If the Invader Comes

🌊💣💥🤐

by Tom Palmer

★★★★

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My Thoughts...

I was super excited to read If the Invader Comes because I absolutely love WW2 fiction and Tom Palmer’s other books. An added bonus is that I live in Cornwall, which is where the story is set! I also recently saw Tom Palmer at a brilliant book quiz event in Cornwall, which made reading this feel even more special.

I loved the characters in this story. Tom Palmer does an excellent job of developing them, even in a shorter book. Bobble is empathetic, brave and determined. Cadan is intelligent, practical and loyal, while Cilla is fiery, strong and unstoppable. Together, they make a fantastic trio that really brings the story to life.

The book is also packed with rich vocabulary, making it a great choice for pupils or teachers exploring WW2. The storyline involving Bobble’s father and his shell shock is particularly moving, highlighting an important aspect of war that isn’t always discussed. It would also link especially well with a topic on Cornwall and is a great read for children living in Cornwall.

🌟A brilliant accessible read for growing readers, lovers of WW2 stories and a brilliantly relevant read for Cornish children especially🌟

Blurb

June 1940 – after the devastating defeat of the British forces at Dunkirk, the terrifying prospect of a Nazi invasion of Britain seems ever more likely. In these dark days, three children whose parents are involved in top-secret war work are brought together in unlikely ally ship, covering for their parents and facing down malicious gossip as they come under suspicion from their local community.

Forced to confront the brutal realities of war as it affects every aspect of their lives, the children find the courage to play their part, rescuing survivors and refugees at sea, and undertaking river patrols to detect German E-boat incursions.

But when it appears that the invader is at their shores, will they be able to pull off the most daring feat of all?

Should I read this book?

You should read this book if you...

Help me to read

• Dunkirk – a place in France where many British soldiers were rescued during World War II.

• German E-boat – a small, fast German boat used in World War II to attack ships.

Where can I find this book?

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