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The Battle of Cable Street
Life has always been tough on the streets of Stepney, where Elsie and her brother Mikey are growing up in a vermin-infested slum nicknamed “Paradise”.
But the rise of antisemitic fascist Oswald Mosley and his Blackshirts in the 1930s stirs up trouble between families who have lived closely together for years, and Elsie sees friendships torn apart.
When Elsie and Mikey attend a Mosley rally, intending to heckle and cause trouble, they soon see how dangerous the situation has become, but out in the streets the fascists find that people will stand and fight against them and against hatred in what becomes the dramatic Battle of Cable Street.
But the rise of antisemitic fascist Oswald Mosley and his Blackshirts in the 1930s stirs up trouble between families who have lived closely together for years, and Elsie sees friendships torn apart.
When Elsie and Mikey attend a Mosley rally, intending to heckle and cause trouble, they soon see how dangerous the situation has become, but out in the streets the fascists find that people will stand and fight against them and against hatred in what becomes the dramatic Battle of Cable Street.
120 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2022
66 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Landman
85 books91 followersCarnegie Medal winning Tanya Landman is the author of more than thirty books for children and young adults.
Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."
Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.
Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.
Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.
Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."
Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.
Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.
Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 29, 2022
A new perspective on historic events from award-winning, children’s writer Tanya Landman. Set in Stepney, in London’s East End, in the 1920s and 1930s this is a reimagining of the circumstances that led up to the infamous Battle of Cable Street seen through the eyes of a young, Irish-Jewish girl, Elsie. Stepney at that time was home to a large Jewish community and targeted by former politician Oswald Mosley whose anti-semitic, fascist organisation, originally titled the British Union of Fascists, had worrying links to Hitler, as well as disturbing levels of support from the British upper classes including, it’s rumoured, members of the royal family. Mosley’s roaming gangs of Blackshirt minions intimidated and harassed Jewish residents, making them fearful for their families and their livelihoods.
Aiming at younger readers, Landman’s style is simple and direct although some of her content seems more suited to slightly older readers. It’s very much story-led, not in itself necessarily bad, but it’s not the most subtle piece at times, and the historical facts and the fictional elements can sometimes seem to clash – so that passages read like thinly-veiled material from a history textbook. But it’s also a very readable tale of lost innocence, tempered by bravery and solidarity, as well as a decent introduction to an important chapter in English history. One that some would prefer to forget. Landman’s narrative is also a warning about the dangers of ‘othering’ and the importance of standing up to prejudice and discrimination that, unfortunately, remains timely as the author points out in her afterword.
For anyone who hasn’t heard of the Battle of Cable Street, on October 4th, 1936, Mosley and his supporters planned to march through the heart of Stepney’s Jewish community, local Jewish people, Irish, and Somali residents acted together to stem the progress of Mosley’s supporters by building makeshift barricades along Cable Street. They were joined by antifascist groups from war veterans to young Communists. Despite brutal, pro-fascist police interventions, with officers numbering in their thousands, many on horseback, the antifa groups’ stand worked and they succeeded in heading off Mosley’s hordes.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Barrington Stoke for an ARC
Aiming at younger readers, Landman’s style is simple and direct although some of her content seems more suited to slightly older readers. It’s very much story-led, not in itself necessarily bad, but it’s not the most subtle piece at times, and the historical facts and the fictional elements can sometimes seem to clash – so that passages read like thinly-veiled material from a history textbook. But it’s also a very readable tale of lost innocence, tempered by bravery and solidarity, as well as a decent introduction to an important chapter in English history. One that some would prefer to forget. Landman’s narrative is also a warning about the dangers of ‘othering’ and the importance of standing up to prejudice and discrimination that, unfortunately, remains timely as the author points out in her afterword.
For anyone who hasn’t heard of the Battle of Cable Street, on October 4th, 1936, Mosley and his supporters planned to march through the heart of Stepney’s Jewish community, local Jewish people, Irish, and Somali residents acted together to stem the progress of Mosley’s supporters by building makeshift barricades along Cable Street. They were joined by antifascist groups from war veterans to young Communists. Despite brutal, pro-fascist police interventions, with officers numbering in their thousands, many on horseback, the antifa groups’ stand worked and they succeeded in heading off Mosley’s hordes.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Barrington Stoke for an ARC
May 26, 2022
Yet another winner that deserves all the hype from one of my favourite publishers. What I love about Barrington Stoke's books are how they explore and shed light on important issues in a concise, tactful and engaging manner. The Battle of Cable Street was a greatly enjoyable read with lively characters.
Set in London's Stepney district, this novella focuses on the events leading up to World War 2 in Britain. The setting felt so vivid, with the increasing tension, hostilities and antisemitism being all too real. Seeing how the characters went from having idyllic childhoods to witnessing hate and violence unfold in front their eyes broke my heart.
I also loved how sensitive topics and events are handled with so much care here. Despite being a quick read, I didn't feel like anything was oversimplified or skimmed over. In fact, they were explained in a very effective yet easy-to-understand manner. Even though the book doesn't cover the war itself, it doesn't play down nor glorify it.
Not only does this book provide a lesser-known perspective about Britain's part in the war, it also celebrates the courage of people who stood together, shoulder to shoulder, against racism and antisemitism. I highly recommend it not only to its intended younger audience, but also to adults like myself. Just like what Tanya Landman says in the author's note, The Battle of Cable Street is a significant historical event that many people aren't aware about. Yet it's a crucial part of history that must never be forgotten.
An illuminating, wonderful, important and timeless read all at once.
Thank you Barrington Stoke and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Set in London's Stepney district, this novella focuses on the events leading up to World War 2 in Britain. The setting felt so vivid, with the increasing tension, hostilities and antisemitism being all too real. Seeing how the characters went from having idyllic childhoods to witnessing hate and violence unfold in front their eyes broke my heart.
I also loved how sensitive topics and events are handled with so much care here. Despite being a quick read, I didn't feel like anything was oversimplified or skimmed over. In fact, they were explained in a very effective yet easy-to-understand manner. Even though the book doesn't cover the war itself, it doesn't play down nor glorify it.
Not only does this book provide a lesser-known perspective about Britain's part in the war, it also celebrates the courage of people who stood together, shoulder to shoulder, against racism and antisemitism. I highly recommend it not only to its intended younger audience, but also to adults like myself. Just like what Tanya Landman says in the author's note, The Battle of Cable Street is a significant historical event that many people aren't aware about. Yet it's a crucial part of history that must never be forgotten.
An illuminating, wonderful, important and timeless read all at once.
Thank you Barrington Stoke and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
May 13, 2022
We associate fascism with Hitler's Germany or Mussolini's Italy, but rarely think about the fascism that burgeoned in the 1930's in the UK. This short novel tells the story of the developing political tensions on London streets, with many people supporting racist and anti-semitic ideas -- and police or institutions often looking the other way. Young Elsie, and many others like her, are determined to stand up for what is right, and they engage in subversive resistance and protest -- no matter the cost.
This is yet another winner from historical fiction writer Tanya Landman, whose novels always benefit from meticulous research and engaging characters that bring history to life. It's a Barrington Stoke title, meaning that it is accessible, and also completely absorbing.
This is yet another winner from historical fiction writer Tanya Landman, whose novels always benefit from meticulous research and engaging characters that bring history to life. It's a Barrington Stoke title, meaning that it is accessible, and also completely absorbing.
November 24, 2022
Fast paced action packed that somehow still is full of emotion and so many historical facts I didn’t know. Loved this book, wish it were longer
April 20, 2022
*Thank you to Netgalley and Barrington Stoke for allowing me early access to this title*
When I first saw this title I was ready to read this immediately, then I saw that this was a middle grade/children's title and wondered how Tanya Landman would brooch such a topic. The Battle of Cable Street wasn't something I had heard about until my Sixth Form years at school, and I was appalled that this wasn't taught in the younger years at school as a look at the anti-Semitism of Britain. So when I thought about this, even though I was worried about how this was going to work, I realised that this could be a really important title in Children's literature to not only look at real cases of anti-Semitism but also see that many people can be united in the belief of anti-Fascism.
Tanya Landman did this book extremely well by creating a fictional character to be at the forefront of an entirely true story. The use of Elsie and the fact that she would be around the age of the main target audience allows for this title to be more accessible for children and allow for the readers to see that this event affected not only the adults but people of their age as well. It shows that young people can also stand up for social change and that those who may be different from us in any sense or form should not be discriminated against for this fact.
This title teaches young people the truth of Britain's anti-Semitic past but also shows the lengths people will go to fight for what is right. I believe that this could become a really important title in the teaching of children about historical events that aren't but should be taught at schools.
When I first saw this title I was ready to read this immediately, then I saw that this was a middle grade/children's title and wondered how Tanya Landman would brooch such a topic. The Battle of Cable Street wasn't something I had heard about until my Sixth Form years at school, and I was appalled that this wasn't taught in the younger years at school as a look at the anti-Semitism of Britain. So when I thought about this, even though I was worried about how this was going to work, I realised that this could be a really important title in Children's literature to not only look at real cases of anti-Semitism but also see that many people can be united in the belief of anti-Fascism.
Tanya Landman did this book extremely well by creating a fictional character to be at the forefront of an entirely true story. The use of Elsie and the fact that she would be around the age of the main target audience allows for this title to be more accessible for children and allow for the readers to see that this event affected not only the adults but people of their age as well. It shows that young people can also stand up for social change and that those who may be different from us in any sense or form should not be discriminated against for this fact.
This title teaches young people the truth of Britain's anti-Semitic past but also shows the lengths people will go to fight for what is right. I believe that this could become a really important title in the teaching of children about historical events that aren't but should be taught at schools.
December 21, 2023
My son gave me this book as an early Christmas present, but that is not the only reason I love it so much. It is also part of my own family history; a history of which my son and I are inordinately proud!
You see, my father was there! With his sister, Mary! Part of the 300,000 strong crowd at the battle of Cable Street, set on stopping Moseley and his Blackshirts from marching. They both lived in and around Corporation Row in Clerkenwell, London in tenement buildings much like the one Elsie and Mikey in this book lived in and they knew what it was to be poor.
My dad was only 15 at the time (he was the youngest in the family of six) while his sister was some 20 years older than him. I always remember him telling me how they were there and how my Aunt Mary started shouting and yelling at Moseley, when a “copper” turned to my dad and said, “You’d best take your mum home, son!” Well that was like waving a red rag to a bull and my dad had his hands full holding my Aunt Mary back from hitting the copper! She had her fun in the end, though, as she was one of the group that chased after one of the Mitford girls who was a supporter of Moseley - AND Hitler!
My dad was a socialist all his life, no doubt through the influence of his sister, as well as from seeing for himself the misery and poverty that ordinary working class people were forced into by the Tofs that Elsie describes in the book. The Tofs who didn’t give a damn about ordinary, decent, working class people living in such squalor. Tofs who worked damned hard to keep them that way, too.
I was most struck by the words that Tanya Landman wrote towards the end of the first chapter, namely:
“…….most people just want an easy life, and facts are itchy, awkward things that can make you feel sweaty and uncomfortable. If I’ve learned one thing in my long, long life it’s that most people prefer pretty lies to ugly truths.”
Those “pretty lies” are still being used by the elite (Tofs) in this country today, many of them printed, yet again, by the Daily Mail. It saddens me to see that, as in the 1930s, it is still so easy to stir up hatred to serve a political purpose. A hatred of anyone who is “different” or “other” such as immigrants, asylum seekers, blacks, Muslims, gays - the list goes on and on and on. These are the ones who are now being villified by members of our government and our so called “free” press and media who ALL pedal the same “pretty lies”.
As Tanya says at the end of that chapter:
“But maybe you’re not like most people”
“Maybe you’re one of the brave ones?”
If you are: then maybe you should read this book!!
You see, my father was there! With his sister, Mary! Part of the 300,000 strong crowd at the battle of Cable Street, set on stopping Moseley and his Blackshirts from marching. They both lived in and around Corporation Row in Clerkenwell, London in tenement buildings much like the one Elsie and Mikey in this book lived in and they knew what it was to be poor.
My dad was only 15 at the time (he was the youngest in the family of six) while his sister was some 20 years older than him. I always remember him telling me how they were there and how my Aunt Mary started shouting and yelling at Moseley, when a “copper” turned to my dad and said, “You’d best take your mum home, son!” Well that was like waving a red rag to a bull and my dad had his hands full holding my Aunt Mary back from hitting the copper! She had her fun in the end, though, as she was one of the group that chased after one of the Mitford girls who was a supporter of Moseley - AND Hitler!
My dad was a socialist all his life, no doubt through the influence of his sister, as well as from seeing for himself the misery and poverty that ordinary working class people were forced into by the Tofs that Elsie describes in the book. The Tofs who didn’t give a damn about ordinary, decent, working class people living in such squalor. Tofs who worked damned hard to keep them that way, too.
I was most struck by the words that Tanya Landman wrote towards the end of the first chapter, namely:
“…….most people just want an easy life, and facts are itchy, awkward things that can make you feel sweaty and uncomfortable. If I’ve learned one thing in my long, long life it’s that most people prefer pretty lies to ugly truths.”
Those “pretty lies” are still being used by the elite (Tofs) in this country today, many of them printed, yet again, by the Daily Mail. It saddens me to see that, as in the 1930s, it is still so easy to stir up hatred to serve a political purpose. A hatred of anyone who is “different” or “other” such as immigrants, asylum seekers, blacks, Muslims, gays - the list goes on and on and on. These are the ones who are now being villified by members of our government and our so called “free” press and media who ALL pedal the same “pretty lies”.
As Tanya says at the end of that chapter:
“But maybe you’re not like most people”
“Maybe you’re one of the brave ones?”
If you are: then maybe you should read this book!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2022
This is such an important book that all young people should read! It’s the 1930s and Elsie and her brother Mikey enjoy spending their time with some of the other children who live in their tenement in Stepney. While Elsie and the others have fun playing silly games, a politician called Oswald Mosley is gaining more and more support. At first, eight year old Elsie doesn’t understand even who Mosley is, but over time as she grows up and more supporters of Mosley begin make their anti-Jewish views known, Elsie ends up discovering just how horrible Oswald Mosley is, and when Mosley threatens to march near her home, Elsie and her brother plan to do something about it.
I really enjoyed this book from the first pages. Elsie narrates her own story as she and her brother enjoy their days playing with the other children in the area. At first Elsie’s life seems a lovely and uncomplicated one, and when things happen such as the mention of Oswald Mosley or later what happens with a local Jewish boxer, she doesn’t really understand what is happening or why her father and grandmother are so angry and upset. But as the story moves on through the few years leading up to 1936, Elsie grows up very fast and she and her brother Mikey soon discover just how much power Mosley has and how taken in so many people are by him.
To be honest, I had never heard of the Battle of Cable Street until only a few years ago, and that was only from one program on television. At school I had never been taught anything about what happened here in Britain and how much support Oswald Mosley had and how anti-Semitic a lot of people were in the 1930s. This book is such a brilliant way of learning about what happened, and it’s done so brilliantly from the point of view of Elsie, who, like many readers, doesn’t understand everything at first but is soon shown just how dark Mosley and the British Union of Fascists is and it’s an interesting and quite dark read.
I like what happens in the story, with the focus being on Elsie and some of her friends. The way that the anti-Semitic views of some people shows up in her own life among the people she knows is interesting and I like the way we later find out what one of Mosley’s rallies was like and how dark things got for anyone who had an opinion against him. The story is good, although a lot of dark things happen, with a lot of anti-Semitic views and some violence, even towards children and teens, the book is a powerful one though for showing what people were really like and doesn’t shy away from showing just how brutal the views and actions of many people were, as well as the interesting inaction by the Police.
The story has a good and interesting ending, culminating in the Battle of Cable street and what happened is explained well, with a brilliant ending for Elsie and her family and friends (and for everyone in Cable Street else too). I like the positive ending the book has on the whole but also how it does tell of the realities of what happened in the 1930s and how easily people can be swayed into thinking and acting in dark ways against their fellow neighbours and friends. The story is quite dark and as I have already said it does have some violence. It’s not very graphic but does explain what happened with some violent actions towards children and teens as well as adults in the story and also shows some horrible anti-Semitism and other things people were saying at the time, but it’s such a powerful read and one which I think everyone should read, adults as well as teens, especially if you’ve never heard of the battle of Cable Street before.
The book is dyslexia-friendly which means that it can be read by anyone but is especially made to be easier for those with dyslexia and other visual problems to read. The pages are extra thick, with a creamy/yellow tint to them making it easier to read. As well as this, there is also a special font used in the book, larger than usual text and all paragraphs are separated for easier reading. The book is only a little over 100 pages making it a good quick read too and perfect for reluctant readers who are daunted by bigger books. There is a lovely illustration, the same as appears on the front cover, shown at the bottom of each new chapter. I really like this image and the interesting detail you can see. It depicts well what happened at the time!
Overall this is such a good and important book to read. It introduces a very dark time in British history which everyone should know more about and it does this in a way that is so easy to understand. I love Elsie’s character and how she is determined against Mosley and his followers, and how throughout the whole story there is so much support in Stepney for fellow neighbours. But I also like how the true realities of the rise of fascism in Britain is shown, and how it so easily can happen again if we aren’t careful. There are some author’s notes at the end which are good to read and give an insight into why they wrote this book. As I’ve said before, I would recommend this book to everyone, from young teens to adults as this is such an important and powerful read and to be honest I really think this is a title that should be on the shelves of every school library so everyone can find out about this dark time in our past, in an easy and accessible way, and hopefully stop it from ever happening again!
-Thanks to Barrington Stoke for a free copy
I really enjoyed this book from the first pages. Elsie narrates her own story as she and her brother enjoy their days playing with the other children in the area. At first Elsie’s life seems a lovely and uncomplicated one, and when things happen such as the mention of Oswald Mosley or later what happens with a local Jewish boxer, she doesn’t really understand what is happening or why her father and grandmother are so angry and upset. But as the story moves on through the few years leading up to 1936, Elsie grows up very fast and she and her brother Mikey soon discover just how much power Mosley has and how taken in so many people are by him.
To be honest, I had never heard of the Battle of Cable Street until only a few years ago, and that was only from one program on television. At school I had never been taught anything about what happened here in Britain and how much support Oswald Mosley had and how anti-Semitic a lot of people were in the 1930s. This book is such a brilliant way of learning about what happened, and it’s done so brilliantly from the point of view of Elsie, who, like many readers, doesn’t understand everything at first but is soon shown just how dark Mosley and the British Union of Fascists is and it’s an interesting and quite dark read.
I like what happens in the story, with the focus being on Elsie and some of her friends. The way that the anti-Semitic views of some people shows up in her own life among the people she knows is interesting and I like the way we later find out what one of Mosley’s rallies was like and how dark things got for anyone who had an opinion against him. The story is good, although a lot of dark things happen, with a lot of anti-Semitic views and some violence, even towards children and teens, the book is a powerful one though for showing what people were really like and doesn’t shy away from showing just how brutal the views and actions of many people were, as well as the interesting inaction by the Police.
The story has a good and interesting ending, culminating in the Battle of Cable street and what happened is explained well, with a brilliant ending for Elsie and her family and friends (and for everyone in Cable Street else too). I like the positive ending the book has on the whole but also how it does tell of the realities of what happened in the 1930s and how easily people can be swayed into thinking and acting in dark ways against their fellow neighbours and friends. The story is quite dark and as I have already said it does have some violence. It’s not very graphic but does explain what happened with some violent actions towards children and teens as well as adults in the story and also shows some horrible anti-Semitism and other things people were saying at the time, but it’s such a powerful read and one which I think everyone should read, adults as well as teens, especially if you’ve never heard of the battle of Cable Street before.
The book is dyslexia-friendly which means that it can be read by anyone but is especially made to be easier for those with dyslexia and other visual problems to read. The pages are extra thick, with a creamy/yellow tint to them making it easier to read. As well as this, there is also a special font used in the book, larger than usual text and all paragraphs are separated for easier reading. The book is only a little over 100 pages making it a good quick read too and perfect for reluctant readers who are daunted by bigger books. There is a lovely illustration, the same as appears on the front cover, shown at the bottom of each new chapter. I really like this image and the interesting detail you can see. It depicts well what happened at the time!
Overall this is such a good and important book to read. It introduces a very dark time in British history which everyone should know more about and it does this in a way that is so easy to understand. I love Elsie’s character and how she is determined against Mosley and his followers, and how throughout the whole story there is so much support in Stepney for fellow neighbours. But I also like how the true realities of the rise of fascism in Britain is shown, and how it so easily can happen again if we aren’t careful. There are some author’s notes at the end which are good to read and give an insight into why they wrote this book. As I’ve said before, I would recommend this book to everyone, from young teens to adults as this is such an important and powerful read and to be honest I really think this is a title that should be on the shelves of every school library so everyone can find out about this dark time in our past, in an easy and accessible way, and hopefully stop it from ever happening again!
-Thanks to Barrington Stoke for a free copy
July 11, 2022
Cable Street is in Stepney, London. Elsie and her brother Mikey live in the resident nicknamed 'Paradise' - a slum tenement. With just two rooms to share, they live with their father and grandmother. Elsie's father was one of five but his four brothers didn't make it home from WW1.
Paradise is home to lots of Irish and Jewish families. There is a lot of noise in the building!
But it is 1932, between the wars and times are hard. There is little money, food or jobs.
This is just the right time for the likes of Oswald Moseley and his BUF (British Union of Fascists) party to start talking about who is to blame for the lack of jobs - immigrants and especially Jewish ones. He gets away with antisemitic views to start with by hiring a well known Jewish boxer as a body guard. A fact that makes Nathan, Elsie's favourite in the gang of children living in Paradise, throw away his precious autograph. This bodyguard job lasted only as long as it took The Kid to see through his new boss.
But when Nathan has to start work the gang falls apart. Long standing friendships are falling apart with the issues of the day taking centre stage.
One day, going to the park with Mikey, Elsie realises things are getting worse. A sign for a shop assistant says 'No Irish. No dogs. No Jews.' And Blackshirts are holding a BUF rally in the park. However, entering a competition to attend a ticket only event at Olympia seems a chance to take the mickey out of the Blackshirts. But it goes very wrong.
And then everything becomes so much more real.
Why when we teach children about WW1 and WW2, do we not teach them about the views held by politicians and socialites in this country asks Tanya Landman? Well I'm currently asking myself the same thing. Surely it is important for children to know that this was happening in our country too.
Due to a couple of swear words (in context) this is deemed a teen book - a shame because I have of Y5s at school that would love this! They are very into historical novels.
Paradise is home to lots of Irish and Jewish families. There is a lot of noise in the building!
But it is 1932, between the wars and times are hard. There is little money, food or jobs.
This is just the right time for the likes of Oswald Moseley and his BUF (British Union of Fascists) party to start talking about who is to blame for the lack of jobs - immigrants and especially Jewish ones. He gets away with antisemitic views to start with by hiring a well known Jewish boxer as a body guard. A fact that makes Nathan, Elsie's favourite in the gang of children living in Paradise, throw away his precious autograph. This bodyguard job lasted only as long as it took The Kid to see through his new boss.
But when Nathan has to start work the gang falls apart. Long standing friendships are falling apart with the issues of the day taking centre stage.
One day, going to the park with Mikey, Elsie realises things are getting worse. A sign for a shop assistant says 'No Irish. No dogs. No Jews.' And Blackshirts are holding a BUF rally in the park. However, entering a competition to attend a ticket only event at Olympia seems a chance to take the mickey out of the Blackshirts. But it goes very wrong.
And then everything becomes so much more real.
Why when we teach children about WW1 and WW2, do we not teach them about the views held by politicians and socialites in this country asks Tanya Landman? Well I'm currently asking myself the same thing. Surely it is important for children to know that this was happening in our country too.
Due to a couple of swear words (in context) this is deemed a teen book - a shame because I have of Y5s at school that would love this! They are very into historical novels.
August 13, 2022
Superb background to a key event in British history.
I've heard about this seminal event through my East End Jewish grandfather, who was a boy at the time it occured. It was never anything school covered, seeing this title (and the Carnegie-winning author) I knew I'd want to give this a whirl and see how the events would be covered for a young audience.
Explaining National Socialism, Moseley and anti-semitism to young people is not the easiest prospect. Using other young people to do this was a superb idea, as we can then learn along with the characters.
Elsie, her brother, their friends, allow us to join in with their childhood in the East End of London, between the wars, with day-long games and innocent pastimes. When the first of them begins to grow up and move away from them emotionally, Elsie tries to follow. To a blackshirt rally.
Readers get a swift introduction to Elsie's new confusing world, as she sees first-hand what neighbours believe, the attitudes gaining ground, contrasted with her own less biased views. The rally, the new world that the children are forced to live inside, and moving towards the inevitable Battle, it's a true education for a generation that will know nothing about these events and very little about the historical context that allowed them to occur.
I learned something, and would have appreciated this as a teenager. Appropriate, informative, with young protagonists that contemporary readers will still feel a connection with.
For ages 9-14.
I've heard about this seminal event through my East End Jewish grandfather, who was a boy at the time it occured. It was never anything school covered, seeing this title (and the Carnegie-winning author) I knew I'd want to give this a whirl and see how the events would be covered for a young audience.
Explaining National Socialism, Moseley and anti-semitism to young people is not the easiest prospect. Using other young people to do this was a superb idea, as we can then learn along with the characters.
Elsie, her brother, their friends, allow us to join in with their childhood in the East End of London, between the wars, with day-long games and innocent pastimes. When the first of them begins to grow up and move away from them emotionally, Elsie tries to follow. To a blackshirt rally.
Readers get a swift introduction to Elsie's new confusing world, as she sees first-hand what neighbours believe, the attitudes gaining ground, contrasted with her own less biased views. The rally, the new world that the children are forced to live inside, and moving towards the inevitable Battle, it's a true education for a generation that will know nothing about these events and very little about the historical context that allowed them to occur.
I learned something, and would have appreciated this as a teenager. Appropriate, informative, with young protagonists that contemporary readers will still feel a connection with.
For ages 9-14.
May 10, 2022
At 120 pages, this will be a less daunting read for many teens than other books in the school library, but as with other Barrington Stoke novels, there’s an awful lot of story packed into this slim volume. Landman’s depiction of the East End of London is bleak, and yet her characters are strong and distinctive. Elsie and Mickey are likeable characters: curious, plucky and determined to stand up for what is right. We follow them as they learn about the Blackshirts, attend one of Mosley’s rallys, and help to defend their friends and neighbours in the Battle of Cable Street. As their understanding of the developing situation grows, they take the reader with them towards the novel’s triumphant climax.
I knew very little about Britain’s pre-war fascist uprisings before reading this book, and found its contents both startling and reassuring in equal measure. The subject matter of this novel explores topics covered in the current GCSE History curriculum, and it would be an ideal read for those students wishing to visualise the complicated events in the lead-up to the Second World War: the rise of fascism across Europe and how people responded to the politics of the day. Although the reading age of this novel may be low enough to be accessible to a less-confident reader, the subject matter is probably too harrowing for a younger reader.
‘The Battle of Cable Street’ is well-written and fast-paced. I particularly recommend it for teens with an interest in British history and politics.
Many thanks to NetGalley UK, Barrington Stoke and Tanya Landman for this ARC in return for my honest review.
I knew very little about Britain’s pre-war fascist uprisings before reading this book, and found its contents both startling and reassuring in equal measure. The subject matter of this novel explores topics covered in the current GCSE History curriculum, and it would be an ideal read for those students wishing to visualise the complicated events in the lead-up to the Second World War: the rise of fascism across Europe and how people responded to the politics of the day. Although the reading age of this novel may be low enough to be accessible to a less-confident reader, the subject matter is probably too harrowing for a younger reader.
‘The Battle of Cable Street’ is well-written and fast-paced. I particularly recommend it for teens with an interest in British history and politics.
Many thanks to NetGalley UK, Barrington Stoke and Tanya Landman for this ARC in return for my honest review.
May 14, 2022
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
THE BATTLE FOR CABLE STREET follows Elsie as she grows up in the East End of London in the 1920s and 1930s, as Mosley's fascists rose in prominence. It's a story not often told, because it's easier to teach that antisemitism and racism was only an issue elsewhere, rather than here. However, it did also become more "mainstream" here, an important take for now.
This is told through the eyes of a Jewish child seeing hatred grow and come out of the woodwork around her, see friendships break up due to it. And then she becomes involved in major events - the confrontation at a rally in Olympia in 1934 and then the titular Cable Street battle in 1936, where the people of the East End stood up against the police and the home office trying to force them to allow the fascists to march through an area that had a large Jewish and non-white population.
It is a sobering tale, watching the hatred rise, and feels very pertinent right now, and that sobering feel is made all the more powerful for being told through the eyes of a young girl. The language is so evocative, stark in its simplicity. However, it also ends on a hopeful note.
THE BATTLE FOR CABLE STREET follows Elsie as she grows up in the East End of London in the 1920s and 1930s, as Mosley's fascists rose in prominence. It's a story not often told, because it's easier to teach that antisemitism and racism was only an issue elsewhere, rather than here. However, it did also become more "mainstream" here, an important take for now.
This is told through the eyes of a Jewish child seeing hatred grow and come out of the woodwork around her, see friendships break up due to it. And then she becomes involved in major events - the confrontation at a rally in Olympia in 1934 and then the titular Cable Street battle in 1936, where the people of the East End stood up against the police and the home office trying to force them to allow the fascists to march through an area that had a large Jewish and non-white population.
It is a sobering tale, watching the hatred rise, and feels very pertinent right now, and that sobering feel is made all the more powerful for being told through the eyes of a young girl. The language is so evocative, stark in its simplicity. However, it also ends on a hopeful note.
May 10, 2022
I requested this ARC before noticing that it is pitched as a middle grade/children’s book and was immediately worried about how such a topic would be approach. It was not something I heard about until adulthood, and I can’t believe that it isn’t talked about in British education.
This deals with the topic excellently. It is fast paced, the characters are all well rounded. The creation of a fictional child to be at the forefront of the story was excellent to make it accessible for the intended audience. It was informative without being bogged down in academic language and had a real message on standing up for social change and fighting for what you know to be right.
All in all an enjoyable read for all ages, and an excellent introduction for young people into an issue that is not covered enough in British education.
Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This deals with the topic excellently. It is fast paced, the characters are all well rounded. The creation of a fictional child to be at the forefront of the story was excellent to make it accessible for the intended audience. It was informative without being bogged down in academic language and had a real message on standing up for social change and fighting for what you know to be right.
All in all an enjoyable read for all ages, and an excellent introduction for young people into an issue that is not covered enough in British education.
Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2022
Based on true historical events, the story follows Elsie, her brother and friends as they navigate the rise of Oswald Mosely and his fascist support in East London. This isn't something that is ever really covered in school (that I am aware of) but it explores the idea that Hitler had support from some circles in the Uk- which is important. In the current climate, it's great to see a children's book address antisemitism, facism, class, inequality, populism and othering politics in a clear but sensitive way through a compelling, age-approriate and engaging narrative. Hats off to Tanya Landman!
CW: antisemitism and violence, handled sensitively. Would recommend to Yr4+, and actually, it could be good for reluctant/struggling readers up to Yr9.
CW: antisemitism and violence, handled sensitively. Would recommend to Yr4+, and actually, it could be good for reluctant/struggling readers up to Yr9.
June 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this one. It's an event I thought I knew about but after reading this I found I didn't know as much as I thought I did. Charting the growth of the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s, this built up to the actual clashes of Cable Street and the surrounding area, this managed to convey the often little shifts in peoples attitudes and behaviour realistically, alongside the way these were viewed by the communities. The actual clashes were genuinely gripping, and I loved the characters. The politics are very evident, and the book does read in places as a cautionary tale for our times, but I felt it worked, mainly because it comes across as primarily a story of empowerment and hope. Hate and prejudice can be confronted and can be stopped.
My thanks to NetGalley and Barrington Stoke for the ARC in return for an honest review.
My thanks to NetGalley and Barrington Stoke for the ARC in return for an honest review.
July 28, 2022
This book surprised me. This fictional narrative reads almost like a nonfiction which I think makes the adaptation for this historical event for younger readers work as well as it does. The author does a really good job portraying the realities of how fascism spread throughout Europe, including to countries like Great Britain, during the 1930s. So many people do not realize just how prevalent that horrific ideology became. Using the child/pre-teen perspective just how insidious that ideology was and is.
May 23, 2022
Landman starts this book with a down-to-earth revelation about the following story. Written from a child's perspective, she discusses the story of Oswald Mosley; how people can be easily influenced; the abuse of power and how everyday individuals can make a stand. Just reading the book will give a lot of enjoyment and excitement but this is also a fantastic starting point for discussion.
Easy to read and gripping.
Easy to read and gripping.
May 24, 2022
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.
I read this is one sitting, it was such an accessible read. I liked the pacing telling just enough over a fairly long period of time to give the reader the understanding for the climax.
The subject matter was really interesting, it's a piece of history I've never been taught (as a history student, it's something I'd love to go more depth into in my own time).
I read this is one sitting, it was such an accessible read. I liked the pacing telling just enough over a fairly long period of time to give the reader the understanding for the climax.
The subject matter was really interesting, it's a piece of history I've never been taught (as a history student, it's something I'd love to go more depth into in my own time).
April 28, 2022
This was such a good read that was very well researched but didn't come across as academic which I like. Well written with a gripping and fast paced storyline and well developed characters. I didn't know much about the things discussed in this book but it certainly piqued my interest. Really enjoyable.
May 16, 2022
A quick read about a big subject, and as always with Barrington Stoke books, a ton of information is packed in. The story is narrated by Elsie who is 10 at the start but around 16 at the end, if I had one complaint about this book it would be that this is not made particularly clear and I found myself imagining a 10 year old in the melee. Overall though, it was an excellent read. Netgalley ARC.
March 2, 2023
Hats off to Tanya Landman for finding a way to tell a politically-engaged story about a real event in the past that has stacks of relevance for today, to tell it from the viewpoint of a child and, at the same time, to make it so readable. I went through it one sitting. It might be short but it packs an enormous punch.
Excellent!
Excellent!
December 9, 2025
I was recommended this book by someone and it’s a really great book and allowed me to get back into reading. Learning about how people in Britain acted toward Jews, was something I previously wouldn’t have had a lot of knowledge on. However this book is a great read and I would highly recommend to those trying to get back into easy reading
October 20, 2024
So this was about some Fascists, and the people who got together and stood against them. I don't really understand the political stuff, but it seemed completely wrong that people were so negative towards people just because they were Jewish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2023
Interesting novella for 10-13 year olds to counter the mythology of Britain vs fascism.
September 3, 2023
A YA historical 'quick read.'
A gripping story from Tanya Landman that offers a vivid retelling of a slice of our history that many might rather forget. Interesting and enlightening.
A gripping story from Tanya Landman that offers a vivid retelling of a slice of our history that many might rather forget. Interesting and enlightening.
September 7, 2023
Such an important perspective on fascism in 1930s England and all who were affected.
February 2, 2024
It was a really good book. And how it teaches you how the Jewish kids grew up in Hitlers rise to power. I learned a lot from this book.
January 5, 2025
A very good read on a small part of British history… well worth a read
June 15, 2022
I thought this was brilliantly done. It captures the mood of interwar Britain perfectly and looks at an event that is often over looked in modern history. I will be recommending this frequently
December 21, 2023
Good and informative
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