Blog Tour: Angel of Grasmere by Tom Palmer

Angel of Grasmere is a powerful, thought-provoking and poignant story, set during the Second World War, which shows the impact of war on both those who fight, and their families and community at home. 

August 1940, and Tarn Fothergill is climbing the steep path up the fell to the tarn, a place where she feels close to her brother, Joss – and somewhere she can grieve his loss.  He had been the first man from Grasmere to sign up for the British Expeditionary Force and became one of those lost to his family and community in the chaotic retreat at Dunkirk. 

Joined by her best friend, Peter and Eric (an evacuee from Manchester), the children are quickly reminded of the threat of Nazi invasion close to home as fighter planes fly overhead.  The trio are keen to help the war effort by climbing up to the tarn to keep a lookout for the feared Nazi invasion.  But there is also danger in their midst from someone who is angry, resentful and with nothing left to lose …

As time passes and with no sign of the war ending, hope is given to the locals by a stranger who carries out acts of kindness, earning the title:  Angel of Grasmere.  Could these acts have anything to do with the man who hides on the fell, someone who is traumatised by the horrors of war?  How will the villagers react to the revelation of their angel’s identity?

This is such an incredibly powerful, heartrending story that does not shy away from the horrors and trauma of war and its impact on both those who fought and families and communities at home.  My heart ached for the young man traumatised by his experiences in the war, yet despite his obvious emotional turmoil (with flashbacks to his time at Dunkirk and feelings of guilt and shame), he shows such empathy and care for others in helping the Grasmere community.  I found him to be such an inspirational, courageous young man, someone who I cried for and, on whose behalf, I felt anger.  His desire to protect and provide for others when he so needs to be protected and cared for himself is heartbreaking.  

The illustration of the retreat from Dunkirk which runs along the bottom of each page serves as a constant reminder that war cannot be left behind, but reverberates beyond its field of combat with lasting effects on so many people.

Tarn, Peter and Eric are such sympathetic characters who have had to deal with huge changes in their lives as war gets ever closer to home.  Tarn is grieving the loss of a brother she adored and remembers him through their shared connection with places they loved.  After his father’s tragic accident, Peter has had to re-evaluate his ambitions and dreams.  Tarn has not only lost her brother to war but she fears that she may be losing her best friend too as his friendship with Eric, who has been evacuated to Peter’s farm, grows.  Eric has to live both with the constant fear that his home city will be bombed, and with the prejudice from others.  The portrayal of the relationship between these three amazing children feels really authentic as they readjust to changes as war looms over the fells.

I’ve never been to the Lake District, but it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go, even more so now after reading the depiction of the fells and tarn which are a spectacular backdrop to this remarkable historical adventure. 

The care, love and research that has gone into the writing of this story leaps from every page – an unforgettable story of the devastating impact of war, and the power of hope and kindness, on family, friendship and community.

This book is published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages. 

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour and for providing me with a copy of Angel of Grasmere in exchange for my honest opinion.

Author Information

TOM PALMER is the multi-award-winning, million-copy bestselling author of the
Young Quills Award winners After the War and Resist, and FCBG Children’s Book Award winners
Armistice Runner and D-Day Dog. In 2019, Tom was awarded the National Literacy Trust’s
Ruth Rendell Award in recognition of his contribution to literacy work in the UK.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour: