Novel take
There have been many excellent books about UK children in WWII, some already deserved classics. Even so, in a remarkable new novel, Phil Earl has managed to find an interestingly different take on this subject matter. Inspired by a true story, his book carries important messages for today as well as pertinent reminders of our recent past, of which children still need to be aware.
Gorilla war
In a sort of reverse evacuation tale, Joseph returns to live in Blitz London and is taken into the reluctant care of a somewhat cantankerous woman, who happens to have responsibility for a closed and largely empty zoo. Many of the horrors and deprivations of wartime are vividly portrayed and, unsurprisingly, the story is harrowing at times, but it is also wise and compassionate. Deepening bonds of love and loyalty between the central characters give the novel emotional depth, balancing its visceral excitement, and the the whole is written with a skill that communicates powerfully. It is certainly a read that will help develop empathy and the fact that the narrative prominently involves a child’s relationship with an endearing, if challenging, gorilla further increases the likelihood of this moving book joining the list of treasured examples of wartime stories. It would be particularly interesting to compare and contrast it with Sonya Hartnett’s equally excellent The Midnight Zoo from 2012.
The cover by Levente Szabo perfectly captures the power and potency of the story.