How do you make a book about The Bomb and War beautiful? As Raymond Briggs or actually, read their graphic novel titled When the Wind Blows. This is not The Snowman with its whimsy and sweetness. This is a book that will make you laugh, be sad, have an off chuckle (should I really be laughing at these poor people?), then you will not stop crying. This is an amazing Anti-War story that is not for the sensitive reader, but is a must read to show how it is not the government, or the “Enemies,” but the little people who pay the ultimate price.
You need to read it to get all the ins and outs of the story, but I’ll try to sum it up. We follow a husband and wife, who are living “now” or probably around the 1960s, but honestly it could be set almost anytime, except that the couple were children during the war with the Jerry’s (World War II/the Germans). However, the book came out in the 1980’s. There is some slang and/or slurs (Jerry’s or Ruskies) but nothing I wouldn’t have said if I were explaining the mindset of the people to my nephews when they were starting the double digits, but of course, I would have also explained why it is derogatory. But with the “danger around the corner,” the whimsy of the naiveness and cluelessness of the couple hides the real story: The government tells the country you have a few days to prepare for bomb dropping, but instead, it happens within hours of the announcement. And that attack is as simple as a bomb dropped on the country. And the aftermath is a very simple, but deadly, Fall Out.
The illustrations also hide the seriousness of things. However, they do let you know something is wrong with the winds not blowing right, or the bottles of water having been knocked over, how the outside is empty, and even how the changes are happening with the couple. (Slight spoiler: there is a bit of blood, medical issues and less than pleasant images when things near the end). I guess it is not the illustrations that makes things beautiful, as they are frankly a bit ugly and oddly done. They mimic the style of The Snowman but the colors, overly crowded pages and more take it in a different direction. I think what makes it beautiful is the style of writing is done to soften the impact, but not the actual impact of the event itself.