Under a Fire- Red Sky is inspired by Geraldine McCaughrean’s own family experience since she draws on the life of her father who was a fire fighter during the Second World War. Award winning McCaughrean writes with a directness that has considerable impact and this is a moving and compelling read.

McCaughrean tells the story of a group of four teenagers, very different in character and background, brought together initially by circumstance and bonded by their shared experience of war particularly during the Blitz in London. Their parents have all despatched them off as evacuees but first one then the others in turn flee the train taking them away and returned home to Greenwich.

Each of the young people are at that moment in their teens when they stand on the brink of adulthood, when life should hold infinite possibilities, but all their hopes aspirations and dreams are side-lined by the outbreak of war. Lawrence, well read and articulate, is working on his secret ‘project’ and at first it is he who acts as the leader, educating his friends on the history of London. Olive has told her mother that school is closed except for those receiving ‘university coaching’ and worries dreadfully about the safety of her fire fighter father. Franklin, despite being too young, is desperate to join the fire service and approaches every fire station he can think of in the hope one will take him on. ‘The Gremlin’ or Gemmy has run away from her abusive father and is living in a wrecked, abandoned van with her dog, Mutt. The action packed plot is driven by the experiences and growth of these four youngsters as the reader follows them through developing relationships, family difficulties and coping with the increasingly dreadful events of the war.

There is a cast of well portrayed supporting characters too, including a pacifist doctor and his chauffeur and a family member who joins the Air Raid Precautions services. The combination of adults and teens supporting each other through their various roles adds another layer to this well written story. McCaughrean’s writing is beautiful at times, conveying emotion, trauma and human suffering without a hint of sentimentality. This is quite a challenging and hard hitting read in places and is most suitable for older readers and not for the primary school audience due to its themes and the descriptions of the horrors of war. The author has clearly carried out extensive research and there is a great deal of historical detail included. Under a Fire-Red Sky would support any teaching of WW2 as a history topic well. It is however an excellent book to read as a coming of age novel too and the emphasis throughout is focussed on the personal experience and growth of the four likeable main characters. I would recommend Under A Fire-Red Sky to confident readers of about 12+ who enjoy historical fiction. It is a rewarding read and I found myself thinking about the characters long after I had finished reading the book.

Under a Fire-Red Sky is published by Usborne Books on 10th April and I should like to thank Fritha Lindqvist for providing my proof copy.

Readers may be prompted to find out more about the brave people who where members of the Fire Service during the Second World War and there is a an excellent first hand account on the Imperial War Museum website. Fireman Frank Hurd’s Account Of The London Blitz tells the story of a fire fighter in his own words and the museum also provides background information about items linked to the Fire Service at the time. The London Fire Brigade also has a section of its website devoted to the formation of the Auxiliary Fire Service continuing through the bravery of the Blitz which provides detailed information.