Jo lives in a little town in France, with his mother, grandfather and little sister. France is in the grip of World War II, and Jo’s family, like many in the town, are waiting for the return of his father, held prisoner in a camp.

Jo is a shepherd, like his father and grandfather before him, looking after their flock of sheep. Although warned not to, Jo snoozes one day in the grass alongside his flock, only to wake to his dog’s barking and frightened bleating sheep. A bear lumbers into view and Jo flees back to town.

This encounter changes Jo’s life, tumbling him into secrets that have the power to take many lives. Soon a garrison of German soldiers commandeers the town, and suspicion and fear fill the resident’s hearts. The longer the soldiers are in the town however, spending their wages, getting to know the townsfolk and letting them get on with their normal lives, the more they are accepted. Jo in particular shares an interest with a Corporal – both with a fascination with the local mountain eagles.

Little does the Corporal know, Jo holds his secret close. If discovered, he could be shot, and a dozen young Jews could be captured and sent to the concentration camps. This secret becomes too big for Jo and others need to be told. But will their fear make them reveal it to the soldiers? Can they really pull off a plan put together over his kitchen table?

Another tale of war for young tweens, based on a true story, from this master storyteller. Set in a small French town, we meet its townsfolk, and get to know them well. Jo and his family, Hubert – a giant but simple fellow, accepted and loved by all, and a ray of happiness in a time of war.

An old woman, deemed The Black Widow by most, who has a secret of her own, and a German Corporal who makes friends of the town he patrols, particularly Jo, then faces his own personal loss. Jo struggles between the knowledge these armed strangers are hunters and killers, patrolling the France/Spain border, and their actual friendly personalities and little kindnesses. The reader too, waits for Anya, but you’ll have to read this story to discover who she is for yourself.

Author – Michael Morpurgo

Age – 8+

See movie trailer here

(War, French Resistance, France, Shepherd, German soldiers, Border, Jewish children, Prisoner of war, Post War Depression, Secret, Fear, Courage, WWII, World War 2, Historical, Read Aloud)