For a kids book, I found this hard going, and I struggled to keep going and finish this book. The ending is worth it, in that brings together so many of the ideas spread throughout the story. Very bleak throughout, but guess it works to show the realities of WWII for English kids in a way that makes sense for kids reading it.

content warning: major character death ( )

After reading SLJs interview (June 2012) with Susan Cooper, I interloaned this book. Not a fantasy, she said it was based on her wartime childhood. It was the second book she had published (after Over Sea, Under Stone).
It takes place outside London, but close enough to the city that they can see London on fire.
Derek, Geoff, and Peter are three boys who are fascinated but not fearful of by the war around them. The story is told from Derek's point of view. Boys messing around playing at war, knowing but not realizing. It is a fistacuffs between two young men, of service age, which frightens Derek, in a way he does not understand. Then the ending packs a wallop. ( )

Three English children, fascinated by the war air raids, gradually become aware of true fear and horror when they seek vengeance on an opposing gang that destroyed their hideaway.
Lexile: 1000