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To War With Wallace
Scottish Wars of Independence, 1297. Scottish resistance has been crushed, and King Edward, Hammer of the Scots, now rules the North. Doesn't he?
At Chester Castle, young apprentice armourer Harry has no idea just how much his life is going to change from the moment he is told to guard an imprisoned Scottish the rebel Andrew de Moray. The boy's momentary carelessness gives the prisoner all he an opportunity to escape. Harry finds himself kidnapped, and on his way to Scotland.
Soon, he is caught up in the Northern Rising with its skirmishes and stealth attacks. But these are nothing to the storm of questions in Harry's Whose cause is right? Why has his new master joined forces with the outlaw William Wallace? Can his new friend Euphemia be trusted?
As arrows fly and swords clash at the battle of Stirling Bridge, Harry must Whose side is he on?
At Chester Castle, young apprentice armourer Harry has no idea just how much his life is going to change from the moment he is told to guard an imprisoned Scottish the rebel Andrew de Moray. The boy's momentary carelessness gives the prisoner all he an opportunity to escape. Harry finds himself kidnapped, and on his way to Scotland.
Soon, he is caught up in the Northern Rising with its skirmishes and stealth attacks. But these are nothing to the storm of questions in Harry's Whose cause is right? Why has his new master joined forces with the outlaw William Wallace? Can his new friend Euphemia be trusted?
As arrows fly and swords clash at the battle of Stirling Bridge, Harry must Whose side is he on?
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2025
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 9, 2025
Young apprentice armourer Harry finds himself caught up in history.
What a book! I’ve read so many of Barbara Henderson’s children’s books that I am beginning to run out of superlatives to describe them in review. To War With Wallace is truly fabulous and I found myself completely mesmerised by the storytelling. This is a gripping, exciting, story that uncovers a little known aspect of The Scottish Wars of Independence and that leaves the reader feeling that, not only have they read about it, but they have been alongside Harry and part of history too. I think this may be Barbara Henderson’s best book yet – and given that I think they are all brilliant, that’s saying something!
The plot is breath-taking. Fast paced, interesting and engaging, this is the narrative to enthral even the most reluctant of readers. I think it’s having a realistic, age appropriate protagonist in Harry who is universal that is so successful. He’s by no means a perfect individual, but he is quick witted, skilled and, equally, vulnerable, making him relatable and convincing. More well-known Wallace may be in the title of the book, but here Scottish/English history is brought to vivid life from the point of view of those without whom, the great names of the past would never have come to prominence. Harry and Euphemia may only be children, but their role in history is vital. In To War With Wallace not only entertains young readers (and older ones like me), but it gives them status and credibility.
The themes of To War With Wallace are presented to perfection. War is an obvious element and this story resonates with much of today’s world as well as presenting the past, helping children to make sense of what they see around them. But other themes are so sensitively handled too. The need for companionship and a sense of belonging threads through the story. Loyalty and the implications of choice illustrate that no decision, no allegiance, is without dilemma and difficulty so that young readers can begin to understand not only Harry, but themselves and those they come into contact with. I thought this aspect was magnificent. Equally important is the concept of hope even when life seems impossible, making To War With Wallace inspiring as well as brilliantly entertaining.
What I find so astonishing about this author’s writing is the way she educates, creates a sense of time and place and presents difficult elements like war and death in an accessible manner without ever shying away from facts or patronising her readers. This is an author who researches meticulously, and weaves a spellbinding tale that is written with such skill and care that I find it hard to express how impactful To War With Wallace is. The opportunities for classroom use are immense – from further historical and geographical research to drama presentations. I can imagine children writing diary extracts from a character’s point of view, or producing artwork surrounding some of the key plot points. They might learn a few words of Gaelic or German, or teach one another some of their own home languages for example. However, most of all I can see To War With Wallace simply being a fantastic read that grips a young reader’s imagination and spurs a lifetime’s love of reading.
To War With Wallace is a triumph of a book. I thought it was wonderful and cannot recommend it highly enough – both for its target audience and for adults like me who appreciate magnificent writing and want to be royally entertained. To War With Wallace is, quite simply, not to be missed.
What a book! I’ve read so many of Barbara Henderson’s children’s books that I am beginning to run out of superlatives to describe them in review. To War With Wallace is truly fabulous and I found myself completely mesmerised by the storytelling. This is a gripping, exciting, story that uncovers a little known aspect of The Scottish Wars of Independence and that leaves the reader feeling that, not only have they read about it, but they have been alongside Harry and part of history too. I think this may be Barbara Henderson’s best book yet – and given that I think they are all brilliant, that’s saying something!
The plot is breath-taking. Fast paced, interesting and engaging, this is the narrative to enthral even the most reluctant of readers. I think it’s having a realistic, age appropriate protagonist in Harry who is universal that is so successful. He’s by no means a perfect individual, but he is quick witted, skilled and, equally, vulnerable, making him relatable and convincing. More well-known Wallace may be in the title of the book, but here Scottish/English history is brought to vivid life from the point of view of those without whom, the great names of the past would never have come to prominence. Harry and Euphemia may only be children, but their role in history is vital. In To War With Wallace not only entertains young readers (and older ones like me), but it gives them status and credibility.
The themes of To War With Wallace are presented to perfection. War is an obvious element and this story resonates with much of today’s world as well as presenting the past, helping children to make sense of what they see around them. But other themes are so sensitively handled too. The need for companionship and a sense of belonging threads through the story. Loyalty and the implications of choice illustrate that no decision, no allegiance, is without dilemma and difficulty so that young readers can begin to understand not only Harry, but themselves and those they come into contact with. I thought this aspect was magnificent. Equally important is the concept of hope even when life seems impossible, making To War With Wallace inspiring as well as brilliantly entertaining.
What I find so astonishing about this author’s writing is the way she educates, creates a sense of time and place and presents difficult elements like war and death in an accessible manner without ever shying away from facts or patronising her readers. This is an author who researches meticulously, and weaves a spellbinding tale that is written with such skill and care that I find it hard to express how impactful To War With Wallace is. The opportunities for classroom use are immense – from further historical and geographical research to drama presentations. I can imagine children writing diary extracts from a character’s point of view, or producing artwork surrounding some of the key plot points. They might learn a few words of Gaelic or German, or teach one another some of their own home languages for example. However, most of all I can see To War With Wallace simply being a fantastic read that grips a young reader’s imagination and spurs a lifetime’s love of reading.
To War With Wallace is a triumph of a book. I thought it was wonderful and cannot recommend it highly enough – both for its target audience and for adults like me who appreciate magnificent writing and want to be royally entertained. To War With Wallace is, quite simply, not to be missed.
September 16, 2025
Harry is an armourer’s apprentice in Chester Castle at the tail end of the 13th century. He keeps his head down and concentrates on his work repairing chainmail, but when one of the rebel Scots from across the border is imprisoned in the castle, he’s drawn into an adventure that will take him far from home, into war, and eventually to encounter the famous William Wallace.
Barbara Henderson cleverly takes a real-life unsung character from the era of Wallace, Andrew de Moray, and tells his story from the point of view of a half-English, half-German young man drawn into the conflict. Harry is a great character, whose moral conflict over aligning himself with enemies of his own country and king forms the heart of the story, and de Moray is charismatic and engaging. The period detail is rich and convincing but never intrusive (and certainly more authentic than Braveheart, the less said about which, the better).
This is another splendid historical adventure from Henderson that I can highly recommend.
Barbara Henderson cleverly takes a real-life unsung character from the era of Wallace, Andrew de Moray, and tells his story from the point of view of a half-English, half-German young man drawn into the conflict. Harry is a great character, whose moral conflict over aligning himself with enemies of his own country and king forms the heart of the story, and de Moray is charismatic and engaging. The period detail is rich and convincing but never intrusive (and certainly more authentic than Braveheart, the less said about which, the better).
This is another splendid historical adventure from Henderson that I can highly recommend.
October 2, 2025
To say I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this story, is an understatement. Written from a totally different perspective, it a masterpiece written with beautiful descriptions, easy flow and unexpected outcomes. It was also interesting to read the historical data surrounding the background and how the author came to write from this perspective. I encourage not only those interested in history to read. I would also like to see if there is a follow up on the main character which would more than likely be fiction only.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 12, 2025
I’d absolutely recommend this book. I enjoyed being swept up in the adventure and narrative of the story and loved the themes of identity and loyalty. The characters were brilliantly thought out and I laughed and cried along with them. This book proves that children’s fiction is for all ages…I found it difficult to put down! This was the first book I’ve read by Barbara Henderson and I immediately went out and bought another.
September 26, 2025
Another cracker from Barbara Henderson. To War With Wallace is full of great characters, historical detail and a page-turning plot. As well as learning a lot about a forgotten Scottish hero (not Wallace!) readers will enjoy young Harry's dilemma about who to support. Highly recommended for all ages.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews