"Though this quiet tale of war is set in 1918 Europe, the story itself could reflect any modern war. … The delicately etched, black-and-white, pen-and-ink drawings, each framed on lovely cream-colored paper, are spare and beautiful, whether depicting soldiers trudging through fields or passing day in and day out in bunkers. … This elegant work powerfully conveys the slow crawl of war from a soldier and father's perspective."
     —Kirkus Reviews

"Emotion-filled … A thoughtful reminiscence that's sure to spark discussion."
     —School Library Journal

"The retrospective "letter," which alludes to death while remaining nonjudgemental, implies the painful realities that adults try to withhold from children."
     —Publishers Weekly

"Readers who peruse this parable thoughtfully will understand there's a changed man wearing those army boots as he approaches his farm and a little boy who will eventually realize just how much anguish his father kept from him. This war isn't really over, and there are more to come."
     —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The book is simple, sober, touching. It is not overtly pro- nor anti-war, but the tone is one of sadness rather than glory. The emotional experience of war is not much different today than it was nearly a century ago. ... The book seems suitable for all ages. The older the child, the more he or she will glean by contrasting text and illustrations."
     —Sunday News, Lancaster, PA