I was initially drawn to this book because it is set partially in Nova Scotia. This is an amazingly poignant story of a man who goes off to war, not because he believes in the cause, but because he needs to find his brother in law and best friend, who enlisted and has not been heard from in a long time. It turns out that Angus does believe in the cause and as events unfold, all he wants to do is fight with his men.

It's a story of war and tolerance and understanding. To underscore this point, Angus points out that "we cannot know the whole poem from a single word, nor a life from a single act." It's gripping and very well researched. The descriptions of the fighting to take Vimy Ridge are particularly detailed and harrowing.

While Angus is off fighting, his young son, Simon is left at home in Nova Scotia trying to figure out how to get on while facing all sorts of problems, not least, the worry over the fate of his Father and Uncle and then his friends dislike of his teacher, for the mere fact he has a German last name, and finally dealing with how war effects people when their part in it is over.

If I could give this book more than five stars, I would.