Secrets and Shadows
Two friends in a world at war
Published on 24. September 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-1-84717-350-8 (ISBN)
Description
When her home is destroyed in the Luftwaffe bombing of the North Strand, Dublin in 1941, Grace Ryan is forced to move in with relatives in a different part of the city. There she meets Barry Malone, an English boy sent to neutral Ireland to escape the terrible air raids on his native city of Liverpool.
Wary of each other at first, Grace and Barry become friends when she acts to stop him being bullied in his new school. Barry later saves Grace from losing her part-time job in a shop and, with school about to end, a summer of fun stretches before them in the sports club run by his teacher, Mr Pawlek.
However, Barry begins to suspect Mr Pawlek of spying for the Nazis and he enrols Grace in his attempts to find proof. But what starts as an exciting challenge becomes increasingly risky, and their friendship is put to the test when their very lives hang in the balance.
Wary of each other at first, Grace and Barry become friends when she acts to stop him being bullied in his new school. Barry later saves Grace from losing her part-time job in a shop and, with school about to end, a summer of fun stretches before them in the sports club run by his teacher, Mr Pawlek.
However, Barry begins to suspect Mr Pawlek of spying for the Nazis and he enrols Grace in his attempts to find proof. But what starts as an exciting challenge becomes increasingly risky, and their friendship is put to the test when their very lives hang in the balance.
Reviews / Votes
'will give readers insight into life during the Second World War and will appeal to readers of 10+ who enjoy mystery or historical fiction' -- School Librarian Magazine 'deftly weaving historic fact and period detail into a fictional but nevertheless entirely credible story ... nail-biting' -- Books Ireland 'would hopefully encourage further study about the effects of war on ordinary people' -- Books Ireland 'heart-stopping action likely to hold readers aged nine to teens in its thrall' -- Evening Echo 'a turbulent historical backdrop based on carefully researched detail' -- Evening Echo 'thrilling novel is a window on the past' -- Evening Echo 'story of friendship and suspicion, excitement and intrigue' -- The Scotsman 'Secrets and Shadows is an exciting children's wartime adventure with lots of factual details and historical snippets to give it a good feel of time and place but without over-shadowing the plot... this should be a book to appeal to both boys and girls and -- ourbookreviewsonline.blogspot.co.uk/ 'a refreshing change to read a book set in Ireland during the war' -- parentsintouch.co.uk 'had me gripped from the start' -- parentsintouch.co.uk 'confident and reluctant readers will be richly rewarded by the truly gripping climax' -- CBI's Recommended Reads 2012 'between a historical novel and a spy caper' -- CBI's Recommended Reads 2012More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Dublin
Ireland
Target group
Children/juvenile
Reading Age: From 9 years, Interest Age: From 9 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
187 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84717-350-8 (9781847173508)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2012
O'Brien Press Ltd
€5.99
Available for download
Person
BRIAN GALLAGHER was born in Dublin. He is a full-time writer whose plays and short stories have been produced in Ireland, Britain and Canada. He has worked extensively in radio and television, writing many dramas and documentaries.
Brian is the author of four adult novels, and his other books of historical fiction for young readers are Winds of Change set against the backdrop of Land League agitation, evictions and boycotting in 1880's Ireland; One Good Turn and Friend or Foe - both set in Dublin in 1916; Stormclouds, which takes place in Northern Ireland during the turbulent summer of 1969; Secrets and Shadows, a spy novel that begins with the North Strand bombings during the Second World War; Taking Sides, about the Irish Civil War; Across the Divide, set during the 1913 Lockout; Arrivals, a time-slip novel set between modern and early-twentieth-century Ontario, and Pawns, set during Ireland's War of Independence. Brian lives with his family in Dublin.
Find out more about Brian's books at briangallagherwriter.com
Brian is the author of four adult novels, and his other books of historical fiction for young readers are Winds of Change set against the backdrop of Land League agitation, evictions and boycotting in 1880's Ireland; One Good Turn and Friend or Foe - both set in Dublin in 1916; Stormclouds, which takes place in Northern Ireland during the turbulent summer of 1969; Secrets and Shadows, a spy novel that begins with the North Strand bombings during the Second World War; Taking Sides, about the Irish Civil War; Across the Divide, set during the 1913 Lockout; Arrivals, a time-slip novel set between modern and early-twentieth-century Ontario, and Pawns, set during Ireland's War of Independence. Brian lives with his family in Dublin.
Find out more about Brian's books at briangallagherwriter.com