The author will we awarding a print copy of the book to three randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3478/
Blurb
It's 1940 and Nazi bombs are raining down on London, but
13-year-old bike messenger Jack has just discovered something unbelievable: a
stray dog with a surprising talent.
Jack navigates the smoky, ash-covered streets of London amid air
raid sirens and falling bombs, dodging shrapnel and listening for cries for
help, as a bike messenger for fire crews. When Jack finds a dog, miraculously
still alive after the latest Nazi bombing of London, he realizes there's
something extra special about the shaggy pup--he can smell people who are
trapped under debris.
With his new canine companion, nicknamed Rip because of the dog's
torn ear, maybe Jack can do more than just relay messages back-and-forth--he
can actually save lives. And if Jack's friend Paula is right about the
impending Nazi invasion, he and Rip will need to do all they can to help Jewish
families like hers.
There's just one problem: Jack has to convince his ill-tempered
father to let him keep Rip.
Based on true episodes during the London Blitz in World War II,
this action-packed and touching story explores the beginnings of
search-and-rescue dogs and the bravery and resourcefulness of young people
determined to do their part for their country.
Messenger
Boy
(September
1940)
“It’s
down to you now, Jack,” said Warden Yates, scribbling on a report form. “The
line’s gone dead to the fire station. Get to Skinner Street soon as you can.”
Jack
and the warden both ducked as a cluster of incendiary bombs exploded across
nearby rooftops. Jack could hear shrapnel jingling down the slates like a tune
he could almost whistle.
“Close,”
he muttered, stuffing the message into the pocket of his blue overalls. Then he
tightened the strap under his helmet and mounted his bike.
“Keep
your head down!” cried the warden as Jack rode off, swerving to avoid the bomb
crater at the top of the road. There was a shop on fire up ahead, lighting up
the road in the blackout. Jack raced past as fast as he could, hoping sparks
wouldn’t set fi re to his clothes. That’s what happened to Tommy Shepherd last
week, and he was still in hospital with serious burns. Tommy was fifteen,
almost two years older than Jack. They’d both lied about their ages to get into
the messengers.
You
were supposed to be seventeen.
“What
an adventure,” Tommy had murmured to him as they stood in line at the Town Hall
two months earlier. Jack was a full head taller than Tommy and the wardens
accepted them both into training without a murmur back in July. Now it was the
end of September and London had been bombed every night since the seventh.
Even
if they found out I was only thirteen, they wouldn’t chuck me out, Jack told
himself, freewheeling past a pile of rubble. Especially since Tommy got hit.
The
thought spurred him on, dreams of making heroic rescues in burning buildings
chasing him down the street.
Author bio and links
Miriam
Halahmy is a poet, special needs educator, and novelist. She has worked with
refugees in schools as well as in workshops she led for PEN and the Medical
Foundation for the Victims of Torture. Her books include Behind Closed Doors
and Hidden, which was nominated for the Carnegie Medal.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteGreat to have Rip on your blog and especially this week. Yesterday was the 80th anniversary of the start of the London Blitz. London was bombed for 57 consecutive nights. My parents were living in London with their respective families at the time and were young adults. My mother joined up as a nurse in the Navy and my father joined the RAF. But on leave, they were faced with the air raids on civilians which killed 43,000 people and left a million people homeless.
ReplyDeleteHello Miriam! My grandfather on mother's side was in the Belgian army and together with my grandmother they had a family of 4, all youngsters during the war. Both grandma and the kids accompanied granddad when the Belgian army was forced to retreat to the North of France (he was an officer). They lived through heavy bombardments and the battle for Britain. Finally, grandfather was taken POW (although he soon escaped and went underground in France) and grandma was so bold to ask the German commander for transport back to Belgium! Where they found their home undamaged, although it's near the railway station and that one was frequently bombed. But all that broke were a few windows. My sister and I are still living in this house, btw.
DeleteA memorable novel which is a real treasure. The era and story is profound and unforgettable.
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to this stupid virus going away so that my DIL will allow us contact with our almost 3 yr old grandson again. Reading to my boys was always such a pleasure and I miss doing it with the grandson. Your books will be wonderful. I also love your illustrator. Thank you.
ReplyDelete