The Forty-Third War

by Louise Moeri

Book Overview

A twelve-year-old boy learns about death and the conflicts that grip his Central American country when he's pressed into military service and trained as a soldier. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395669553
• ISBN13: 9780395669556
• Release Date: September 1993
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

An acute view into history and conflict for juvenile readers

I remember picking up this book some years ago in sixth grade. The fact that the characters were my age and could be related to confronted me with a harsh and violent reality in stark opposition to the security of life in suburban America. A middle-class child in the U.S. has no real experience of difficult socio-economic conditions or political turmoil--this book quite vividly makes concrete and living the personal experience of being enveloped in the pain and despair of war, an experience that is all too common outside of the First World bourgeoisie's bubble of Eloi peace and prosperity. Moreover, over the years, I have connected to this book again and again, and especially, but not only in studying history and international politics. In Uno's fictional (but quite real) country, 42 previous civil wars had been fought, accomplishing nothing. How is he to hope that the senseless trauma of the 43rd would bring any change? With the symbol of recurrent war, Moeri captures the tragic tenacity and indestructibility of political instability characteristic of Central American history (but also, in a larger scope, the nature of historical social, political, economic problems in general), the despair and powerlessness in struggling in the vise of inexorable and impersonal forces (not only those of history and politics, but throughout life), and the human condition of futility and hope.

The Best Book I've Ever Read

In my time a have a few books but none of them compare to the emencity of detail and action in this book. The way the author explains events that happen in the book and some of the settings astounded me. The way this book shows what Uno and Lolo have to go through before and during the war. This novel educated me and showed me how good I actually have it.How Moeri talks about these things is amazing to me it's as if they were there. The way Moeri describes what happens during the course of this book. I would recomend this book to anyone. It is a great book that can teach you about how different people live every, single, day.

Review of The Forty-Third War

The book was crammed full of action and was also based on real wars which added to the excitement. I liked most of the story; it was very inspiring, and it got me thinking about whether or not I could ever get drafted into a war. The relationship between Uno and the two other main characters was very tight which added top dialogue to the book. The story, however, was only spread over eight days. I would have been more satisfied if the book said what happened to Uno after the war ended.Uno's character developed steadily through the book. Uno started out being very worried about what was going to happen to him. He turned out to care a lot about people, and he wanted a better world for them. Towards the end of the book Uno showed that he could be a real solider and kill if he had to.This book had a lot of hidden meaning and depth to it. This is one of those books you really need to read twice to catch everything. Its descriptive details and complex plot had me begging for more. This book was definitely worth reading, not just once but two or three times. The writing was extraordinary and put you right in the shoes of the protagonist. This book is highly recommended by me, and I hope to read another like it.

The Forty-Third War

Forced into the revolutionary army at age twelve young Uno must face the harsh realities of civil war. Set in an unnamed Central or South American country this gripping novel addresses the life of children caught in the pathway of war. Uno spends a week with the guerilla fighters and in that time sees things that we cannot imagine. Forced to drill as a soldier Uno is sent out on patrol. While in the jungle Uno comes across a village that has been destroyed by the enemy. Later, Uno takes part in an ambush of loyalist troops as well as an assault on a town. Each of these experiences changes Uno in a fundamental way. The Forty-Third war refers to the fact that Uno's nation has already faced forty-two other revolutions and wars. Set in a seemingly hopeless situation Uno's story does offer seeds of hope. The author does a wondeful job of recreating the world within which children become soldiers. This is a story that could have been set in El Salvador, Nicarauga, or a number of other locales. It is also a story of children caught up in warfare that needs to be told. This is a difficult book to read but one that tells a vital story. The characters are well developed and realistic. Simply put, this is a classic look at one aspect of the face of war.

A good book portraying war

This is a good book that deals with war in Central America. I had to read it as EC for World Geography and was awed by the way it described how children would feel about being part of guerlla forces and war. In the US, kids take for granted that they don't have to even consider such situations, and Moeri's book is a good eye-opener to the world of Central America.