Trenches, Treaties, Mud, and Blood, a graphic novel by Nathan Hale, is a fast-paced account of World War I.  The main characters are the different nations involved in the war, each represented by an animal.  The Austro-Hungarian Empire is represented by a griffin, Serbia is a wolf, the Ottoman Empire is an otter, Bulgaria is a bull, Russia is a bear, Germany is an eagle, France is a rooster, Belgium is a lion, the United Kingdom is a bulldog, and the United States is a bunny (because Germany is the eagle). This makes it easier to comprehend the sequence of historical events and how the different alliances were formed. The plot explains how the war began in 1914 and ends with the conclusion of the war in 1918.  The main conflict is World War I, and the theme is how the war changed the world. This first global war brought changes to warfare such as tanks, airplanes, trench warfare, and gas masks, and caused the death of nine million soldiers and injuries to fifteen million soldiers.  This book makes a complicated, serious subject fascinating and easy to understand, and keeps the reader’s interest with humor and graphics. My only complaint is that it is such a quick read and I would have enjoyed more detail about some of the events.  Overall, Trenches, Treaties, Mud, and Blood is a captivating way to teach young readers about American history!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5