When The Sky Falls
Author:
Phil Earle
Illustrator:
N/A
Published by:
Andersen Press
First Published:
3 Jun 2021
Ideal for readers aged
13+y
My Review
The story of Joseph, sent to London during the Blitz to live with a gruff and prickly friend of his Gran’s because his behaviour has become unmanageable at home, won countless childrens literature prizes the year it was published, and with good reason. It is gritty, powerful, and brilliant. Joseph has many battles to face – including the loss of his mum, his dad’s absence, and his academic struggles due to undiagnosed dyslexia, and he is angry at the world. Mrs F, though, refuses to give up on him, and her determination to show him unconditional love and acceptance is what really makes this book special. Add to that the unusual and sparkling dimension of a gorilla with whom Joseph forms a life-saving bond, and it really has something for everyone! As Michael Morpurgo says, it teaches us not only about the past, but about ourselves in the present.
Heads Up!
Some language and parents might want to know that Adonis, the gorilla, does not survive - the happy ending comes from Joseph's and Mrs F's bond, grown against the odds through their shared love of Adonis, which provides Joseph with inner healing and a home.
Phil Earle covers many emotive themes here: bullying, loss, dyslexia, corporal punishment, drinking, as well as the violence and brutality of life in London during the bombings. It is all dealt with carefully and with sensitivity, but if you are not sure if this is appropriate I recommend you read it yourself before passing it to a child! You won’t regret it!
If this is a success, try Phil Earle's other two books in this Historical Animal Stories series, 'Until The Road Ends', and 'While The Storm Rages'. I haven't read these two yet but intend to!