Review: Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson

Shrapnel Boys is a blisteringly brilliant Second World War adventure that completely and utterly captured me from start to finish, a story that evoked so much emotion and now has a place in my heart forever. This is a definite book of the year for me and is one that I cannot recommend highly enough.

Two days before Britain’s Declaration of War, 12-year-old Ronnie, his younger brother Micky and best friend Lugs are happy to say goodbye to a rival gang in a way that sees them get a caning by headmaster, Mr Etherington. Whilst other children are being evacuated to the countryside for their safety, Ronnie’s mum cannot bring herself to send her boys – and neither would they have left her! Ronnie is the man of the house and is determined to take care of his mum and younger brother ever since his mum kicked her husband out two years before.

When war is declared on 3^rd September, Ronnie feels a sense of excitement and the anticipation of change. After spending time in the cupboard under the stairs after the first air raid warning, their neighbour, Vera, recommends a friend of her son’s to build them an Anderson shelter. And so Johnny Simmons enters the family’s lives …

Whilst Ronnie takes an instant dislike to Johnny, Micky and his mother seem happy to welcome him into their home. Micky is beyond excited when Johnny buys him a bike but, before long, he is doing jobs for his new friends and a divide is opening up between the brothers, with Micky becoming increasingly secretive and spending more and more time apart from his brother …

As war rages relentlessly on London with the Blitz raining nightly terror and destruction, Ronnie is facing his own battle at home, desperate to save his younger brother from the insidious influence of those intent on leading him into trouble, trouble that could have grave consequences for the war. The only time Micky freely gives Ronnie is when they, with friend Lugs, race to collect shrapnel as part of a competition with a rival gang. The shared experience of collecting shrapnel, with both the excitement and danger involved, works to bring both gangs together, but could they be facing greater danger from elsewhere?

This is a story that really hits hard and quite rightly so, but it is also absolutely appropriate for readers at the upper end of primary school and beyond and would open up so much powerful and much-needed discussion in classrooms and at home. It is a story that perfectly encapsulates both the terrifying nightly destruction of the Blitz but also the indomitable human spirit shown by many as they adjusted to a new way of life with resilience and a sense of togetherness despite the fear that must have hung over their daily lives.

But I think it is also so important to show the other side of human nature – the side that will exploit others for their own ends, those who will charm, manipulate and control and, if that doesn’t work, threaten and hurt. At times, this is not an easy story to read: it is one that has had a real impact on me, one that has shown me things I didn’t know, that has made me both tearful and angry but, my goodness, I think this is a powerful story for our time and shows the importance of learning lessons from history.

This is also a story of the strength of family and friendship and the enduring love between brothers and friends. Relationships are such an important part of this story from the protective bond Ronnie feels towards his mother to the sibling bond he has with Micky, who he is determined, and desperate, not to allow anyone to hurt and who he is prepared to take great risks for, and make sacrifices, to save. There is a reciprocal bond of sibling protection from Micky, even if Ronnie doesn’t always see it.

I absolutely adored the friendship between Ronnie and his best friend, Lugs, two young boys who clearly enjoy each others’ company, get up to mischief together and enjoy plenty of banter, but who always have each others’ back even when this involves great risk. They have an almost innate ability to sense when the other is struggling and are there for each other as their world implodes to hold each other together – such a positive counterpart to the more toxic relationship in this adventure. Two other relationships really stood out for me: Ronnie’s relationship with his headmaster, Mr Etherington and Lugs’ relationship with his feral cat, Tiger.

An astonishing story challenging the strength of the bonds of family and friendship when the world is raining down horror, hardship and harm … a profound, powerful and courageous story that deserves to sit with other classic war stories.

Thank you to Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opionion.