Shrapnel Boys

By Author / Illustrator

Jenny Pearson

Genre

Historical Fiction

Age range(s)

Publisher

Usborne

ISBN

9781805312963

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

08-05-2025

Synopsis

An explosive new novel about the friendship and courage of a group of young boys living through the Second World War, from award-winning author Jenny Pearson.

'There's a war going on out there, and I'm missing it.' When war comes to London in 1939, Ronnie Smith is scared and excited: scared of the bombs that fall at night, but excited to race his friends to collect the best bits of shrapnel every morning.

But for Ronnie, the battles aren't just in the sky and on the streets. They're at school and at home too. His little brother is up to no good with a secret job and dangerous new friends, and Ronnie's worried he's getting himself into big trouble.

Ronnie's desperate to help his little brother. But he isn't expecting to uncover secrets that could change the fate of the whole war...

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Reviews

Sue

Two days before Britain's Declaration of War, Ronnie, his younger brother, Micky, and best friend, Lugs, watch children from their school set off as they are evacuated to the countryside. Ronnie's mum cannot bear to be parted from her boys and Ronnie has considered himself the man of the house since she kicked their father out.

When war is declared, his mum decides to have an Andersen shelter built in the garden and a neighbour recommends a certain Johnny Simmons to do the job. Although Ronnie takes an instant dislike to him, everyone else succumbs to Johnny's charm. When Ronnie turns down the chance to earn some money doing odd jobs for Johnny, Micky is quick to agree. This leads to a divide forming between the brothers as Micky becomes increasingly secretive and Ronnie increasingly concerned about what his little brother has become mixed up in.

Shrapnel Boys is a huge change of pace from the humorous, heart-warming stories readers have become used to from Jenny Pearson; however, it simply shows that she is a superb storyteller, able to turn her hand to hard-hitting adventures with as much skill as anything else.

Full of historical detail, it is obvious that a great deal of research underpins this adventure story, making it a gripping, exciting read, but one which also offers readers information about the war and the lives of families affected by it. Shrapnel Boys would make an excellent key text to support a history topic through study and discussion, or as a class read to enjoy alongside work.

Ronnie is a real cheeky chappie, often in trouble at school, but with a heart of gold. His loyalty to family and friends is endearing and he strives to keep them safe against all odds. The contrast between his rough-and-ready personality and the charming, manipulative Johnny, who is so quick to use others to further his own ends, works really well and may well offer a starting point for some much-needed conversations about coercive control and how people may not always be as they seem.

At times, the story is not an easy read - I found it quite uncomfortable in places - but it is challenging, thought-provoking and powerful. One not to be missed.

384 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher