1. This book is enjoyable but also emotional at times as it has taught me about how a child would have spent her life in the war. I've also learnt new words whilst reading this book like convulsed, jostling and stretcher-bearers.

Valentine Joe is about a girl called Rose, who goes to Ypres in Belgium to visit the graves of soldiers who died in the Great War. She sees a grave stone saying: ‘V.J Strudwick, The Rifle Bridge, 14 January 1916, Aged 15'

From that moment, Rose kept thinking about Joe. She was shocked because she didn't think a fifteen year old could fight and die for his country. One night, she has a dream, where she meets Joe in real life and sees all the things he did before he died. In the dream she became part of his life and realised she has love and affection for Joe.

The characters in this story are what make it so good, especially my favourite character - Rose because she is emotional and she and I have lots of things in common.

Reading this book sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions, something that I think would happen to anyone reading it. I highly recommend this book to ages nine and up because it's an amazing, astonishing story, full of excitement and historical interest. 

By Mahinoor 

2. Rebecca Steven's ‘Valentine Joe' was an incredible book with an unbelievably powerful story line. This book starts with an ordinary girl that has no Dad, named Rose and her trustworthy Grandad heading on a train to Ypres in Belgium. The two good-hearted humans went to visit the graves of those who died in World War One - one of those brave warriors was Grandad's uncle. The history in this book was very realistic as Rose and her Grandad travelled in a steam train to visit a place that really exists.

Rose and her Grandad visit the Essex Cemetery and leave a rose on her great-uncle's grave. But, while she is there, Rose sees another grave that says ‘Valentine Joe' and that he died at the age of 15. The name of this one boy stays stuck in her mind.

Later one, while Rose was in her room, a stray dog - who she had met before - ran up the stairs into secret a room. As Rose knows she was at the top of the hotel, she wanted to discover what was above her. Surprisingly, whilst searching for the dog, she looked out of the window a there stood someone waving at her... It was VALENTINE JOE! Rose had travelled back in time. The couple then meet and start to like each other...

I particularly enjoyed this book because of the different events: horror, romance and even the despairing scenes between characters. Overall, Valentine Joe was a stupendous story and this excellent book must be recommended for people over 10.

By Krithika

3. Rose has got a lot going in her life - her dad died the year before and her mum is drifting further and further away from her. Rose's only escape are the texts she sends to her Dad's old mobile.

Then, one day, her Grandad decides to take Rose along on a trip to Ypres, to visit his uncle's grave from the First World War.  At the hotel they were staying in she spots a lonely, stray dog, who she feels an inexplicable fondness and connection with. The same dog leads her to Valentine Joe and pain of falling in love...

The cover is outstanding. The cover was the one thing that made me read this book. I hate war books but I loved this one. This book really stands out and its definitely the best book I've seen.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 outstanding!

By Lavena

4. This book is amazing - it is a romantic history story, full of suspense, full of mixed emotions. Although I enjoyed this story overall I found the 1^st chapter boring... but stick with it!

This book is all about a girl called Rose who goes to a city called Ypres in Belgium with her Grandad to see the graves of those who died in the Great War. When she gets off the train station she sees a dog which she becomes immediately fond - to her it is the perfect dog. She sees the same dog later and thinks that it has followed them from the train station to the hotel. 

Later, when Rose and her Grandad enter the Essex Cemetery, one gravestone stands out to her. The name engraved on it was ‘Valentine Joe' and it stuck in her mind like glue. That night Rose looked out the window and saw a young soldier with the dog right outside her hotel window.

Rose then realises she has travelled back in time! The young soldier is Valentine Joe and immediately the two teenagers fall in love. However this story shows that love during the war can be hard, especially when Joe joins the fight and sadly dies.

The story ends saying that you can meet Valentine Joe in Ypres where his gravestone is.

This story is awesome and I definitely recommend it for children ten or above. I think personally that with only 154 pages, Rebecca Stevens has done a marvellous job. With history, suspense, tears and every emotion possible you can't go wrong.

By Anozika

5. Rose goes to Ypres in Belgium to visit the graves of those who died in the Great War.  She spots the grave of Valentine Joe who is 15  years old when he died. It is like a ghost story and a love story at the same time. This book is suitable for Year 4s and over. I would recommend this book to 8 and overs.

Evie-Leigh

6. This is historical fiction.  Rose goes on a train with her granddad to visit the war graves. Rose learns that Valentine Joe went to war and then he died. I rate the book 5 stars. I gave it 5 stars because it is about World War 1 and I always wanted to know. This book made me feel thoughtful because it reminded me of the World War 1 and 2.

Kasey-Rai

7. This book was a bomb about to explode. Everything Rebecca described, she described well. I liked the character of Valentine Joe Strudwick because he is always careful and always smiling. He reminded me of my baby brother , laughing and smiling.

I found the character of Rose quite myself. Although, I found it sad that she sent her father text messages even though he is dead. But then again, she has a very vivid imagination and makes up stories in her head.

When I read this novel, I wanted to find out more about World War 1. I would recommend this story to people who maybe knew a lot about the wars and understood it better.

I give it a 9.5/10.

By Molly

8. I didn't like the book because from my point of the view it was a bit sad. The thing the author can change is make Joe in it  a bit more at the beginning. I would rate it 3 stars because it is sad and good at the same time. It is unique and different and that is good in a book.

I would recommend it!

By Imogen

9. This wartime thriller got my body tingling! I really enjoyed it and would happily read it again. The book is for children who enjoy books that start at one period of time then go to another. This book was adamant that it was not going to be put down, I was fine with that as it was an amazing read.

This book was set in 2014 when Rose was going to Ypres, Belgium on a train with her Granddad. Rose is 15. She and her Granddad are going to see the graves of those who died in the Great war. Late one night Rose hears marching feet and secretly heads to take a look; she sees a young soldier looking up at her. Who could he be...?

I felt from the start that this was going to be full of description. The first sentence told me that I would enjoy this book. I like how it went from 2014 to 1914. It was clever how it linked in at the end... All of the chapters burst out of the book as if they were saying ‘Hello'.

I really want to read other books by this author because her writing style is really interesting. I will look for her books in the library.

My favourite character was Valentine Joe Strudwick because he trusted Rose all the way through and he was trustable himself. If Joe was here right now I would feel as if I could tell him with anything.

This book was full of dazzling description. I rate it a 10/10

By Issie

10.  Valentine Joe is an unorthodox but fascinating book full of mystery and wonder. When Roses' granddad takes her on a journey Ypres, Belgium to visit the grave s of who died in the Great War. It's the day before Valentine's Day, but Rose can sense the shattered city beneath her feet and it seems it can sense her too. When she goes to bed one of the grave names she can't get out of her head.

V.J Strudwick

11. My favourite character in this book is Tommy. A young dog with a face you can't say no to, has a brain of a human and keeps Rose out of danger and always does the right thing.

This book makes me want to read more from this author because of her factual but imaginative writing style.

This book makes me feel out of the way of everyone and that I've escaped into my world because of how good it is. Overall I rate it 10/10

By Lucas

12. Valentine Joe is a stunning book written by a clever, talented author who brings to life the story of a fourteen
year old girl struggling with the death of her father. She is taken to Ypres by her grandfather to look for a relative's grave from World War One. While visiting his grave she spots another grave with the name Valentine Joe on it. That night she sees a troop of soldiers marching through the town square from her window, as one looks up at her ... 

I really enjoyed Rebecca Stevens's piece of work as it portrays this young girl's emotions and thoughts so well.
It is also the perfect time to read it, as last year was one hundred years since World War One started. I found the book particularly poignant when Rose, the main character, shared a tender kiss with her true love, before he returned
to the front line. 

My favourite character is Valentine Joe because he is a cheeky chap with a big heart and a personality to match.
Novels set in the war can be sombre, but Rebecca Stevens manages to convey the horrors of conflict through the eyes of a girl falling in love for the first time with a soldier who always brightens the mood.

The story has inspired me to visit Ypres and other war sights, so I can try and picture what life must have been like during the devastation of 1914 to 1918. Thanks to this fantastic book I feel more knowledgeable than I was before on the Great War. I found that the history was so alive and realistic it made me feel like I was part of the story - viewing Rose's experiences through my own eyes.  

This book made me want to read other works by Rebecca Stevens and I recommend it to any history or romance fans.

By Katie