Charlie Wilcox facts for kids
Charlie Wilcox is an exciting children's novel written by Sharon E. McKay. It tells the story of a young boy from Newfoundland during the time of World War I. The book was first published in 2000 and quickly won two important awards: the Geoffrey Bilson Award and the Violet Downey Award. There's even a sequel called Charlie Wilcox's Great War, which came out in 2003.
What is Charlie Wilcox About?
The story begins in Newfoundland in 1915. Charlie Wilcox is fourteen years old. His parents want him to go to college. They don't want him to become a seal hunter like his father. This is because Charlie has a club foot, which means his foot is shaped differently. His parents worry it might make an active life too hard for him.
Charlie's Big Adventure
Charlie wants to prove he is brave and capable. He decides to secretly board a sealing ship. But things go wrong! He accidentally ends up on a troop ship instead. This ship is heading to Europe, where the war is happening.
Life in the Trenches
Charlie chooses not to go back home. Instead, he decides to become a stretcher bearer at the front lines. A stretcher bearer helps carry injured soldiers to safety. He sees the very difficult and dangerous conditions of trench warfare. This is where soldiers fought from long, narrow ditches in the ground. Charlie also experiences the terrible Battle of the Somme. This was one of the biggest and toughest battles of World War I.
