Unforgetting Private Charles Smith

Unforgetting Private Charles Smith can be broken into two parts. The first part is the story of the author’s journey of connection with a forgotten Canadian soldier, Private Charles Smith, through the discovery of Smith’s war diary in a library. The second part is a poetic setting of Smith’s diary, humanizing the experience of World War I. Hart paints a picture of research and storytelling as key aspects of remembrance. While this work is honest about war, it is not detailed or gory, which could make for an excellent Remembrance Day resource or lesson for early learners. The style of research outlined in the first part could also be used to inspire advanced learners, particularly for history-based creative writing projects.