Age 7-11

Morpurgo, who is approaching the end of his two-year children’s laureateship, has an extraordinary facility for relating history in stories that are not beyond youngsters’ comprehension. His latest novel takes place in 1943, and is set in Devon’s South Hams, where English villages were evacuated to make way for American troops to practise for D-Day. Although this is a succinctly engaging tear-jerker, it is also full of happiness and affection and has a joyful ending. The body of the story is a historical narrative in a modern frame (which is characteristic Morpurgo), so we learn what became of the central characters 60 years later. It is the tale of Lily, a young girl, her cat Tips, her father who is away in the army, her mother and grandfather who work their farm, the boy evacuee who stays with her family, her Jewish schoolteacher and the two black American GIs who befriend Lily. It is also about people who care enough to look after each other offering a lesson in life as well as history.

(HarperCollins £10.99)

Michael Morpurgo will be discussing his novels for children at the festival on Saturday, April 16, at10am

Explore Books

• Book Extracts

• Book Reviews

• Books Group

• Audio Books

Times Recommends

• If you only buy one book this Christmas make sure it's...
• The Times Christmas Books 2008: Gifts
• 10 Books Not To Read Before You Die