Dog in No-Man's-Land - Hardcover

Damian Kelleher

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 184877706X ISBN 13: 9781848777064

Publisher: Templar Publishing, 2014

Synopsis

Billy is an under-age soldier who befriends a stray dog in France during World War One. When Billy left for dead in the blood-soaked trenches of No-Man's-Land, the dog, Scruff, comes to his rescue. But Scruff is soon in danger himself, being sent onto the battlefield as an ambulance dog. Will both Billy and Scruff survive the terrors of war?

About this title

About the Author:

Damian first sharpened his pencil as an advertising copywriter before swapping ads for children's newspapers. He edited the Young Telegraph, the Daily Telegraph's award-winning children's supplement (before one wrinkly Telegraph reader told him she used it to line her dog basket). Nowadays he works as a freelance writer, editor and children's book consultant, and heads up the creative side of The Reading Agency's Summer Reading Challenge, the UK's biggest reading initiative for children. His YA novel Life, Interrupted (Piccadilly Press, 2009) was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award, the Warwickshire Book Award, the North East Teenage Book Award, the Southern Schools Book Award, the Leeds Book Award and was commended by the Sheffield Children's Book Award. He lives with his wife in north London and has two children who are too old for school but not old enough to leave home (yet). But he's working on it.

Review:

Well written and researched, a sympathetically told, warm-hearted story of a boy and his dog in a time of war. The horrors of the war are there too, but the friendship, loyalty and camaraderie of life in the trenches shines through. Beautifully and evocatively illustrated by the wonderful Gary Blythe, with the letters to open and read providing a real sense of time and place. Like 'War Horse' before it, this will lead children into finding out more about the First World War and the brave men and animals that were involved. -- Anne Marley Damian Kelleher's Dog in No-Man's Land (Templar) is illustrated by Gary Blythe and tells the story of Billy, a soldier and Scruff the stray dog whom he rescues but who eventually saves Billy's life. Soon Scruff becomes an ambulance dog, with all the dangers it entails. Dog in No-Man's Land is a story of bravery, friendship, loyalty and the terrible fate of solders in the Trenches. It also describes the role of animals in the conflict and on the front line; readers will be well aware of the role of horses thanks to War Horse, but dogs were, and still are, vital in war zones. Blythe's sketches are wonderful and create a dark yet not scary atmosphere, making it suitable for an intended audience of 9+. The book includes a series of envelopes which contains letters between Billy and his mother which enhance the reading experience, rather than being just gimmicky. Well worth seeking out. -- Melanie McGilloway * Library Mice * Inspired by true accounts from the Imperial War Museum's archives, this is an evocative story of a young soldier and the dog he befriends in war-torn France. Stunning illustrations by Gary Blythe, innovative envelopes to open and letters to read add to this moving and exciting adventure. -- WRD * WRD Books *

About this edition

• Publisher: Templar Publishing
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 184877706X
• ISBN 13: 9781848777064
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 116
• Illustrator: Gary Blythe