Beau can’t believe his luck. One minute he’s living on the streets, raiding rubbish bins in alleys for dinner, and the next he’s accepted into a loving human family. A
girl named Penny had made this happen, heaping love and affection on Beau after she found and named him.
Other members of this family called Alford are Penny’s loving kind parents, her little brother Wilf and his cat Mabel. Only Mabel is not happy to share her home with Beau, making it perfectly clear whenever in the same room. Besides this clash between dog and cat, all is well in the Alford home.
But the wireless warns of war, children are soon to be evacuated fom London and pets are to be put down. Penny and Wilf hate to be separated from their pets and plead to their parents to look after them while they’re at an aunt’s far from London.
Beau becomes Mr Alford’s eyes and ears as London begins to be bombed by German forces. Together they save hundreds of lives but keeping Penny’s parents safe from the Blitz is much more difficult.
Soon Beau and his pigeon friend Bomber and a very reluctant Mabel, set off to find Penny and Wilf on the coast. They encounter rats, bombs, kindness and crocodiles. They meet fleeing foxes, take train and ferry rides and walk their footpads raw. Ever closer every day, Beau wonders if Penny will be okay, as Mabel has an even bigger worry.
The cover of Until The Road Ends instantly made me think of the wonderful classic The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford. I instantly snapped this title from the shelf.
Combine animals, humour, action, WWII’s Blitz and a gallant quest, and you have all the ingredients of a another wonderful read by Phil Earle.
It’s by no means an easy journey and the clash between kind-hearted and forgiving dog, Beau and sassy, selfish, arrogant cat, Mabel brings tension throughout. Discovering why Mabel is so awful is a sobering thought.
I loved pigeon character Bomber with his courage, humour and determination to achieve his ‘mission’ – one of my favourite animal characters ever.
This is a book for animal lovers and anyone interested in war stories. Character Beau was based on a real stray dog named Rip who saved hundreds of lives and there are many other components of the story based on fact.
Absolutely loved it!
Author – Phil Earle
Age – 9+
Read a review of another Phil Earle Title (Click on the Cover)
(2023, Animals, Action, Adventure, Conflict, Courage, Historical, War, Dogs, Cat, Pigeon, Rats, Quest, WWII, Blitz, World War II, Bombing, Evacuation, London, Government rules, Evacuees, Journey, Bond, Fighter Planes, Secrets, Love, Family)