Awards

• Long-listed for CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022 (UK)
• Nominated for CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022 (UK)
• Short-listed for BAMB Readers Awards 2021 (UK)
• Short-listed for CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022 (UK)
• Short-listed for Juniper Book Awards (UK).
• Winner of BAMB Readers Awards 2021 (UK)

Overview

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.

Full Product Details

9781783449651

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Reviews

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 Complex, dark, intense and mysterious, When the Sky Falls is an astounding work of fiction. The characters have the knotty awkwardness of real people, and the whole book has that unfakeable feeling of Truth. Earle takes us to some very dark places in this novel, but at the end he brings us back to the light. For years now Earle has been one of our finest writers for young people and here he is at the height of his considerable powers -- Antony McGowan Phil Earle writes from the heart: a story about love and friendship and how animals can connect people in the darkest of times and allow them to heal -- Gill Lewis A bold and beautiful story -- Abi Elphinstone A raw and beautiful story about the power of kindness and hope -- Anna James

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 Uplifting ... should whet appetites for wartime classics such as Carrie's War and Goodnight Mr Tom * Telegraph * Utterly brilliant, original and so very, very moving... a triumph for kids' lit -- Sarah Crossan A beautifully written historical adventure story... impossible to put down * BookTrust * A beautiful and majestic piece of work... Manages to be raw and gentle, harrowing and uplifting, all while racing inexorably towards its unforgettable end. Wow. Children's literature at its best -- Jonathan Stroud

A magnificent story ... It deserves every prize going -- Philip Pullman A deeply moving, thought-provoking drama * Daily Mail * 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 Uplifting ... should whet appetites for wartime classics such as Carrie's War and Goodnight Mr Tom * Telegraph * Utterly brilliant, original and so very, very moving... a triumph for kids' lit -- Sarah Crossan

Author Information

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.

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