Author Description

Toy Guns is a collection of stories and memories of the author's family, friends, and acquaintances who lived through war, from World War II to Vietnam. Centering on the experiences of children growing up in war, Mirella Coacci van der Zyl brings to life the memories of difficult years of terror, hunger, fear, and need. The stories in Toy Guns illuminate just how destructive and life-changing war is, a lesson for younger generations. They must understand what happened to families in the past and learn, from those experiences, to never take life for granted and to find nonviolent solutions. Many children of war have died or will die soon, and their stories must not be lost to future generations.