While the Storm Rages: The eagerly awaited new novel from the bestselling author of When the Sky Falls

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Author Luke Palmer introduces his new book, Play (Firefly Press) about four boys growing up together, the challenges, the friendships, and what hap...

While the Storm Rages: The eagerly awaited new novel from the

The next decree from the government is that all pets must be destroyed. What! Noah pleads and begs his mum to look after Winn, but she agrees with the authorities that it will be better for animals not to be frightened by bombs, food shortages and all that war brings. Phil grew up in Hull and has had a number of jobs including working in pubs and travel agencies, and as a care worker in a residential kids home. He then worked in the children's section of a bookshop and started to try to write for children, before he began working in publishing. He now lives in West Yorkshire with his partner and three children and tries to write 500 words every day. Funny, real, heart-warming and heart-breaking, WHILE THE STORM RAGES is another brilliant adventure from Earle. Hardly exactly seaworthy, the Ark this isn't. It was only supposed to be a stopgap before marching to Battersea dog's home where they'd hoped sanctuary awaited their pets: the best-laid plans etc.Dealing with all the animals is a mission in itself, let alone avoiding trouble on the filthy waters of the Thames and the police on the riverbanks. A snake needs to be kept warm. Dogs and kittens need food and water, as does an often cantankerous donkey. But these animals are all important parts of their plan and their escape to a rumoured animal haven. I had always known that during World War II, families in England sent their children away to the countryside to protect them from the fear of a bomb onslaught, but While the Storm Rages gave me an emotional glimpse into what happens to the beloved pets of these children, who have to make the difficult decision to leave them behind in the most unfathomable possible way. It showed a brutal side to war that I had never stopped to think about. With a light-hearted humorous but still heartfelt touch, Phil Earle swept me away on incredible adventure of one boy's fierce determination to protect the things that matter most to him. I’m working on a middle grade historical fiction book myself and so have recently bought up a number of recently published ones to learn from. Hands down this is the best one I’ve read so far.

While the Storm Rages - ReadingZone

As his dad marches off to fight, Noah makes him a promise, to keep their beloved family dog safe. When the government advises people to have their pets put down in readiness for the chaos of war, hundreds of thousands of people do as they are told. But not Noah. After three years at Ottakar’s, he became a sales rep, and then a key account manager for Transworld/Random House, and is now sales director at Simon and Schuster Children’s Books. Author Guy Bass introduces SCRAP, about one robot who tried to protect the humans on his planet against an army of robots. Now the humans need his...Last year, Phil Earle's debut, When the Sky Falls, garnered huge praise and was one of my favourite books of the year. This always makes me a little nervous reading a second book, in case I don't like it as much, but I need not have worried. Phil has obviously done a lot of research, and - while parts of this were hard to read - it was a really good read. The characters were great, and I'm glad that we mostly found out what happened to them at the end. Another stunning read from one of the most authentic storytellers writing for children today' Lesley Parr, author of The Valley of Lost Secrets Together with his best friend, he comes up with a plan to launch a rescue mission to save their beloved pets.

While The Storm Rages | Phil Earle - Author

Noah loves his dog Winn, and nothing bad is going to happen to her. This is the story about a boy, who against the odds, his determination to save, not only his dog but others pets as well from the despicable law set out by the government. The characters are realistic, and you want to cheer for them on their adventure. Their cause is a noble one and keeps the reader on their edge of their seat waiting to see what will become of the characters and their beloved pets. An extraordinary story . . . Deeply felt, movingly written,a remarkable achievement’ Michael Morpurgo When the Sky Falls, set during 1941, gives a very real feel for life at the time and what it must have been like to endure air raids - how did you find so much detail about this? As Noah Price’s dad marches off to fight, heasks his son to honour one vital promise: thathe will keep their dog, Winn, safe. No matterwhat. Noah agrees, but his best intentions arecrushed when the government advises peopleto have their pets put to sleep as part of thewar preparations. Children are heartbroken,queues outside vets’ surgeries stretch for miles.While the Storm Rages is the eagerly awaited new novel from the bestselling author of When the Sky Falls: The Times Children's Book of the Year, Winner of the Books Are My Bag Readers Award for Children’s Fiction and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.