Shrapnel Boys

Jenny Pearson

There have been so many books set in WWII you can’t help wondering if there is any new angle left to write about. There is, and Jenny Pearson has found it. Shrapnel Boys tells the story of Ronnie Smith who is excited at the prospect of war coming to London as he dreams away his time in school and spends time with his brother Micky and best friend Lugs.

But things soon change as a local man Jonny befriends Ronnie’s mum and more worryingly befriends Micky, giving him errands to run which Ronnie becomes deeply suspicious of.

Family loyalty, loss, deception and unusually, wonder, are themes in this excellent, exciting novel which fearlessly put the issues of the far-right centre to the story.

This would be a great starting point for a discussion on empathy and what is playing out around us today. I loved it.

Published by Usborne, (369 pages)

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