The message that the author wants to get across is the true nature of war and all that that entails. Like many young men, Jonathan tends to regard war as a gigantic adventure, a chance for him to prove his manhood and become a hero. But not long after he joins up, Jonathan quickly becomes disillusioned by life as a soldier. He discovers to his horror that war is hell; it is a dangerous business full of death, destruction, and heartbreak.

The author is keen to show us that war can also be incredibly complex. Jonathan frequently finds himself at odds with those on his own side, and at the same time, he occasionally admires the humanity of his so-called enemies. This is not a straightforward case of good guys versus bad guys or of good versus evil. As Jonathan matures, he comes to see that war is a microcosm of the multiple ambiguities and complexities of life itself.

Avi shows that Jonathan romanticized the war.  He is thirteen and he desperately wants to go to war.  However, once he gets there, it is a different story.  He sees men die and children orphaned. He experiences the fear of seeing men aim their guns at him and shooting while he is still trying to reload.  He experiences panic and a feeling of cowardice.  He meets the hated Hessians, the Germans that everyone told horrible stories about, and becomes their prisoner.  He is conflicted with the fact that they help bury a murdered couple and say prayers over the grave.  He likes the people he is suppose to kill and that conflicts him, and he has to lead the American soldiers back to their hideout and watch as the Hessians die.  The message Avi is relating in this novel is that war is a very personal experience.  It affects individuals in different ways and has different consequences for each person.