Under a fire-red sky
By Geraldine McCaughrean
Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd

Full of danger and grit, this adventure story tells of Blitz Britain when four children escape from evacuation and return back to their bombed-out streets of Greenwich.

Geraldine McCaughrean packs this historical story with emotion, telling of fear, hope and survival through the eyes of the children.

Inspired by her firefighter father, the story of four evacuees unfolds when they turn their ideas around, climbing out of the train carriage to return home. But things are different, supplies are scarce and their friendships are tested.
Trying to be useful and while away their time -
they build a secret machine out of lost things,
they save a lost yet adorable mutt they can’t give away,
they are lost and broken by bombs,
and scared of death from the fire-red sky.

Will their friendship survive?
Are they brave and resilient enough?
Will they even survive?

A great historical, coming of age, historical book for the classroom or for those loving this genre.

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgalley

Brilliant coming if age novel set in early WW2 in South London. I love the narrative nature of this novel and the way I felt I was right there with the group of four teenagers finding their way in the world in the midst of a war torn London. Brilliant for Y8 I would say.

Wow - just when you think that there's no new stories about WW2 to read along comes a book like this which blows your mind.
From a slow start with a good introduction to the 4 main characters an incredible war story grows - first from the boredom and nagging fear of the phony war and then I don't think I've read a book that invokes the start of the Blitz so well ever.
This is not a read for primary school pupils, but definitely a teen read, and possibly one that could be rebadged / rejacketed as one for grown ups.

Doesn't pull its punches. Stark and realistic Blitz portrayal.

Four young people avoid the evacuation train and all resolve to stay in London, for various reasons. What follows is their story, as each follows a path that graphically shows readers the reality of WWII for those living with the daily threat and consequences of the bombings.

It certainly shows the human impact of what many children will only know from newsreels and descriptions. Four stories, some based on the author's own father's experiences, show some quite upsetting scenes.

Pretending their school is still open, Olive stays behind in London to stay with her firefighter father as War looms. Laurence has projects he wants to stay and work on, he invents things. Franklin is desperate to find work as a firefighter. And Gemmy is a scavenger, searching bombed-out properties for things of value... some of which might surprise her.

The foursome tour the city as bombs fall and what starts as something quite fun becomes much more serious very quickly. Their friendship, though all are still so young, becomes very much a lifeline and we watch each of them grow up as they experience things no young people should ever have to live through.

It's upsetting at times, knowing this is surely not pure fiction. I wasn't convinced by the voices on the audio version, they seemed too young, but it did bring the story to life as I listened.

Harrowing yet hopeful, another fine bit of writing that brings home the lessons of the past.

For ages 11 and above.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading/audio copy.

A great book for enthusiastic young readers, fast-moving and relatable. I can picture many, many youngsters battling to get their hands on a copy of this.

'Under a Fire-Red Sky' is a gripping work of historical fiction for young readers (probably aged 11 upwards) following the adventures of four teenagers in London during the Blitz. Each has a different reason for choosing to stay put rather than being evacuated, but all in some way become connected with firefighting or firewatching as the city around them burns - Gemmy raids bombed out houses but ends up saving others; Franklin is desperate to be taken on as a firefighter; Olive wants to be close to her firefighter father; and Lawrence volunteers as a firewatcher while working on his secret 'Project'.

Based on the author's father's experiences as a firefighter, this is a meticulously researched novel which will teach every reader something new about life during the Blitz, and it features some stunning descriptions. It is quite a demanding read at times but will be popular with those who have enjoyed other WW2 stories. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.

I loved reading this book. With it being set just up the road from where I have previously lived, and in the same borough that I teach in, I found it really interesting. I never knew that Invicta School (one that I have been to for training courses many a time) was turned into a fire station and then subsequently bombed. I think that the closeness to our school's location will make this book an even better read for my children.

The characters were likeable and realistic and the settings and events were described really well. Perfect for the middle grade readers the book is aimed at.

There are a lot of children's books set in the time of the Second World War and this one is one of my two favourites of all time. It is well-written with a lot of writing techniques thrown in in such a way that it does not sound pretentious. The writing brings the war scene back to life, It is not one of those that are sugar-coated or abridged to suit the more tender stomach of youngsters. I love this one absolutely. Could not praise it enough.

Set during the Blitz in London, this book followers four teenagers who become friends. All from differing backgrounds, they form an unlikely group but through their experiences of the war, they bond and grow as individuals.
This is a beautifully written story. It provides an honest and no holds barred account of the horrors of war, especially on the lives of civilians. The four main characters are well-defined and diverse and inspiring. There is a lot of raw emotion in this book. Highly recommended.

A raw and honest account of the war, it shed light on the darkest of days through the stories of four young people as we spend the wartime years with them.

It was a heavy read and honest in its retellings of the darkest side of war. From bombings, thievery, death, uncertainty and fear. I got invested in their stories as they experienced the start of war, the phoney war, the blitz all the way to the subsequent ending. It was fast paced and had me rapidly reading as catastrophic events unfurled.

With clever Lawrence who has a questioning and inventive mind, Olive who’s reluctance to be sent away throws her into a group with others like Gremlin who is sleeping rough and Franklin who wants to be a fire fighter more than anything. They form the Meridian Group and hold themselves together as they endure horrors of war.

I was definitely left reeling after this and didn’t half expect it to be as raw as it was. An important read for sure.