Two Canadian friends, one born just two minutes after the other, go to the Western Front.Goldstyn's amusing cartoons develop the two boys' friendship, one in which Jules is "always two minutes behind Jim," but no matter: "Jules looked up to Jim, and Jim looked out for Jules." When war breaks out, Jules and Jim enlist, Jules, always a bit late, stuck with a uniform that doesn't quite fit and crossing the Atlantic in an old ship that's seen better days. "Jules and Jim had imagined war to be full of epic battles and glorious charges," but they soon realize trench warfare is anything but. (A magnified louse makes this perfectly clear.) This extra-long picture book is related in a wry, matter-of-fact tone that lets Goldstyn's watercolors arc shells across the gutter, back and forth, explosive violence alternating with vignettes that depict increasing hardship for everyone. In its compact, elliptical way, it's an extremely effective narrative of World War I, always grounded in its two protagonists. Jim is decorated, while Jules, always late, peels potatoes. An armistice is signed and a cease-fire designated at 11:00 on Nov. 11—but at 10:58 Jim goes over the top and is killed, the illustrations confronting this violence clearly. Home without his friend, Jules becomes a watchmaker, and all his timepieces run two minutes slow. Jim and Jules are both white, as are their fellow soldiers and adversaries.Children may notice that the adults reading with them are weeping—a history lesson and conversation starter in one book. (author's note) (Picture book. 6-10)

Gr 4 Up-This Canadian import searingly depicts the impact of war through the lens of two best friends, Jules and Jim, who are born on the same day and share an unlikely friendship. Although born two minutes apart, Jim is always quicker to learn and faster than Jules, yet they are as close as brothers when World War I breaks out in Europe and each enlists. Goldstyn's ink and watercolor illustrations beautifully pair with his words, depicting subtleties and political context that might otherwise elude readers. For example, in one vignette it shows how Jules and Jim may not know about the "treaties and alliances, but they understood that their country needed them." Goldstyn openly depicts shells, bullets, and poisonous gas launched at each side, and though not excessively graphic, it is obvious that people are dying. The monotony and fear of life in the trenches is rendered in heartbreaking detail, as is the realization of Jim and Jules that German soldiers aren't monsters but simply men. Goldstyn also reflects on how people are faring. For Jim and Jules, the armistice is two minutes too late and one of them does not survive. When only one returns home, his life is haunted by loss as he attempts to find a way to move forward in his life. This is a lengthier picture book and, due to its content and rich use of figurative language, is best suited for older children. It is however, an excellent resource for adults to share with students when having discussions about war in general and World War I in particular. VERDICT This is a beautiful and heartfelt picture book about war and perspective that should be a part of all social studies curriculum. Highly recommended. Rachel Zuffa, Case High School, Racine, WI

Though at first blush this appears to be a picture book, its vividly antiwar story suggests it is better suited for readers in grades five through eight. It is the tale of two lifelong friends, young Canadians Jim and Jules. Jim is born first and Jules, two minutes later. Thereafter Jim, faster and stronger than introverted Jules, is always two minutes ahead of his friend. Thus, Jim is the born leader and Jules, the follower. Then one day, war breaks out (though not specified, it's obviously WWl), and the two young patriots enlist. Expecting glory, they find, instead, the horrors of war, which author-illustrator Goldstyn does not whitewash. Happily, a cease fire is finally declared, but two minutes before it goes into effect, Jim is shot and killed. Readers will find it oddly appropriate and quietly satisfying what happens to a bereft Jules thereafter. Goldstyn's text is powerful in its spareness, while his cartoon pictures successfully capture the story's tone and moods, both antic and somber; taken together, these create a memorable, moving tale.

Jules was born two minutes after Jim and can't shake his role as tagalong for the duration of the friends' lives, during which they join the Canadian army in 1914 and fight Germany together. French Canadian author Goldstyn, whose art has the loose-lined, urbane look of New Yorker cartoons, ingeniously blends a friendship story with a devastating tale of World War I.

Two Canadian friends, one born just two minutes after the other, go to the Western Front.Goldstyn's amusing cartoons develop the two boys' friendship, one in which Jules is "always two minutes behind Jim," but no matter: "Jules looked up to Jim, and Jim looked out for Jules." When war breaks out, Jules and Jim enlist, Jules, always a bit late, stuck with a uniform that doesn't quite fit and crossing the Atlantic in an old ship that's seen better days. "Jules and Jim had imagined war to be full of epic battles and glorious charges," but they soon realize trench warfare is anything but. (A magnified louse makes this perfectly clear.) This extra-long picture book is related in a wry, matter-of-fact tone that lets Goldstyn's watercolors arc shells across the gutter, back and forth, explosive violence alternating with vignettes that depict increasing hardship for everyone. In its compact, elliptical way, it's an extremely effective narrative of World War I, always grounded in its two protagonists. Jim is decorated, while Jules, always late, peels potatoes. An armistice is signed and a cease-fire designated at 11:00 on Nov. 11—but at 10:58 Jim goes over the top and is killed, the illustrations confronting this violence clearly. Home without his friend, Jules becomes a watchmaker, and all his timepieces run two minutes slow. Jim and Jules are both white, as are their fellow soldiers and adversaries.Children may notice that the adults reading with them are weeping—a history lesson and conversation starter in one book. (author's note) (Picture book. 6-10)

This fictionalized historical tale by cartoonist Goldstyn (Letters to a Prisoner) tells the story of the very last Canadian soldier to die in WWI. Friends Jules and Jim grow up together in a small town. Jim is the leader: -Jules was always two minutes behind Jim... Everyone laughed at Jules... except Jim.- When the war starts, the two enlist and go to battle with scores of other uniformed figures. Just minutes before the armistice is signed, Jules-s habitual dawdling saves his life when Jim goes into the field first and is shot. Goldstyn delivers his messages about the futility of war and the injustice of labeling fellow humans enemies with simple dignity: -Sometimes they took German prisoners and, to Jules and Jim-s surprise, they didn-t seem like monsters. They were kind of pitiful.- The grim story is lightened somewhat by gentle comic touches, such as Goldstyn-s loosely drawn characters, and his measured narrative tone, gracefully translated by Mahoney. Because of its particular focus on WWI, the story may be of special value to teachers whose classes are studying the period. Ages 7-10. (Oct.)