and you want them to understand history as something that happened to real people, not just dates and battles, this delivers.

Just know what you're getting into: this is a series that asks young readers to sit with hard feelings and incomplete answers. Some kids will find that powerful and meaningful. Others might not be ready. You know your kid best.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-14 who are ready for emotionally mature historical fiction. The WWI setting and themes of loss and separation require readers who can handle heavy subject matter without becoming overwhelmed.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A coming-of-age story set during WWI that deals with mature wartime themes including separation, loss, and the harsh realities of war. The series shows emotional depth and character growth, but the setting inherently involves heavy subject matter that requires emotional maturity.

Imaginative

Historical fiction that transports readers to WWI-era Britain, offering a window into a different time period and the lived experiences of young people during wartime. The personal narrative approach invites empathy and historical imagination, though it's grounded in realism rather than fantasy or creative play.

Safe

While appropriate for the target age range (10-12), the series deals with serious wartime content including separation, potential death, and the emotional trauma of war. The second book specifically involves themes of waiting for a loved one who may not return. No graphic violence or inappropriate content for the age group, but emotionally heavy material that parents should be aware of.

Enriching

Strong historical education value, offering insight into WWI's impact on families and young people. The coming-of-age narrative provides opportunities for developing empathy, understanding historical context, and processing complex emotions around loss, resilience, and growing up during difficult times. Amazon rating of 4.6 suggests readers find value in the story.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Solid historical fiction that makes WWI personal and relatable for middle-grade readers
Coming-of-age story that tackles real emotions around separation, loss, and resilience
Strong 4.6 Amazon rating suggests readers connect with Ellie's journey
Published by Scholastic with age-appropriate handling of serious themes (10-12 reading age)
Builds empathy and historical understanding through a young girl's perspective on war

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What to Watch For

Emotionally heavy themes of wartime separation and potential loss—not light reading
The second book focuses on waiting for someone who may never return, which can be anxiety-inducing
Best for kids who are ready to process complex historical trauma and don't need everything tied up neatly
May prompt questions about war, death, and what happens to families during conflict

Conversation Starters

"How do you think Ellie feels waiting for news? Have you ever had to wait for something really important?"
"What would it be like to be a kid during a war? How would your life be different?"
"Why do you think people kept going during such hard times? Where did they find hope?"
"If you had to say goodbye to someone and didn't know when you'd see them again, what would you want to tell them?"

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