Hollow Chest
Shell shock, battle fatigue, combat exhaustion, and post-traumatic stress injury: These clinical terms mask the unimaginable suffering of veterans. Brita Sandstrom dares to show the true nature of their suffering in the form of terrifying beasts, the war wolves. And she brings to life an unlikely hero to face them, eleven-year-old Charlie Merriweather.
Charlie is no stranger to fear and loss, the kind that can scar a heart forever. He survived the London Blitz in the Goodge Street bomb shelter; his father did not. And even though World War II is over and the soldiers are returning home, air raid sirens still sound in his dreams. Charlie wakes early each morning covered in a cold sweat. He does not race to pack his bag and catch the school bus, but instead dresses his grandfather and fetches the rations from the corner store. It seems much of his childhood remains locked in the Goodge Street shelter.
Charlie is filled with hope and purpose despite the bad dreams and the weight of caring for an ailing grandparent. His brother Theo is returning from France, and Charlie knows that he will make everything right again. But when Theo returns, Charlie quickly realizes that the brother he has longed for is gone. In his place is a frightened, broken, and dangerous man. Worse yet, Charlie discovers Theo has been followed home by the war wolves. The same beasts who devoured Theo’s heart on the battlefield are now stalking Charlie.
Sandstrom’s story is one of empathy, love, and courage. More importantly, it is one of understanding. As Charlie faces each of his brother’s wolves and meets several of their other victims along the way, he discovers that while there is no path back, there is a path forward. Highly recommended for ages eight and up, along with the publisher’s teaching guide.
