The idea of the war coming to their small, impoverished Welsh mining village always seemed remote, but with the fireball of a downed German aircraft, and the place crawling with Americans preparing for the invasion of France, young Anthony and his Bevan Boy elder brothers find their world turned upside down.

But as well as excitement, war brings distrust, envy, lies and danger, and as tension and anger mount, the villagers find themselves hopelessly divided. Confused and afraid, it falls to Anthony, an 11 year-old in wellies, to search out the truth.

A wonderful World War 2 page-turner with beautifully drawn characters and dialogue that will have you beaming from ear to ear one moment, and wiping your eyes the next, Shoes For Anthony is Emma Kennedy’s first adult novel.