Όταν πέσει ο ουρανός στο κεφάλι μας

by Phil Earle, Άγγελος Αγγελίδης (Translator)

1940. Ο πόλεμος μαίνεται. Ένα οργισμένο αγόρι, ο Τζόζεφ, που δεν το στέλνουν στην εξοχή, αλλά στο Λονδίνο, στην πόλη που τα εχθρικά αεροπλάνα βομβαρδίζουν σχεδόν κάθε βράδυ. Εκεί ο Τζόζεφ θα μείνει με την κυρία Φ, μια απότομη γυναίκα που δε συμπαθεί τα παιδιά. Οι μόνες της αγάπες είναι ο ρημαγμένος ζωολογικός της κήπος και ο επιβλητικός ασημόραχος γορίλας της, ο Άδωνης.

Καθώς περνούν οι εβδομάδες, δεσμοί δημιουργούνται και μυστικά έρχονται στο φως. Η γυναίκα και το αγόρι πλησιάζουν ο ένας τον άλλον. Αλλά, αν οι βόμβες ελευθερώσουν τρομοκρατημένο και αφηνιασμένο τον Άδωνη, θα μπορέσει κάποιος απ’ τους δυο τους να βάλει τέλος στη ζωή του μόνου πλάσματος που αγαπούν πραγματικά;

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, War, Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Animals

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

Phil was born in Hull in 1974, and he studied English and Drama at Hull University. He worked for a year as a carer in a children’s home, then after training as a drama therapist, he worked in a therapeutic community in London, which cared for multiply abused adolescents. Then, changing tack completely, he chose a marginally more sedate life as a children’s bookseller. It was here that he developed an obsession for kid’s literature, in particular, young adult fiction.

After three years at Ottakar’s, he became a sales rep, and then a key account manager for Transworld/Random House, and is now sales director at Simon and Schuster Children’s Books.

Phil lives in South East London with his wife and three young children.

Reviews

[Hannah Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book...where do I start?!

Myself and my (non-book-loving) eight year old son read this one together at bedtime and it was a story that we were both desperate to get back to each night. Everything about this book was so well crafted - the wartime setting artfully depicted, the characters and the motivation for their actions felt real and authentic and reading it was a really immersive experience. Both me and my eight year old found ourselves commenting on the beauty of some of the language and re-reading bits that we felt especially moved by. I was a total mess by the end! I feel so grateful to have read this book and to have been able to share it with my son - Joseph's behaviour and turbulent emotional life gave us a way in to talk about my son's own behaviour and anger and frustration.....in fact he hasn't been violent since we finished reading it a month ago.

I will be telling EVERYONE about this and I sincerely hope it gets the recognition it deserves on awards prize shortlists. It's a really phenomenal book.

[Darren Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Phil Earle's work for a long while now, and ten years after "Being Billy" marked him out as a top author in the YA field, "When The Sky Falls" should catapult him into a whole new league. It's a book that's going to win awards and reach a huge audience, and the world at large is going to discover what those of us already in the know have been aware of for the past decade -- that Phil Earle is a must-read author.

The book opens on a train station in London during the Blitz, with loads of children boarding a train out of the bombs-ravaged city, to seek shelter and safety in the countryside. It's a scene that's been covered in many books before, but here it's completely turned on its head, because instead of focusing on the kids who are leaving, it zooms in on Joseph, a 12 year old boy who is moving in the opposite direction, and has actually COME to London to live.

We know from the start that Joseph is a troubled boy, but his full story unweaves slowly over the course of the book, as do the stories of Mrs F, the owner of a zoo who takes charge of him and sets him to work trying to find food for its starving animals (including a majestic but sad gorilla), a girl called Syd who befriends him despite all his efforts to push her away, and Adonis, that sad gorilla who is at the heart of the unfolding narratives and heart-wrenching finale.

This masterful study in loss and redemption is a book strongly influenced by "Kes" and "The Machine Gunners" (I love the little knowing nod to the latter), but the style is all Earle's own, and it ends up sitting proudly by those two fore-runners, as an equal. It will make you weep more than once, and you're going to be biting your nails as it draws towards the climax, but ultimately it's a work that will make your heart sing.

This is the work of a writer at the top of his game, and it's going to be one of the best-received books of 2021 when it goes on sale in June. My advice is to get your pre-order in quickly, ahead of the rush, so you can be among the first to experience its wonders.

[Emily Carter-Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad the cashier at Waterstones recommended this book to me! Of course I told him to just put it in the bag as I just cannot say no to a book, ever!

Joseph Palmer is a 12 year old boy angry at the world around him. His mother left when he was 5, his father left him to go to fight in WW2 and and now his grandmother has sent him down to London as she can no longer deal with his behaviour. Mrs F has been tasked with taking him in and whipping him into shape whilst also struggling to keep her zoo animals alive and safe during the Blitz. The book covers the development of the relationship between Mrs F and Joseph and the fight to keep Adonis, the prize gorilla, alive.

Everything about this book was incredible: the characters, the emotions and the stark reality of London during the Blitz. It sucked me in from the first page and I couldn't stop reading! I love how naturally the characters' relationships developed as well. It's just so beautifully written.

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

Twelve-year-old Joseph has had it tough, not only is there a world war raging, his mum has died, his dad has been enlisted to fight, and now his Grandmother has sent him to London to stay with an old friend of hers after she struggled to cope with him, whilst other children were being evacuated out of the city.

Mrs F (Farrelly) is the woman who is to look after Joseph. She is a stern woman who takes no nonsense from the young lad and makes him earn his keep, much to Joseph’s disappointment. He hasn’t even been there a day when he smashes his bedroom window.

Mrs F is also the keeper of the local zoo, which has been in her family for years. There she attends daily to care for the animals that are left behind, including Adonis the Gorilla who is as moody as Joseph is.

As Joseph settles into his new temporary home he realises that he is not alone, he also comes to share a bond with Adonis but as the bombs rain down on the city, both he and Mrs F know that if Adonis escapes his cage then they must do the unthinkable, a task neither of them wants.

When the Sky Falls is a historical fiction middle-grade novel based on a true story. As the war raged around the characters their strengths and weaknesses are brought to the forefront. Joseph is struggling with his life and he reacts the only way he knows by pushing people away and causing mayhem. Mrs F is a stubborn but fair woman who is trying to save her family’s zoo and keep Joseph safe and show him in her own way how to survive.

The book was a slow read for me. There were pages when it felt like not a lot happened and at times I lost interest. At other times I was engrossed and couldn’t wait to see where Joseph’s story was taking him. This meant that I took quite a while to get through the book.

The plot is certainly different. Whilst you have our two main characters, the zoo also felt like a main character as did the war which felt eerie and ever-present in your mind.

When the Sky Falls is a powerful read. It will pull at your heartstrings and make you realise just how tough some people had it during the war and the bonds that can be connected between not only strangers but animals and humans too.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly beautiful book

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Sky Falls
Author: Phil Earle

Sometimes you read a book that stays with you.

Inspired by a true story from World War II:

Joseph Palmer is a 12 year old boy who has a rough childhood. His mother left him because she couldn't take care of him, and his dad had to leave him behind to fight in war. The young boy has a difficult character that mainly consists of tantrums and anger issues.

His grandmother, who is his caretaker, reaches a point where she can no longer handle Joseph's behavior. His new caretaker then is Mrs F. The direct and grumpy character of Mrs F. causes Joseph to strongly resist against her.

Behind every anger hides deep-seated sadness and that's a big life lesson that Joseph needs to learn.

Mrs F. is the owner of a zoo and she takes Joseph to work with her. This is where Joseph meets the strong gorilla named Adonis. At first he wants nothing to do with the animal until the gorilla takes him under his protection

An emotional friendship develops between the two as the falling bombs try to drive them apart.

A heartwarming story about the value of friendship and trust. In which love plays an important role.

Trigger warnings:
War violence, problematic childhood, grief

[Kelly Furniss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph Palmer is 12 yrs old and angry at the World and everyone around him .
He struggles to deal with the fact his Mum left when he was small and now feels even more alone as his Dad is sent to fight in WW2. He skips school frustrated with a learning difficulty he hides, has anger issues, fights and does mostly as he pleases until his Gran can take no more and he is sent to London, the result of a closely guarded kept promise.
Mrs F, Grans associate is the lady now in charge of him. She is short, strict and makes it clear his behaviour will not be tolerated and sets about making him conform by going to school, doing chores and working. And this is where the story takes a different direction. Mrs F runs the family Zoo at a time in the Blitz when food is rationed and people think animals should be put down. But Mrs F has Adonis the gorilla and as Joseph works at the Zoo with the help of his new friend Syd he begins to warm to her, him and vice versa. But Joseph is not the only one with difficulties and a past and will that be the end of the loss in his short life?. Can they help heal each other?.
This story completely consumed me. The author was brilliant as the narrator and he told the story so well on audio. However I am glad I went in quite blind to the book but because wow, I never saw that ending coming. I finished the story completely choked, nodding my head in disbelief with mixed emotions, still thinking through the subjects raised. So many twists it left me in awe and the authors explanation of it been a true story at the end astounded me further.
Recently this book has won Book of the Year for children's fiction at the British Book Awards and I can see why. This sits up there now joint first with my other kid lit favourite The Snow Goose ( Paul Gallico) and I never thought I could find a book that would share that spot, however luckily for me I just have the arc of Phil Earle's latest release so will it be a three way tie?
I need to stop gushing now about how wonderful this book is and how I felt compelled to tweet the author and tell him after hiding away from the neighbours Jubilee street party to listen to it, that is after a glass of wine I consumed which I blame him for because I needed a stiff drink to deal with the ending!ha!. . Anyway, read it ....I need to go read his new one!

[Lesaffairesdelouise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je ne m’attendais pas à ça. Je ne m’attendais pas à être autant touchée et chamboulée par ce récit.
J’ai accepté ce SP par pure curiosité et le sujet avait l’air super intéressant.
Mais Joseph m’a terriblement touché. Ce petit garçon de 12 ans ravagé et en colère par tout ce qui l’entoure. Mrs F qui le recueille et qui a aussi des faiblesses. Et puis Syd aussi, bichette! L’institutrice également ! Et puis forcément Adonis.
Oh lala mais je termine ce livre avec le coeur déchiré et en larmes. La guerre c’est tellement nul 😭…
C’est le genre de roman qui remue par ses événements et qui reste en mémoire.
C’est l’histoire d’un petit garçon de douze ans, qui arrive à Londres en temps de bombardements. Qui déteste tout et tout le monde. Mais c’est au final Mrs F et un gorille qui finisse par le sauver.
(Cette fin. Vraiment. Jveux juste me rouler en boule.)

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ostensibly a children's book set in Second World War London, this astonishing title is destined to become a modern classic of the same ilk as Goodnight Mister Tom and the Machine Gunners. It really is that good.
The character development is beautifully nuanced - all of the key players become increasingly shaded and three dimensional as the plot unfolds, and the subject matter covers friendship, betrayal, loss, and love.
My favourite character, Sid, is a feisty girl who helps to melt Joseph's anger, but who's more than capable of giving as good as she gets.

This is a story for all ages, and there is much to uncover for the older reader.

Phil Earle is an inspirational writer, and this book is his masterwork.

[Kathryn Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very decent 9-12 story which only just misses being a four-star one for me.

I am a particularly hard judge of the handling of dyslexia in novels and I found this outing a little frustrating.

That was part of a wider issue with the elements introduced as playing on Joseph's psyche never really cohering into a narrative. The dyslexia was underserved alongside the threads of Joseph's father, mother, and grandma. We didn't need resolution and catharsis on these threads but we did need a little development in each case if they were going to become a story rather than inert.

I do appreciate the instinct not to neatly resolve everything neatly, but these aspects just felt like they didn't get the attention they needed.

I think the novel would have benefitted from a few more external prompts and events occuring - a letter from Jospeh's father, a visit to Syd's house, that sort of thing. Moments that would help turn inert ideas into narrative, that would show us firsthand things we need to care about.

In particular, the zoo, which is of course at the heart of the book, felt frustratingly underexplored. Its physical space, atmosphere and history are so intriguing and distinct and there are passages where the experience of being within it are very sharply imagined. But just too much is covered vaguely.

By the time the ending inevitably imperils the zoo, I hadn't been given enough for the danger to the animals to resonate, or the threat they represent, the love Mrs. F has for it...

The ending sequence of events had brilliance within it. But I felt the lack of story beforehand letting it down. Elements feel contrived without the emotional set-up to make them land.

I can absolutely see why the author felt so inspired by that image of a person in a zoo in the blitz, their duty to keep their gun trained on the most dangerous of the animals in case bombing allows the animal's escape. That image remains richly evocative in this book. But I don't think Earle quite nailed the elements to make this the most powerful exploration of that image it could be.

In the busy field of WWII children's stories, this story is a good read with some distinct and striking elements, but it is outshone by many tales on similar territory.

[TL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bought this thinking it would be next primary class end-of-the-day read aloud. I only select books i love since I'd need to spend a lot of time with them and read them more than once. Sadly, I didn't like this one enough. However, I can tell from the raving reviews that I'm very much in the minority!
I didn't like any of the characters except Mrs F. I didn't like the main character at all; rather than feel sorry for him, I just found him very selfish and nasty with no redeemable qualities. I didn't care enough about Adonis either. Joseph's friend Syd was very underdeveloped and one of the biggest Mary-Sue characters I've read in a while. The writing itself felt a bit passive to me. Lots of filter words - on one page there were 8 instances of the writer using 'felt'.
I didn't get any sense of suspense or urgency. For me, the stakes weren't high enough to make this a book I didn't want to put down. Everyone seemed passive about the nightly air raids and I stopped worrying about them too. Maybe this was intentional? The writer wanted to show how routine the bombings became back in the war?
I liked the gritty tone of the book and that it got me thinking about zoos in the war and how they managed. I can see there would be plenty of ideas here to start a class project but unfortunately I didn't like the characters enough to want to spend any more time with them. If i can't be passionate about the book then I don't tech it. I will leave it on the class library shelf for the children to look at themselves if it takes their fancy.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un magnifique roman historique qui nous montre au travers les yeux d'un enfant les horreurs du Blitz, mais également que la rédemption est possible là où on ne l'attend pas forcément. Les personnages sont MAGNIFIQUES. L'histoire est MAGNIFIQUE. Le GROS KIFF ce roman. Et je déteste les romans sur la guerre.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up and read the blurb and thought not another kid's war story. The blurb said that it was based on a real story, so intrigued I opened it up.
Jeezo this book got me right in the feels. It's a story of friendship and trust and is guaranteed to make you cry.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

So beautifully done. A brilliant book. Full of emotion and tension. You won’t want to put this down.

[Heath Noble · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's alright if you like war

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This World War II story is a bit different from the rest, but it will still thrill fans of more traditional WWII novels. And it will also appeal to the animal-loving book audience.

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un très beau roman, touchant et émouvant !

[Kevin Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking read this from the Calderdale award list. It reminded me of a film I watched part of in Kettlewell with the kids one rainy afternoon about a zoo in Belfast during the war.

Lovely characterisation - real depth and emotion in the characters Earle has drawn - as a teacher I was really taking in by Joseph’s dyslexia.

Another great local author from Hebden Bridge - we are so very blessed. Just super.

[Barbara Band · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an emotional story. London, the Blitz, a boy full of anger, a woman full of sorrow - and a gorilla that breaks down their barriers. Be warned - you will need tissues.

One of those timeless stories that stays with you for a long time.

[Sarah Gallego · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't fault this novel at all. It's a stunning feat. Definitely one I will read aloud to a class.

[Livresse de Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75/5

J’écrirai ma review quand j’aurai séché mes larmes.

[Helen the Bassist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, and poignant wartime tale.
Twelve year old Joseph is 'reverse evacuated' from the countryside to London to stay with his Grandmother's friend 'Mrs F' who is fighting a daily battle to keep the remaining animals in her family's zoo, including Adonis, a regal and dangerous bereaved Silverback Gorilla, alive on the scrapings of vegetables she can gather whilst bartering dung to the growers on the wartime allotments.
Joseph is angry and hurt. He is bullied by his peers and terrorised by a cane-wielding headmaster who does not care that he struggles with a dyslexia which will not even be officially recognises until 1987.
It's a harsh winter during the blitz and, every night, whilst people hunker down in bomb shelters and the Underground, Mrs F stands at Adonis' enclosure, rifle ready, just in case...because a wild, terrified Adonis free in London must never happen, however much she loves him...and Joseph might come to.

[Rachael Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional. I loved this story!

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tears were shed 😭

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Think it could be a young adult book but very enjoyable for adults too.

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic re-read.

In Year 6 Book Club we have just read the brilliant 'When the Sky Falls' by Phil Earle. It follows Joseph as he is sent to live with a formidable new guardian, Mrs F, during World War 2. Joseph is, contrary to what you might expect, relocated to live in London, despite German air raids. This is because Joseph has been acting out since his soldier father was deployed to France, and his grandmother has run out of ideas about how to connect with her grandson and help him channel his anger and sadness. When Joseph and Mrs F first meet, it is a clash of fierce and stubborn personalities. Will Joseph benefit from her mentorship, or is this another relationship set to fail and prove his ideas of himself and others?
Something Joseph could had never imagined becomes his new reality as he must help Mrs F maintain her beleaguered zoo. Joseph's new role sees him mucking out; bartering for food- already in short supply due to the war; and finding a unique and intriguing challenge in caring for the zoo's mercurial silverback gorilla, Adonis.
This book has a fascinating setting, which creates a brilliant backdrop for the story. It has mountains of heart- it will pull you in and make you care so much about the characters- you will feel their emotions viscerally. Phil Earle is a great storyteller. Joseph and Mrs F, living in a time apart from our own, are made so relatable and Earle describes the challenges of the time in devastating detail helping us to empathise deeply. I recommend this book to everyone 9+.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not the worst book it starts slow and the main character is incredibly tiresome. He seems to complain about everything with his only likeable quality being his friendship with Adonis. However while Joseph may be the worst main character ever made the other characters more than make up for it. That being said the plot is basic and the plot twists are obvious making it a tedious and unexceptional read bar a few funny moments.

[mollyreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just wasn’t a massive fan of this book. The characters bored me, the story wasn’t interesting and the ending was underwhelming. I could see why others could like this but for me it just fell flat and wasn’t very good.

[Rachel Huskisson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for Derbyshire schools book award. A fast paced story with great 3D characters, will be a hit with our readers.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't remember when I first heard about this book, but I do know the cover grabbed me as soon as I saw it. It's such a distinct image that it is hard to forget. You have to give Andersen Press's art department the due here. It defiantly made me pick it up when I was in my local book store and flip it over to read the blurb. And whilst this book is aimed at a much younger audience I have to say it sounded so intriguing that I just had to pick a copy up. And for me, it's not often that happens with books aimed at younger readers. Sadly those days are long behind me but every once in a while a book like this comes along and makes me want to dip my toe back into it.

There have been quite a few books dealing with children during the blitz. The horrors and hardships they faced are ones I find truly unimaginable. With such stories, we are stripped of these great heroes and villains we come to expect. What we are left with tends to be more about survival. That living through these events is enough for anyone to go through. In coming to Joseph we see a slightly different view on this. He is someone whose anger we can see boiling up inside him. He feels betrayed and abandoned by all those who are supposed to care for him. And being sent hundreds of miles away only adds to this feeling of isolation. In this case, Joseph never feels overplayed. His feelings and emotions come across as valid to the reader. I think too often writers try and simply their younger characters. They want to show them to be childish and invalidate the experiences they go through. But here I was not only allowed to experience them for what they were but given the reasons behind them.

And for Earle that is a great part of this story, he wishes to tell us. He shows us that be it human or animal. we all have to deal with pain and sorrow. It is some of our most basic instincts and too often it course us to lash out at those around us. We think they cannot possibly understand this raw and unbridled pain we are going through. And to some extent, this took me by surprise in a book aimed at a younger audience. Earle doesn't try and sugarcoat what is happening here. But allows the reader to experience that journey Joseph goes through. And maybe that is part of what makes this book so well, there is no dumbing down. He treats us all equally and trusts readers of any age to something that feels very real.

Whilst I may have only picked the book up at first due to its cover, the story I found inside is one that will stick with me for a long time to come. It goes far beyond the usual child during the Blitz and I think tries to tell us deeper truths about human nature. Somehow this is a book that allows you to bring up questions about a whole raft of ideas. I'd imagine it to be one of those books that would allow you to have deeper conversations with you child about topics such as grief and struggling to control your emotions. But will also give the you as the parent a story you can get invested in. Overall I think this is a great book to read no matter your age.