Angel of Grasmere
From Dunkirk to the Fells
Tom Palmer author Tom Clohosy Cole illustrator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers
Published:9th May '24
£7.99
Available for immediate dispatch.
A gripping new wartime tale from multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer
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.
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 other wise 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…?
"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"Strong characters, great emotionally engaging plot and fascinating historical content woven with great skill into a fine novel telling a little known story from WWII."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
"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
"This is a beautiful book – hard as well as truthful as well as warming. Read it as soon as you can." – Jim Sells, National Literacy Trust
"Breathtakingly beautiful … Tom shows how hope and kindness can still exist whilst sensitively teaching the reader more about Dunkirk, PTSD and desertion … Another story where you feel as if you’re touching history, it’s definitely a must read!" – Check 'Em Out Books, blog
ISBN: 9781800902169
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 20mm
Weight: 160g
208 pages