An evocative, beautifully imagined and incredibly moving wartime story by celebrated author Timothee de Fombelle.

In this astonishingly-drawn wartime story, a little girl called Rosalie is a captain on a very secret mission; a mission to learn how to read. Mother reads often to Rosalie, especially when Father sends them letters from the front line describing the forest in the distance, the churned-up soil and the soldiers hiding in holes. But as Rosalie gets further along in her mission and begins to piece together the words in her father's letters, the truth about the consequences of war are finally and irrevocably revealed.

About the Author

Timothee de Fombelle is a much-admired French playwright, as well as the author of award-winning fiction. His first series, Toby Alone and Toby and the Secrets of the Tree, has been printed in 27 languages and has won numerous awards including France's prestigious Prix Sorcieres and the Marsh Award. Timothee's adventure series, Vango, Book One: Between Sky and Earth and Vango, Book Two: A Prince Without a Kingdom received huge critical acclaim, and book one was granted an English Pen Award for translation. Timothee's beautiful story, Captain Rosalie, was first featured in the acclaimed collection, The Great War: an Anthology of Stories Inspired by Objects from the First World War.

Isabelle Arsenault is a Quebec illustrator who has won an impressive number of awards and has achieved international recognition. Her picture books include Migrant by Maxine Trottier, a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book and a finalist for the Governor General's Award, and Once Upon a Northern Light by Jean E. Pendziwol. Find Isabelle online at www.isabellearsenault.com

Reviews
The centenary of the First World War has brought a full postbag of titles about children and war, including Michael Morpurgo's Our Jacko and Poppy Field and The Button War by the Newbery medal winner Avi, to name but a few. These three are excellent reads, but the greatest discovery has been a small book by Timothee de Fombelle, a French playwright and author known, but not previously by me, for his Vango adventure series and "Toby" books, who has collaborated with the talented illustrator Isabelle Arsenault... De Fombelle writes minimally for maximum effect and Arsenault's mostly red, black and white ink and watercolours are stunning. A perfect little book about war, grief and peace that packs a mighty punch. -- Alex O'Connell * The Times *
[a] poignant, beautifully produced volume. -- Nicolette Jones * The Sunday Times *
"Captain Rosalie is a sensitive, at times playful and very moving glimpse into the past." * The Scotsman *
"Incredibly sad, but written in a way that leaves you with hope. You might still need a handkerchief close by." * Primary Times *
"A gently told and heart-wrenching story that brings home the full and dreadful impact of war." * Carousel *


Awards
Winner of Prix Albertine Jeunesse 2021 (France). Short-listed for Young Quills Historical Fiction Awards 2019 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9781406386806
Author Timothee de Fombelle
Format Paperback
Page Count 64
Imprint Walker Books Ltd
Publisher Walker Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 160g
Dimensions(mm) 185mm * 160mm * 7mm