When the Sky Falls

Name: When the Sky Falls
Brand: HarperCollins New Zealand
SKU: 9781783449651
Price: 20.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

The bestselling wartime animal tale inspired by a true story

By Phil Earle

Series: Historical Animal Stories

0.0 (0 reviews)

4.29

( 2,620 ratings, 380 reviews)

Summary

When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle is a gripping story set in World War II, focusing on young Joseph, who's sent to stay in a city while seeking refuge from the conflict. With his mother in danger and his father away at war, Joseph struggles to adapt to life with Mrs. F, who looks after a zoo and its dwindling animals. As he forms an unexpected bond with an elderly gorilla, the tale explores themes of friendship, resilience, and finding hope amid chaos.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$20⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$21⁹⁹~~

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When the Sky Falls

$20⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$21⁹⁹~~

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate heartwarming and gritty stories set during war times. This tale revolves around a boy discovering friendship, courage, and hope amidst chaos, perfect for fans of emotional and historical children's narratives.

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Description

When the Sky Falls is the multi-award-winning story about the incredible friendship between a young boy and a silverback gorilla during the Second World War, inspired by a true story.

It's 1941. War is raging. Joseph has been sent to live in the city, where bombers rule the skies. There, he lives with Mrs F, a gruff woman with no fondness for children. Her only loves are the rundown zoo she owns and its mighty silverback gorilla, Adonis. As the weeks pass, Joseph and Adonis become friends, but what will happen when the bombers set him rampaging free?

Other animal war stories by Phil Earle include:

While the Storm Rages
Until the Road Ends

Winner of the British Book Award for Children's Fiction Book of the Year.

‘A magnificent story... It deserves every prize going’ - Philip Pullman

‘An extraordinary story... Deeply felt, movingly written, a remarkable achievement’ - Michael Morpurgo

Series: Historical Animal Stories

View all

When the Sky Falls

When the Sky Falls is the multi-award-winning story about the incredible friendship between a young boy and a silverback gorilla during the Second World War, inspired by a true story. It's 1941. War is raging. Joseph has been sent to live in the city, where bombers rule the skies. There, he lives with Mrs F, a gruff woman with no...

By Phil Earle

Paperback

$20⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
Until the Road Ends

From the bestselling author of When the Sky Falls comes the heart-rending story of evacuee Peggy, separated from her beloved dog Beau in the Second World War. Peggy and her dog Beau are inseparable: the only thing that can ever come between them is war. Peggy is evacuated to the safety of the coast, but Beau is left behind in...

By Phil Earle

Paperback

$20⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁹⁹~~

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
On Sale
18% off

The Dawn of Adonis

A tale of loyalty, loss, betrayal, and rebirth. It is 1911 and London’s docks thrum with underhand deals, none so great as the arrival of a valuable, rare and exotic animal, smuggled from the depths of the Congolese rainforest. The baby gorilla stands to make one man, the shady Goliath Deeds, very, very rich: he and his right-hand man, juvenile...

By Phil Earle

Paperback

$18⁰⁰
Usually:
~~$21⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
Animal War Stories Box Set (When the Sky Falls, While the Storm Rages, Until the Road Ends)

Open up a world of adventure, bravery and dramatic wartime scenes with Phil Earle's magnificent World War Two animal stories. Inspired by a true story from World War Two, the award-winning When the Sky Falls follows Joseph when he is left alone to guard a silverback gorilla's cage in a deserted zoo. If the bombs fall and set the animal...

By Phil Earle

Box Set

$47⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$57⁹⁹~~

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
When the Sky Falls: Graphic Novel

A stunning graphic-novel edition of the multi-award-winning story about the incredible friendship between a young boy and a silverback gorilla during the Second World War, inspired by a true story. 1941. War is raging. And Joseph has been sent to live in the city, where bombers rule the skies. There, he will live with Mrs F, a gruff woman with...

By Phil Earle and Fred Fordham

Paperback

$30⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$37⁹⁹~~

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle is highly praised for its moving and emotionally powerful narrative, often drawing comparisons to classics like Goodnight Mister Tom. Celebrated authors commend its deep emotional impact, with some noting it brought them to tears, and it is recognised for exploring themes of kindness and humanity during difficult times. The book is seen as a significant achievement that resonates with both historical and contemporary relevance.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781783449651

Publisher: Andersen Press Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 June 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Andersen Press Ltd

Audience: General / adult, Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 256g

Pages: 320

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Children's Books Children's Fiction Children's Historical Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational General Fiction Historical Fiction In Stock Books In Stock Kid's Books New Release Fiction New Zealand's Best Selling Books Phil Earle Series: Historical Animal Stories Young Adult

About the Author

Born and raised in the north of England, Phil Earle is the author of numerous acclaimed, award-winning books for children and teenagers. He has worked as a carer, a dramatherapist, a bookseller and a publisher, and loves talking at schools and festivals around the world. His novel When The Sky Falls won the Books Are My Bag Readers Award and the British Book Award for Children’s Fiction. He lives on the side of a very steep hill with his wife, their five children and two dogs.

Also by Phil Earle

View all

Until the Road Ends

From the bestselling author of When the Sky Falls comes the heart-rending story of evacuee Peggy, separated from her beloved dog Beau in the Second World War. Peggy and her dog Beau are inseparable: the only thing that can ever come between them is war. Peggy is evacuated to the safety of the coast, but Beau is left behind in...

By Phil Earle

Paperback

$20⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁹⁹~~

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
While the Storm Rages

From the bestselling author of When the Sky Falls comes the remarkable story of Noah's fight to save his beloved family dog following the outbreak of the Second World War. September 1939. The world is on the brink of war. As his dad marches off to fight, Noah makes him a promise, to keep their beloved family dog safe. When...

By Phil Earle

Paperback

$20⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁹⁹~~

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
On Sale
18% off

The Dawn of Adonis

A tale of loyalty, loss, betrayal, and rebirth. It is 1911 and London’s docks thrum with underhand deals, none so great as the arrival of a valuable, rare and exotic animal, smuggled from the depths of the Congolese rainforest. The baby gorilla stands to make one man, the shady Goliath Deeds, very, very rich: he and his right-hand man, juvenile...

By Phil Earle

Paperback

$18⁰⁰
Usually:
~~$21⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
Animal War Stories Box Set (When the Sky Falls, While the Storm Rages, Until the Road Ends)

Open up a world of adventure, bravery and dramatic wartime scenes with Phil Earle's magnificent World War Two animal stories. Inspired by a true story from World War Two, the award-winning When the Sky Falls follows Joseph when he is left alone to guard a silverback gorilla's cage in a deserted zoo. If the bombs fall and set the animal...

By Phil Earle

Box Set

$47⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$57⁹⁹~~

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
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When the Sky Falls: Graphic Novel

A stunning graphic-novel edition of the multi-award-winning story about the incredible friendship between a young boy and a silverback gorilla during the Second World War, inspired by a true story. 1941. War is raging. And Joseph has been sent to live in the city, where bombers rule the skies. There, he will live with Mrs F, a gruff woman with...

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Paperback

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Elsewhere:
~~$37⁹⁹~~

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
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