About the Author

Michael Morpurgo was 2003-2005 Children's Laureate, has written over 100 books and is the winner of many awards, including the Whitbread Children's Book Award, the Smarties Book Prize, the Blue Peter Award and the Red House Children's Book Award. His books are translated and read around the world and his hugely popular novel War Horse is now both a critically acclaimed stage play and a highly successful film. Michael and his wife, Clare, live in Devon. Visit Michael's website at www.michaelmorpurgo.com. Gemma O'Callaghan is an illustrator and printmaker. While studying for her Masters degree at Anglia Ruskin University she discovered her love for screen printing, which has continued into her professional work. Gemma lives and works in Nottingham; this is her first book for children. www.gemma-ocallaghan.co.uk

Reviews

...a beautiful book with a serious, downbeat subject... -- The School Librarian * The School Librarian *
Moving and beautifully written, this perceptive short story does not hide from the truth but approaches it with empathy, making for a really moving succinctly told tale. * Parents in Touch *
Unflinching and deeply poignant tale of the physical and mental scars of war. * The Bookseller Children's Buyer's Guide *
This graphic, fictional story, simply and effectively illustrated by Gemma O'Callaghan, will show the 11-plus who read it not only how terrible it was to be so injured, but also what the consequences of such injuries were. * Newbury Weekly News *
Revered storyteller, Michael Morpurgo remembers the post-war Britain of his childhood in this unflinching and deeply poignant tale of the physical and mental scars of war, featuring beautiful illustrations from new talent, Gemma O'Callaghan. * Surrey Advertiser *
This book is very accessible to young readers [...] It confronts difficult issues about the effects of war and also how we relate to people who have been damaged. The simple, direct prose strips events and emotions back in a way that removes any sentimentality and allows children to empathise with all of the characters. * Carousel *