“Jenny Pearson must be the best children's author writing at the moment.” KATYA BALEN, Carnegie Medal-winning author.

An explosive new novel about the friendship and courage of a group of young boys living through the Second World War, from award-winning author Jenny Pearson.

There's a war going on out there, and I'm missing it.

When war comes to London in 1939, Ronnie Smith is scared and excited: scared of the bombs that fall at night, but excited to race his friends to collect the best bits of shrapnel every morning.

But for Ronnie, the battles aren't just in the sky and on the streets. They're at school and at home too. His little brother is up to no good with a secret job and dangerous new friends, and Ronnie's worried he's getting himself into big trouble.

Ronnie's desperate to help his little brother. But he isn't expecting to uncover secrets that could change the fate of the whole war...

Publishing in the 80th anniversary year of the end of the Second World War.

Historical content reviewed by the Imperial War Museum.