Tarn grapples with the loss of her brother at Dunkirk as she faces the threat of Nazi invasion in the Cumbrian countryside in this gripping wartime tale from Tom Palmer.

July 1940 - as Tarn struggles to come to terms with the loss of her beloved brother in the chaos of the British retreat at Dunkirk, she and her friends scour the hills around their Lake District home, watching for any signs of the long-dreaded Nazi invasion.

But as the war drags on, with little good news from the front, the locals become aware of someone carrying out anonymous acts of kindness, such as saving a flock of sheep from a snowdrift and getting help for an injured farmer who might otherwise have died.

With no one claiming credit, they come to think of this unidentified stranger as a kind of guardian angel, but when his identity is finally revealed, can Tarn come to terms with the truth...?

A gripping new wartime tale from multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer

About the Author

Tom Palmer was a reluctant reader as a child and credits articles about football with getting him into reading. He is now the multi-award-winning author of many books for young readers, including the Young Quills Award winner After the War and FCBG Children's Book Award winners Armistice Runner and D-Day Dog. In 2019 Tom was awarded the National Literacy Trust's Ruth Rendell Award in recognition of his significant contribution to literacy work in the UK.

Reviews

"Such a meaningful and moving story about friendship, kindness, and what it is to be brave. I loved it." - Dan Smith

"Wise and kind and so vividly told" - Hilary McKay

"A masterful exploration of trauma and kindness, hope and loss. A cast of richly-drawn characters bring the well-plotted story to life and the setting feels both timeless up in the fells around Grasmere, and indelibly rooted in its WWII period." - Tom Percival

"Strong characters, great emotionally engaging plot and fascinating historical content woven with great skill into a fine novel telling a little known story from WWII." - Nicola Davies

"A really beautiful book - classic feel, characters you care about, incredible setting. Perfect for classrooms, but also just a lovely (and moving) read." - Lesley Parr

"Sharply perceptive and emotive ... with a gripping storyline, strands of real history, and a warm and wise exploration of friendship, kindness, and what it is to be brave, this atmospheric adventure is both an inspiration and a reminder of the nation's wartime hardships, sufferings and sacrifices." - Lancashire Post

"This excellent story adds to Tom Palmer's impressive collection of wartime books, and reminds readers that bombs didn't just fall on London." - BookTrust, Book of the Day

"Packed with some dark and very adult themes. Palmer handles them with great sensitivity and compassion. This book could be a comfort to anyone who has someone close who is dealing with PTSD." - Books for Keeps

"Full of heart, wisdom and kindness, this is a book that young readers will adore ... the powerful storytelling never condescends, instead offering a full and heartfelt story alive with vibrant characters ... Sure to become a firm favourite, this is a skilful and engrossing tale of wartime rural life." - Amy McKay, LoveReading4Kids

Book Information
ISBN 9781800902169
Author Tom Palmer
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Barrington Stoke Ltd
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 160g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 20mm