Little soldiers all

"Little Soldiers All" by Eleanora H. Stooke is a touching novel for young readers that tells the story of Josephine, a young girl who travels from India to England during World War I to live with her aunt and uncle. As Josephine settles into her unfamiliar surroundings, she must cope with her father being away at war and the worries that come with wartime. The book begins with Josephine arriving at the home of the kind Miss and Mr. Basset, her new guardians, who are eager to make feel her welcomed while also dealing with their own anxieties about the war, including how Josephine will adjust to life in England. The stage is set for Josephine's interactions with the Basset family, particularly with the twins, May and Donald Rae, as they face the difficulties caused by the war and personal challenges, especially Donald’s inability to join the army because of an injury; the story combines the simple joys of childhood with the serious reality of war, which provides a powerful background for the story.