The Day the World Stopped Turning is a World War II story of outsiders, trials, disappointment, kindness, and hope.
The Day the World Stopped Turning by Michael Morpurgo. Feiwel and Friends, 2019. 284 pages.
- Reading Level: Teens, ages 12-15
- Recommended For: Ages 12-15
A painting and pursuit of following the bend in the road leads Vincent to France, where he finds flamingo-filled marshes and becomes dependent on the hospitality of an older Roma woman, Kezia, and her best friend, Lorenzo, who is probably autistic.
While Vincent recuperates from his injuries, Kezia tells him the story of how she and her parents came to the nearby village in their caravan with their carousel many years ago, and how she, an outsider, formed a close bond with Lorenzo, also an outsider, in a friendship like a sister and brother. Then the Germans came. Kezia spent as much time as she could on Lorenzo’s family’s farm, away from the Germans, but escape from the harsh reality of occupation doesn’t last.
The carousel is destroyed by a storm. The Germans assert their claim over Lorenzo’s favorite retreat. And it is not safe for anyone who is an outsider to be part of village life, so Kezia and her parents move to the farm for safety.
There are many novels about World War II, but this story is not bleak and harsh. The miseries of war seem subdued (perhaps because the story is told decades after it happened), and everything is resolved happily. The dignity of people with special needs is a highlight, and showing the humanity and kindness of one particular German official is welcome.
Bottom Line: The Day the World Stopped Turning is a heartwarming story for middle grades, young adults, or family read aloud.
Related Reading From Redeemed Reader
- A Review: Starred review for Enemies in the Orchard, in which an American girl and a German POW discover a shared humanity among the tragedy of war.
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- A Review: Radar and the Raft traces the invention of Radar through the harrowing story of a missionary family torpedoed and rescued during World War II.
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