Stay Where You Are and Then Leave

Alfie’s life changes forever when the First World War breaks out and his father enlists in the army and leaves the family to go away and fight. The young boy overcomes hardships and seemingly insurmountable difficulties while living in a war-torn country and while trying to support himself and his mother. When he learns of the whereabouts of his father four years later, he is determined to rescue him from the nearby hospital. Suitable for intermediate students in Grade 5–7, this historical novel tells the story of a young boy’s bravery and resourcefulness. Its well-developed themes and complex conflicts allow for discussions that will help students understand themselves and their world as well as for opportunities to discuss questions on conscience and morality, in particular concerning gender stereotypes, multiculturalism, and violence.