Blitzed is another spin by Carnegie Medal-winning author Robert Swindells on his winning formula of mixing historical verity with pure fiction to create an enthralling adventure. The plot follows the mishaps and adventures of George, a young boy in England who is fascinated by World War II and reckons that it would be much more "exciting" than his boring life at home. That is, until he finds himself in 1940s era London standing in the aftermath of a bombing raid by Germany, instead of gaping at replica model planes and guns with his friends at a field trip to Eden Camp. George has been mysteriously transported back to London under the iron fist of World War II, where starvation and death are omnipresent. Over the next few days, George begins to appreciate the peace and calm of his own existence, and gradually adjusts to the frantic existence of his milieu. Eventually, he is able to gain friends with a group of young children who have taken refuge in one of the old manors damaged by the bombing. George spends his days helping "Ma," the caretaker of the children, with her job and surveying the wartime ambiance. The relatively calm atmosphere of the novel changes dramatically with the death of one of George's friends, and most importantly his discovery of a Nazi spy in London! George attempts to convince the others that he has actually found a spy, but decides upon scorn to search for evidence to prove that he is right and everyone else wrong. His decisions will make or break the entire German effort to capture England.
Blitzed proves overall a pleasing, gratifying read for one who is seeking to fritter away the hours, but does not represent an exceptional or distinguished piece of literature. The storyline begins in a gripping manner, but gradually decays into a laborious assignment sure to hold only the interest of the desperate. Fortunately, the plot experiences a renascent induction of inspiration about halfway into the novel, resuscitating lagging interests through new pools of stratagem and conspiracy. Similarly, while purists might find objection to the simple, straightforward diction of the novel, most readers will find it to complement the plot and enhance the appeal of the characters. Blitzed was an enjoyable novel, but much too short. The lack of length is most apparent when looking at the development of the plot and characters. A few additional pages would allow the plot to recognize a pace and flesh out more detail. Character development and the storyline felt somewhat rushed, preventing the author from fully accessing the achievement the novel could have been. In terms of quality, Blitzed resides at the middle of the spectrum. However, although not particularly well developed or exercised, Blitzed still encloses enough streams of plot acceleration to satisfy less demanding readers with a desire for a short, engaging adventure and mystery novel.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shrewsbury, MA USA
