Demons of Dunkirk

by Paul Nolan

To hell, then home again—one boy's story  of the evacuation at Dunkirk during World War II

"We're nearer hell than home now Charlie," the great man said, as we looked to the huge pillars of smoke, that spiraled above the beaches. We were there to save the soldiers; little did I know that soon I would need rescuing myself from the Demons of Dunkirk.

Charlie's mother and father work at a Spitfire factory in the fishing port of Hamble. After a run-in with a brutal instructor on the naval training ship Mercury, the teenager finds himself on the run from the British navy. His father hooks him up with William—the Captain of a fishing boat called the White Feather. A few days later, the pair find themselves caught up in the most heroic retreat of World War II—the Dunkirk evacuation.

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and found the topic and story interesting. It is set around the events at Dunkirk and the plot allows us to explore many perspectives. The war scenes are vivid enough to feel uncomfortable, but not overally gruesome. The characters were well developed and you wanted them to pull through despite the odds.
Recommended for both older and teenage readers.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful tale told through the eyes of a brave young boy Charlie, telling of the characters he meets, the suffering and bravery he witnesses on the beach at Dunkirk and beyond. A must read for Children and Adults alike.

[Ellie Grunewald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The next book in my survey of WWII books for kids - a quest for a class reader for Year 6. Mostly, I enjoyed this one, although the writing was not brilliant, - a few too many short sentences! The story of Charlie Jones, who flees from a naval training ship after striking a brutal instructor, and ends up on a fishing boat, 'The White Feather'. When the allied soldiers get stuck on the beaches of Dunkirk in May 1940, the Whiter Feather joins in the rescue operation, and Charlie becomes a hero. The writing brought this event to life for me, though I found a section of the rescue confusing. On the whole, I enjoyed the book though.