Duty Calls: Dunkirk

Jan 15, 2025 7:48 PM

Author:James Holland

Duty Calls: Dunkirk

Duty Calls: Dunkirk by James Holland is a gripping true-to-life story about one of the most dramatic events of World War II.

'YOU WANTED TO SEE SOME ACTION - WELL YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT NOW. YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT NOW ALL RIGHT.'

Friday 24th May, 1940

Private Johnny Hawke, aged sixteen, awakens to artillery fire.

Hours later, Stukas scream down from the sky. Messerschmit fighters roar towards his regiment. Trucks burst into flames.

Now men and mules lay dead and dying, severed limbs twisted grotesquely as blood soaks the cobbled streets.

Young Private Hawke just wants to do his duty and serve his country. But as he- and his fellow soldiers - prepare to stop the German advance, there's only one question on everyone's lips.

HOW WILL THEY SURVIVE?

'Holland is a superb historian who knows his stuff' - Daily Telegraph

James Holland was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and studied history at Durham University. He is the bestselling author of numerous historical non-fiction titles and the Jack Tanner fiction series, and recently presented Battle of Britain: The Real Story on BBC2.

A member of the British Commission for Military History, his many interviews with veterans of the Second World War are available at the Imperial War Museum and are also archived at www.secondworldwarforum.com. Duty Calls: Dunkirk is his first novel for younger readers.

Reviews

'A genius ... his is an enduring influence'

—— The Times

'Resonates beyond words'

—— Guardian

'That rare adult who can still think like a child'

—— The New York Times

Hilarious

—— Reading Evening Post

Accompanied by fun illustrations throughout, this series is a real find as a strong male narrator is a rare thing indeed

—— writeaway.org.uk

For the world today, Janusz Korczak is a symbol of true religion and true morality

—— Pope John Paul II

A rediscovered kid's fantasy to enthral a new generation. Nearly seven decades before a kid named Harry pottered about with magic, Janusz Korczak's orphan boy King Matt the First captivated children all across Europe. Matt's message of hope shines past Korczak's tragic end in 1942 at a Nazi death camp with 200 Jewish orphans he refused to abandon

—— Parade

Matt is clearly an ancestor of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's Little Prince

—— San Francisco Chronicle

Dermot's voice is blunt and hilarious, exactly what you'd expect from a boy of his age . . . The Donut Diaries is the perfect book for readers aged 9+, especially those who will soon be starting big school themselves

—— Wondrous Reads

A hilarious diary which will have the reader chuckling as events unfold - and empathising with Dermot as he shares anguishes common to many near-teenage boys

—— Parents In Touch

This is the funniest book I have ever read, I can't wait until the next book in the series. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a little laugh

—— Guardian Children's Review

Funny and sweet in equal measure and I thoroughly enjoyed it

—— Writing from the Tub

A new twist to the diary genre

—— Irish Independent

Like a donut, this book is somehow sweet and disgusting at the same time. Oh, and it's very funny too!

—— Andy Stanton, author of MR GUM

It's very much that wet sloppy fart kind of humour. Your kids will absolutely love this book. It's a great "next step up" the reading ladder

—— bfkbooks

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