Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

I was so surprised by how much I loved this book. It's about two Irish brothers who fight in World War I. On one dramatic night one of the brothers, in an attempt to stay awake all night, relives his childhood. You are immersed in the world of a poor Irish family, and an incredible relationship between the brothers and the girl they both love. In the end, the events of the war cause a heartbreaking choice with no good ending. I was shocked to find out that this story is based on a shameful piece of history. As one 8th grader said to me when she returned this book, "I didn't know this was going to make me cry!" Highly recommended for 7th and 8th grade readers and for adults, too.