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My Story Series

History comes alive through exciting stories:

HOME AGAIN

A celebration of VE Day, the end of the war in Europe in 1945. This book – stories that depict the last day of the war from those who were involved – is a collaboration between Jim, other writers, Dame Vera Lynn, and the Royal British Legion, with profits going to the Royal British Legion.

COMING HOME

For underage soldier, Joe Henry, who joined the army to fight in 1918 at the age of 13, the Great War has been tougher than he could ever have imagined. The story opens at the Battle of Sambre-Oise where many of Joe’s comrades die in front of his eyes. But soon comes the signing of the Armistice -which Joe is witness to – and the fighting is over and Joe can go home. But the life he returns to in Carlisle is very different from the one he left behind. His father is injured and angry at Joe for going off to war. The Spanish flu epidemic is raging, with hundreds dying every day. Joe may have survived the Great War, but the danger isn’t over yet.

INDEPENDENCE: War in Ireland, 20 – 21 November 1920

Liam can’t wait to see the football final at Croke Park in Dublin. But it is Sunday 21 November 1920, and renegade British soldiers, the Black and Tans, are after revenge for the killing of 15 British agents by the IRA that morning in Dublin. The game has barely begun before the first shots ring out and terror comes, soldiers shooting, machine guns firing …. Will Liam and his cousin get out of the stadium alive? And if they do, is there anywhere safe to go?

SURVIVOR: ESCAPE FROM POMPEII

AUGUST 24th, 79AD.

My father began to shout. “People of Pompeii, listen to me! This earthquake is nothing to do with the god Vulcan. Vulcan does not exist!” The people turned away from watching the priests and looked towards my father, horrified by his words. He pointed towards the mountain. “This earthquake is caused by the fires raging under Vesuvius. Vesuvius will explode. When it does it will shower this city with hot ash. Rivers of fire will pour down from the mountain. You will all die unless you leave now and get to higher ground, away from the mountain!”

There were loud cries of anger from the crowd, mixed with fear, and then they began throwing rocks at my father and shouting: “Silence him! It is his fault! He insults Vulcan!”

The rocks hit my father and he fell backwards onto the cobbles. I ran to help him up, but I was aware that many people were also rushing towards him, some arming themselves with wooden sticks or rocks to beat him.

MY STORY: CODENAME CÉLINE

It’s 1944 and London is under attack. After her mother is killed by a bomb, 17-year old Violet is desperate to do her bit for the war effort. She leaps at the chance to join the Special Operations Executive and is give a new undercover identity: Celine. Dropped into France to help the Resistance, Celine finds herself in the heart of the fight against the Nazis. Will she be able to keep her nerve and complete her mission before it’s too late?

STORIES OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR

storiesww1
From the outbreak of fighting in 1914 to the armistice in 1918 – twelve stories of young lives torn apart by conflict tell the story of the First World War. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, nurses, ambulance drivers – all heroes. With a foreword by Johnson Beharry VC.

SECOND WORLD WAR STORIES FOR BOYS

SWW 
Three books in one! DEADLY SKIES – a young Spitfire pilot’s dogfights in the skies over Britain. TANK ATTACK – a tank driver’s daring escape in the deserts of North Africa. BEHIND ENEMY LINES – a heart-stopping sabotage mission with Orde Wingate’s Chindits in the jungle of Burma.

DARING WORLD WAR TWO STORIES FOR BOYS

SWW 
Three books in one!

NIGHT BOMBER – August 1943 – V2 rockets are a deadly threat to the Allied War effort. A fleet of 600 bombers set out to destroy them and one young flight engineer prepares to risk his life in the most important mission he has ever flown.

DEPTH CHARGE DANGER – September 1943 – The mighty German battleship Tirpitz lies moored in the safety of a Norwegian fjord. All previous attempts to sink her have failed. The experimental and highly dangerous mini-submarines, the X-Craft, is the last chance to sink the Tirpitz.

ISLAND OF FEAR – February 1945 – the war in the East continues. The island of Iwo Jima is a vital strategic link in the battle against the enemy. As American forces prepare to invade, we are with one young marine on the eve of one of World War 2’s most ferocious battles.

Each book is part war story, part fact: Night Bomber reveals what it was really like to fly a Lancaster; Depth Charge Danger to be in a midget submarine; and Island of Fear shows what it was really like to be a US Marine during the attack on Iwo Jima.

LONDON STORIES

LS
Brought low by the Black Death, burned to the ground and blitzed, London continually rises from the ashes as new generations are born. Follow the children of the Baker family through 2000 years of London’s history and stories, from a simple settlement by the Thames to a vibrant city hosting the 2012 Olympic Games.

MY STORY: DODGER!

Dodger
In 1840, 9-yearold Dick Maybury arrives in London with nowhere to stay, no money, and no friends. A chance meeting with the Adelphi gang gives him all three. But the gang make their living outside the law, and Dick learns that the life of a pickpocket is very had to leave behind.

MY STORY: PYRAMID OF SECRETS

Pyramid of Secrets
It’s 2517BC and the river Nile has flooded. Unable to plough their fields, Nebka follows his uncle to build the pyramid of Khafre. It’s back-breaking work, all for the glory of the Pharaoh. Then he meets a mysterious prisoner claiming to be the rightful heir to the throne and is drawn into a deadly plot.

 

MY STORY: THE SWEEP’S BOY

Sweeps Boy
It’s 1870 when the Workhouse Master hires Will out as a chimney sweep’s boy. It’s hard, dirty dangerous life, and it’s not long before events take an even worse turn as Will’s climbing skills attract the attention of the evil Hutch, a vicious burglar who needs Will’s skills to help him in his life of crime.

 

MY STORY: ROMAN INVASION

Roman Invasion
It’s AD84 when Bran, a prince of the Carvetti tribe, is captured by the Romans. A legion of soldiers is marching east across northern Britain to build a military road. It’s hostile country, and Bran is to go with them as a hostage to ensure the legion’s safety … but no-one is safe in newly conquered Britain.

 

MY STORY: THE TRENCHES

thetrenches

Trenches

It’s 1917 and Billy Stevens is a telegraph operator stationed near Ypres. The Great War has been raging for three years when Billy finds himself taking part in the deadly Big Push forward. But he is shocked to discover that the bullets of his fellow soldiers aren’t just aimed at the enemy.  (“The Trenches” is on the recommended reading list for schools in Australia and Canada).

 

1066 (I WAS THERE)

It’s 1066 and Edwin is 12 years old, a young knight in training. Now he’s about to go into battle against Duke William and his invading Norman army at Hastings. Exciting battle action as Edwin struggles to save his country, and his best friend.

 

MY STORY: DESERT DANGER

Desert Danger
World War 2 – the Battle of Alamein through the eyes of a teenage bomb disposal soldier.

(also published in WAR STORIES FOR BOYS)

War Stories for Boys
War Stories for Boys
War Stories for Boys

MY STORY: SPY SMUGGLER

Spy Smuggler
France in World War 2 – a young boy joins the Resistance and soon finds his life is in danger

MY STORY: WAR SPY

Armada
It’s France in 1943, and after getting himself in a fight with the Nazis and landing in a police cell, 13-year old Paul Lelaud is recruited into the French Resistance. (Formerly published as “Spy Smuggler”).


MY STORY: FLYING ACE

flyingace
World War 1 – a young fighter pilot joins the fledgling Royal Flying Corps, at a time when a pilot’s lifespan is measured in days.


MY STORY: ARMADA

Armada
1587 – a young boy joins Francis Drake’s ship and is caught up in the action against the Spanish Armada.

 

MY TRUE STORIES SERIES

STANDING ALONE (the true story of Jack Cornwell VC)

Standing Alone
World War 1 at sea – the true story of the deadly Battle of Jutland; and the youngest person in the Royal Navy to win the Victoria Cross.

The Battle of Jutland would go down in history as the last great naval battle. One boy was destined to emerge a hero. Jack Cornwell was just sixteen when he made the ultimate sacrifice. His courageous story moved the nation and offered hope when all the lights were going out across Britain.

The “My Story” & “My True Story” series are published by Scholastic Children’s Books: www.scholastic.co.uk/zone

To get any of Jim’s books, order through the publishers at their websites, or your bookshop, or www.amazon.co.uk

You can also read reviews of Jim’s books at:

http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/author/1497/Jim-Eldridge.html

To get in touch with Jim, e-mail him at: jimeldridge@jimeldridge.force9.co.uk