On the verge of World War I, author Rudyard Kipling’s son, John, like his father before him, wanted to fight for his country. But when John’s military application was threatened, Rudyard took matters into his own hands, applying all his influence to allow his son to fight in the Great War. And the teenager who had lived his life in comfort and whose greatest concern had been pleasing his father now faced a much greater challenge—staying alive in his first battle.