Children Of The Blitz

Fascinating, poignant, sometimes hilarious, account of the lives of children in Briatin during the second World War.

Exploring a bombed house, after a German blitz, a lonely London boy makes a friend, whose father is a RAF pilot. His mind is filled with awe and respect, but he comes to realize the difference between heroism of fantasy and what people do when their courage is needed for real.

From the dangers of London streets during the Blitz to working on the high seas in the Merchant Navy during the Atlantic Convoy, children were on the frontline of battle during the Second World War. In Sean Longden's gripping retelling of the conflict, he explores how the war impacted upon a whole generation who lost their innocence at home and abroad, on the battlefield and the home front. Through extensive interviews and research, Longden uncovers previously untold stories of heroism and courage: the eleven year old boy who was sunk on the SS Benares and left in frozen water for two days; the teenage Girl Guide awarded the George Medal for bravery; the merchant seaman sunk three times by the age of seventeen; the fourteen year old who signed up for the army three times before finally seeing action in the Normandy campaign; the fourteen year old 'Boy Buglers' of the Royal Marines on active service onboard battleships; as well as the harrowing experiences of the boy who was survived the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster; the horrors of being a child captive in the German PoW camps. Blitz Kids will change forever the way one sees the relationship between the Second World War and the generation - our grandparents and great grandparents- who bravely faced the challenge of Nazism. Allowing them to tell their stories in their own words, Sean Longden brings both the horrors and the humour of young lives lived in troubled times. The book includes stories of: The seventeen year old boy who signed up 4 times before he made it onto the beaches at Normandy. The Girl Guide who saved a family during the blitz. The teenage merchant seaman who was sunk three times. What it was like to be a teenage POW after the disasters of Dunkirk. Praise for Sean Longden: "A rising name in military history ... able to uncover the missing stories of the Second World War." The Guardian 'A tenacious sleuth of Second World War secrets.' Andrew Roberts. 'At times you have to stop and remind yourself that you're reading history and not an 007 thriller." The Soldier. 'First class history from a first class historian' Military Illustrated. 'Fascinating'. Financial Times.

London is at war and as the Blitz rages, children like Josie and her brother Len face the same dangers as the adults. Can they find the strength to stand up against the onslaught? A tale of amazing bravery, inspired by the true story of the Dead End Kids of Wapping - young people who fought fires and rescued their friends and neighbours from bomb sites. Perfect for fans of Michael Morpurgo, this dramatic story brings the Second World War vividly to life.

Blitz Boy is a fascinating recollection of life in the Blitz and of evacuation to Cornwall. Charismatic author Alf Townsend tells the harrowing and touching tale of what it was like for a young inner-city child to suffer the trials of war at first hand. The mass exodus of kids from Britain's major cities in 1940 was unique and the government's hasty organisation programmes left a lot to be desired. It must have been a shock to rural communities to take in frightened, scruffy, poverty-stricken cases from the poorest areas of Britain's cities. Many of the foster parents who took in these children did so purely for the cash (8s 3d per week). The family which took in Alf and his siblings did not treat them well. There were beatings and other punishments from the foster-mother, who thought nothing of mistreating a six-year-old child. This only ended when the author's real mother turned up on the doorstep to reclaim her children. The author and his siblings remained in Cornwall with their mother until the end of the war to evade the danger of being bombed-out back in London. Eventually, though, they did return to the capital. The sight that greeted them on their return came as a shock. Rows of houses had been destroyed and huge areas had been totally flattened. Although life was tough back in London, at least the Townsend children were back in the fold of their loving family. Alf recalls this time with much fondness, going into the details of day-to-day life back home.

The mass evacuation of children and new and expectant mothers during the Second World War is well documented. But over fifty per cent of children were not evacuated during the War, and it is these young people who offer an unrivalled view of what life was like during the bombing raids in Britain’s cities. In Blitz Families Penny Starns takes a new look at the children whose parents refused to bow to official pressure and kept their beloved children with them throughout the War. As she documents family after family which made this difficult decision, she uncovers tales of the deprivation, criminality and disease of life in the city and, conversely, the surprising relative emotional and physical wellbeing of those who lived through the Blitz compared to their evacuee counterparts. Because of their unique position at the heart of the action, these forgotten children offer us a priceless insight into the true grit and reality of the Blitz.

During a bombing of Plymouth in World War 2, a German plane is shot down near Jenny and Thomas's house. They long to investigate, but they hear something and decide to investigate first. They are soon in grave danger, needing help from the last source they would expect. This first colour chapter book is a perfectly levelled, accessible text for Key stage 2 readers aged 9-10. Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and activities to provoke deeper response and encourage writing. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.