Books

When the Sky Falls

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.

Teacher's Resources

When The Sky Falls chapter-by-chapter resource, created by Scott Evans: Click here

When The Sky Falls CLPE resource: Click here

When The Sky Falls Authorfy Masterclass videos and resources: Click here

Author videos

WINNER : British Book Awards

SHORTLISTED: Yoto Carnegie Medal

hen the sirens wail, and the bombs start to fall, will a twelve year-old boy pull the trigger on the one thing in his life to show him love?

The new book, out now!

When the sirens wail, and the bombs start to fall, will a twelve year-old boy pull the trigger on the one thing in his life to show him love?