The Machine Gunners

by Robert Westall

Book Overview

After an air raid, a group of English children find a German machine gun and hide it from adults who are looking for it.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679801308
• ISBN13: 9780679801306
• Release Date: March 1990
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.2" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Book

The Machine Gunners is one of the best books I've read recently, combinding an intriguing subject matter and a suspenseful, fast-paced plotline into a great read. I highly recommend it for anyone around the ages of ten to fifteen, though of course this is only a rough guide. This book takes place in a town in Great Britain during World War II. Chas McGill, the main character, has been striving to become the person with the best war souvenier collection in town ever since Boddser Brown bested him with the nose cone from a bomber. He gets his chance when a German Heinkel crashes on the laundary, leaving parts scattered in plain view--and the prize pig of all war souveniers, a functional machine gun, hidden in the cockpit in the hand of the dead gunner. Chas and his friends remove the machine gun, and it becomes a much-pursued secret. After Chas's humiliation at school for fighting "dishonorably" with his rival Boddser Brown, he bands together with the most unlikely of people: Audrey, Carrot-Juice, Nicky, Cem (short for Cemetary, after his father's profession), and Clogger, who all become friends in order to guard the machine gun and build the underground Fortress which becomes their base and, in a way, a bit of a clubhouse for their soldier games. After firing the machine gun at a Messerschmitt, which ends up crashing into the harbor, the children discover that they're not able to fire the gun again for some unknown reason. Disheartened, they are all gathered in the Fortress one night when Sergeant Rudi Gerlath of the Luftwaffe--the pilot of the shot-down fighter--stumbles into their hideaway. Reacting quickly, they manage to take him prisoner, much to his later disgust (later because he falls asleep soon after he is discovered). Over the course of the next few days, a rough alliance is established between the children of the Fortress and Rudi, and a deal is put forth: if Rudi is able to repair the machine gun, they will give him a boat in order to escape when the German fleet is nearby. When rumors that this has occured and the Germans are invading spreads, Rudi fixes the machine gun and is given his chance to escape. But is it really the Germans who are invading at last? Or will the children take place in a mistake that can turn tragic if the machine gun is fired? To find out, I suggest you read the book: you'll be greatly rewarded.

Manchine gunners

Machine Gunner's is a fantasy like book. But its not! In fact the author (Robert Westhall) was Chas as a young child. This adventure type story tells the tale of a young boy caught up in the trauma of World War 2. Not only are the Germans his enemies, but also people closer to home. His Parents! With all the emotion going on, his family (along with may others) are falling apart. His whole gang have their own problems at home. When he finds a machine gun he knows he can beat Boddser Brown (one of his other enemies) in a competition of collection war souvenirs. But suddenly the whole thing gets out of hand. Him and his friends build a fortress, but when a friendly German stubbles in there hiding place, will he feel the same way about the countries enemies? Suddenly him and his gang are acting like adults. But when Nicky (the weakest gang member) looses his only parent, the German becomes his father figure. Now he is the only adult they can trust. I think this book was written very strongly and emotionally, as it was wrote in third person. It doesn't just tell the reader what is happening, but they get a sense of how the characters feel. I feel that it is for a younger audience, for around 10 to 14 year olds. This book is great when reading with a range of different readers, as the accents of the characters makes the book have the sense of humour. The dialogue is just great! I found the book interesting, as it showed everything that nobody else has. Machine Gunners taught us all, mainly about the emotion of people caught up in the war, which broke there families up! I really like this book, and totally enjoyed reading it. I would love to read the follow up book and find out what happened to the characters. As I have said before; it is very enjoyable to read with a class. When you do read in a group, it is very good to act some scenes out (especially the emotional ones). I know anybody who reads this book will really like it!

The Machine Gunners Review by a 12 year old

The Machine Gunners, by Robert Westall, is an action/adventure book, which I would recommend mainly to readers of ages nine to fourteen.Possibly younger,seven maybe. Even adults. It is about a boy by the name of Chas McGill and his friends, Audrey, Carrot-juice, Nicky, Clogger and Cem. The book is set during the time of World War II in Garmouth, Northen England in 1941. Chas was the best war souvenier owner in the whole of Garmouth, until Boddser Brown, the school bully found a 3.6 inch nose cone of a German Heinekel III in mint condition. So Boddser was pretty much beating Chas, until one day, after school, whilst walking through his local woods with his friend Cem, Chas discovers an Enemy German Bomber Plane, accompanied by a Machine Gun with 200 rounds of ammunition. They take this finding as a chance to make themselves a base, where they can meet up, and for some of them, even live, along with the protection of a trusty weapon. Each child suffers a dilema or two, some worse than others, but they also manage to overcome them, through the help of their friends. Some of the situations are horrific and unimaginable to know what it was like to be in their shoes. At the start of the story they are all just mates but by the end they are like a family. The story goes on to explain how they did their bit for the war, and ended up with more than they bargained for. It is very entertaining and gripping. It is THE BEST book I have ever read. This is because i enjoyed every minute of it and couldn't put it down. I have very few reasons why i don't think this is a good book, for it takes quite a while to reach the climax, then it draws to an end very quickly and doesn't explain what happens to some of the characters. The Characters: All of them are 13-14 years old. Chas Mcgill: Chas is a jack the lad, common, cheeky, interesting and Very nosey kid. His father works at a mining site and is also an A.R.P Warden (Air Raid Police Warden). He is the main character of the book. Audrey: Audrey is a wealthy girl, who is a Tom boy. She is Stronger and tougher than most of the lads. Cem Jones: Son of the local Undertaker, he gets his name from his dad's job(works in a Cemetery cremating bodies). He is Chas' best friend and is quite a comical character. Nicky: He is a weak feeble boy, whos dad had recently drowned at sea on a ship and his mum was an alcoholic who was a bit loopy. He is also very rich and has a large house, which is being used as a hospice for injured soldiers to recover. Clogger: Clogger is a Glasweigen Orphan thug, with a kind heart, who lives with his Aunt and Uncle. He appears rough, but actually is quite a nice person. I give this book 4 and 3/4 out of 5 stars. An amazing book, tat never fails to impress. By George Teal, 2L

Magic !

I read this book a long time ago, as part of my schooling. Even at that age, I did not want to put this book down. This is a good one to pass on to young'uns, and alot of adults too. A must for the bookshelf me thinks.

The ultmate war game, apart from this time with a real gun!

Just imagian a time when collecting war suveners made you the most popular kid in school, then imagan how popular you would be if you had a real and working machine gun with a couple of hundred rounds! Thats exactly what Chas McGill found apart from he did not use it to become popular he used it to kill Germans. This book was realy cool, but if I told you any more about it I would ruin the story.