Winner of the British Book Award for Children's Fiction Book of the Year Winner of the Books Are My Bag Readers Award for Children's Fiction Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal The Times Children's Book of the Year 'A magnificent story ... It deserves every prize going' Philip Pullman 'An extraordinary story with historical and family truth at its heart, that tells us as much about the present as the past. Deeply felt, movingly written, a remarkable achievement' Michael Morpurgo 1941. War is raging. And one angry boy has been sent to the city, where bombers rule the skies. There, Joseph will live with Mrs F, a gruff woman with no fondness for children. Her only loves are the rundown zoo she owns and its mighty silverback gorilla, Adonis. As the weeks pass, bonds deepen and secrets are revealed, but if the bombers set Adonis rampaging free, will either of them be able to end the life of the one thing they truly love? Inspired by a true story.

About the Author
Born and raised in the north of England, Phil Earle is the author of numerous acclaimed, award-winning books for children and teenagers. He has worked as a carer, a dramatherapist, a bookseller and a publisher, and loves talking at schools and festivals around the world. His novel When The Sky Falls won the Books Are My Bag Readers Award and the British Book Award for Children's Fiction. He lives on the side of a very steep hill with his wife, their five children and two dogs.

Reviews
"A magnificent story ... It deserves every prize going" -- Philip Pullman
"It's a wonderful story of hurt, kindness and what it means to be human in an inhumane world" -- Children's Book of the Year * The Times *
"An extraordinary story with historical and family truth at its heart, that tells us as much about the present as the past. Deeply felt, movingly written, a remarkable achievement" -- Michael Morpurgo
"Very moving. I almost never cry at books - but this one had me in tears by the end" -- Jacqueline Wilson
"A raw, heartfelt tale in the tradition of Goodnight Mister Tom" * Sunday Times *


Awards
Winner of British Book Award - Children's Fiction 2022 (UK) and BAMB Readers Awards 2021 (UK) and Cheshire Schools' Book Award (UK) and Oxfordshire Book Awards (UK) and Teach Primary Book Awards 2022 (UK) and NE Book Award (UK) and Stockton Children's Book Award (UK). Short-listed for CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022 (UK) and The Young Quills 2022 (UK) and Juniper Book Awards (UK) and Calderdale Children's Book of the Year 2022 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9781783449651
Author Phil Earle
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Andersen Press Ltd
Publisher Andersen Press Ltd
Weight(grams) 256g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 20mm