ALA Booklist (Thu May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

The First World War is a complicated subject for even expert historians, so how can Hale squeeze it all into less than 130 pages? For starters, the focus is largely on the western front, he presents only the most pivotal battles, and, in what ends up being a clever way to distinguish between major players without a lot of text, each country involved is represented by an animal (Americans are bunnies). Yes, some of the conflicts come down to petty fighting between cartoon animals in military uniforms, but it's an effective and simple way to communicate the complicated anger and nationalism that came to a boil in 1914. Hale also respectfully keeps the narrative from becoming too irreverent: amid the mood-lightening jokes are moments of real solemnity, such as when Gavrilo Princip pulls the trigger to assassinate Archduke Ferdinand and transforms from an animated griffin to a terrified human. Students bored to death by textbook descriptions of WWI battle maneuvers should be engaged by this entertaining, educational glimpse at world history.

School Library Journal (Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Gr 3-7 In the newest addition to this inventive series, Revolutionary War figure Nathan Hale tells the story of World War I with the support of two sidekicks who help shine light on some of the nuances of the historical event. The narrative explores why the war began, each country's role, battle tactics and technology implemented, and the lasting impact of the conflagration. Each country is represented by an animal, bringing to mind Art Spiegelman's iconic Maus (Pantheon, 1986). The facts are well researched and include statistics, as well as direct quotes from historical figures. The drawings are detailed and engaging, and the sparse use of color matches the tone of the tale. Not for the faint of heart, the book doesn't mince the gruesome, tragic reality of the Great War. The format lends itself as an effective presentation through the lens of Hale's sidekicks: a serious soldier who serves to clarify details, and an irreverent executioner who provides some much-needed comic relief. A mixture of textbook and slapstick, this essential read makes history come alive in a way that is relevant to modern-day life and kids. Jenna Lanterman, formerly at The Calhoun School and Mary McDowell Friends School, New York City

Voice of Youth Advocates

The newest installment of the historical graphic series Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales takes on World War I, "the war to end all wars." The book briefly recaps the series set-up: Revolutionary War spy Nathan Hale (whose name is shared by the author), just before hanging for treason against the Redcoats, is swallowed into a history book and spit back out to amuse his dim-witted hangman and uberpatriotic provost with stories of American history. Recapping the entire conflict of WWI is Hale's most ambitious feat. To clarify the mess of cross-continental powers that fought the war (and at the request of the ironically softhearted hangman), Hale assigns different animals to represent each nation, thus the story becomes a grisly menagerie as more and more countries are roped into the staggering conflict. In less than 130 pages, Hale covers the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, all the way up to the Armistice four years later.Hale once again combines thorough research, spot-on illustration, and cheeky humor in his latest Hazardous Tale. The use of animals somewhat quells the confusion of powers in this complicated war, although some sections still remain hard to follow. To remind readers that WWI was "not some animal fairy tale!" the author chooses timely moments to illustrate the true human forms of significant figures. Hale also manages to fit in numerous advancements of weaponry, a terrifying personification of war in the character of Ares (Greek god of war), and a strong point of view of the war's unnecessary butchery, smartly summed up by actual quotes from those who fought in the trenches. This may be a more challenging read for some (the author himself comments on the fact that maybe he bit off more than he and his fictional "research babies" could chew). But fans of the series and military history buffs should still find plenty to enjoy, while educators will find it a great supplemental read for a WWI lesson plan.Liz Gotauco.

Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Nathan Hale, Revolutionary War hero, continues to distract his executioners in this fourth volume, which tackles WWI's complex events. As always, the graphic novel series' irreverent humor makes the complicated story more accessible. Here, "cute little animals" represent different countries, helping readers appreciate the entertaining history lesson (provided they're not put off by the small panel illustrations and tiny type). Reading list.