April 9, 2007 marks the 90th anniversary of the pivotal World War I battle- one that many historians view as the battle that defined Canada as a nation. At Vimy Ridge, Canadian soldiers achieved what more experienced soldiers From Britain and France could not-taking the strategic position of Vimy Ridge from the Germans. It was the battle that helped a young country discover its national pride, as for the first time, Canadians fought as Canadians, and achieved a significant victory.

The soaring Vimy Memorial in France is built on land ceded to Canada for achieving this stunning victory. The stunning memorial is being restored and will be rededicated in 2007. At Vimy Ridge is the perfect book for schools and libraries to mark this vital anniversary.

HUGH BREWSTER has twenty-five years of experience creating books about the Titanic as an editor, publisher and writer. He worked with Robert D. Ballard to produce the 1987 international bestseller The Discovery of the Titanic and oversaw the creation of Titanic: An Illustrated History, a book that provided inspiration for James Cameron’s epic movie. Brewster is also the author of Inside the Titanic, 882 1/2 Amazing Answers to Your Questions about the Titanic and Deadly Voyage, and has written twelve award-winning books for young readers, including Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, a 2007 Governor General’s Award nominee. He lives in Toronto. Visit him online at www.hughbrewster.com or follow him on Twitter @hughbrewster.

Hugh Brewster's profile page

• Short-listed, OLA Red Maple Award, Non-Fiction
• Short-listed, Rocky Mountain Book Award (Alberta Children's Choice)
• Short-listed, Hackmatack Children's Choice Award (Atlantic Canada)
• Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre
• Winner, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction
• Commended, OLA Best Bets
• Short-listed, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada, Information Book Award

At Vimy Ridge is a natural follow-up to Toronto editor and author Hugh Brewster's successful On Juno Beach. The storming of Vimy Ridge on Easter Monday, 1917, is generally accepted as a defining moment in the development of Canadian national identity, and this book does a fine job of placing it in context for younger readers.

Beginning with the outbreak of war, Brewster leads the reader through the formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and its baptism of fire at Ypres and on the Somme. The heart of the book charts the meticulous preparations for the battle and the attack itself. There are spreads on the novel artillery techniques used, mining beneath the enemy trenches, and the battle for the skies above. The last few pages cover the Armistice, the significance of Vimy, and the famous memorial.

As with On Juno Beach, the book is attractively designed and rich in photographs, paintings, and explanatory maps. The informative and readable text is given a personal dimension by the scattered quotes from letters, the most poignant being a farewell from a young Vancouver lieutenant written the day before he was killed. For those who want to go farther, there is a short bibliography of books and websites, an index, and a glossary.

-- Quill and Quire, January 2007

At Vimy Ridge: Canada’s Greatest World War I Victory

Our final book is a hard look at World War I and, specifically, the battle of Vimy Ridge. There has been much in the news about Canada’s remembrance of this pivotal battle on its ninetieth anniversary. This book is similar to Hugh Brewster’s previous work about World War II, On Juno Beach. He begins with a brief description of how the war began and then launches into the Canadian response. So many young men enlisted quickly, with the promise of excitement and adventure calling. Too soon, they found themselves in trenches and wishing for an end to the stalemate. As the disastrous war progressed, the men in command knew that any large initiatives would need meticulous planning and practice. The hard work paid off as the Canadians were able to take Vimy Ridge, “the most powerful German bastion on the Western Front.”

Ultimately, Vimy proved not to be a particularly important win overall, but it was a pivotal battle for the Canadians. Many felt that Canada truly came of age with this victory. Brewster doesn’t really answer the question of whether Canadians should glorify a battle that took so many lives with so little result. But he does comment that no Canadian can help but be “moved by their bravery and sacrifice.” As with On Juno Beach, the book is full of photos, drawings, diagrams and maps that greatly add to the overall quality of the book. There is a glossary, index and bibliography. Recommended for public libraries and any schools that study World War I or twentieth-century Canadian history.

At Vimy Ridge: Canada’s Greatest World War I Victory

Hugh Brewster honours the men who fought at Vimy Ridge — a pivotal World War I battle that many historians view as the battle that defined Canada as a nation — and those who gave their lives. Contains photographs, illustrations, glossary, index and selected bibliography.