Time School: We Will Comfort Them by Nikki Young

We Will Comfort Them is the fourth and final Time School book. Each book in this wonderful historical series for middle grade readers is completely engaging and full of emotion.

One by one, the four main characters have had an opportunity to learn something significant about themselves and their family history. They’ve experienced first hand how significant historical events and socio-economic changes have affected their school, where they live and the people who lived there.

We Will Comfort Them explores the true events surrounding the War of Independence in Croatia in 1991-1995. Tomma, Jess, Nadia and Ash are studying war poetry in their Year 7 Engish lessons. At first, it’s only words but they soon discover the truth – how people were killed because of their religion and ethnicity.

None are more affected than Tomma. He has always wondered about his mum’s mysterious past. She grew up in Croatia but refuses to talk about her life there. Tomma desperately wants to understand and have a family who are close to each other.

When the gang wakes up to a power cut one morning, it can only mean one thing. Their usual train to school is about to be replaced by an old steam carriage that will take them back in time. At first, they aren’t sure exactly when they’ve arrived but they soon realise it’s 1994.

Tomma meets a young girl who has escaped from the war in Croatia and is living with a foster family in England. As details of her story are uncovered, Tomma makes a saddening realisation. He knows he must protect this girl and help her to deal with her loss.

We Will Comfort Them is an incredibly heartfelt story that will really open readers’ eyes to the impact of war – both in the past as well as current conflicts. They will begin to understand a small part of how children involved might be feeling and challenged to reach out to those who are suffering. Strength of family and the strength of friendship draw this beautiful series to a close, leaving readers reflecting on their own relationships and the importance of understanding where we’ve come from to inspire where we are going.

Thank you to author Nikki Young for a copy of this wonderful book!

Read my reviews of the rest of the series below: