Author & Illustrators

Phil Earle Books

When the Sky Falls: Graphic Novel

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. From the bestselling author of Finn’s Epic Fails.

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 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?

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

The Dawn of Adonis

Phil Earle

Chapter book

From the bestselling author of When the Sky Falls and Finn’s Epic Fails comes the heart-wrenching story of a baby gorilla, Adonis, born into captivity, and the twelve-year-old girl who risks everything to rescue him.

In 1911, before the start of World War One, London’s docks thrum with underhand deals, none so great as the arrival of a valuable, rare and exotic animal – a baby silverback gorilla. The baby gorilla stands to make one man very, very rich. Heaven help anyone who gets in his way. But then one night a twelve-year-old girl is unwittingly drawn into his criminal underworld. Can she find a way to escape and rescue the baby gorilla?

The hotly anticipated follow-up to the multi-award-winning story about the incredible friendship between a young boy and a silverback gorilla in the Second World War, inspired by a true story: When the Sky Falls.

‘This richly atmospheric adventure . . . confirms Earle as a master of his craft’ Daily Mail
‘Nobody writes striking, heartfelt adventure like Phil Earle. I loved it!’ Ross Montgomery
‘It’s a tremendous nail-biting read, tender and terrifying in equal measure’ Jacqueline Wilson

Praise for When the Sky Falls:
‘A magnificent story’ Philip Pullman
‘Deeply felt, movingly written, a remarkable achievement’ Michael Morpurgo

Perfect for fans of War Horse, I Am Rebel and The Last Bear

Finn’s Epic Fails

Phil Earle

Chapter book

There is having a bad day, and then there is Finn’s life. Starting ‘big school’ can be a whole challenge in itself, but Finn seems to be inundated with problems. Embarrassment after embarrassment, failure after failure and mishap after mishap! Finn’s siblings (as well as his divorced parents) are not too far away from the root of all his problems.

Finn’s Fails include losing his swimming trunks in a school swimming lesson, his brother pinning him to the floor and all whilst filming, country dancing in PE and his dad’s daily cycling outfits! Luckily for Finn, he has some knights in shining armour in the form of his best mates. There is also a surprise to enter his life, and it was exactly what he needed in so many ways – with some wins for Finns finally starting to appear.

Through Finn’s first-hand account, the author captures the vulnerability and anxieties of secondary transition (where everything, from the uncomfortable uniform to whether or not to play up for a supply teacher, can feel mortifying one way or another…) with a huge dose of humour and heart.

What another superb book from Phil Earle. A light-hearted and hilarious book that would gain the attention of children in upper KS2 and lower KS3, with a particular appeal to boys, reluctant readers or lovers of funny, diary-style stories.

The Bubble Wrap Boy

Phil Earle

Chapter book

‘The Bubble Wrap Boy’ is a coming-of-age novel which will make you howl with laughter and cry with heartache. Phil Earl tells the story of a teenage boy Charlie, who feels lost and isolated, until he finds his passion: skateboarding. The only issue is his overprotective mother, who will do everything in her power to ruin his fun and consequently, all chances of being popular at school. Interweaved within hilarious plot twists and teenage angst, is a powerful message of friendship, loyalty and resilience.

The story is told with utter brilliance as Earl manages to capture the point of view of a misunderstood young boy, who shows that anything can be achieved if you put your mind to it. This novel is undoubtedly a modern classic, which conveys some important messages for young people today.

Northern Soul

Phil Earle

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

A truly funny and poignant look at first love and the fumbling attempts to gain the attention of a new girl in school.

Hilarious, cool, heartfelt, soulful and brilliant!

Mind the Gap

Phil Earle

Chapter book

Mikey’s dad has died, and his best friend is trying to help him. But Mikey doesn’t want to be helped; instead, he has pressed the self-destruct button and is drinking and getting into fights. Is there any way he can be helped back from the brink? This story explores a friendship that might be at breaking point and a violent side of society.

Barrington Stoke might be a simpler read, but they still produce books that hit hard and deal with complex issues. This is a study of grief set in a poverty-stricken neighbourhood, where even the adults do not have the capacity to help the grieving child. I knew Phil Earle would write something special as I’ve loved his books, but this is much grittier and more aimed at KS3 children. The boys do not have the emotional literacy or language to deal with the grief, and have nowhere to turn, which makes it quite a desperate tale. It seems like a story that would work well on screen as many children would understand Mikey’s grief, not only that his dad died, but that before then, he had left the family, and Mikey did not see him much. Earle creates the impression that the father was a real loser but loved nonetheless.

The cover by David Wardle is a clever take on the London Underground Tube map and whilst completely relevant, does not give anything away about the plot. The combination of Phil Earle and Barrington Stoke makes this a book for KS3 and beyond to remember.

Until the Road Ends

Phil Earle

Chapter book

Until the Road Ends is the eagerly awaited new novel from the bestselling author of When the Sky Falls: The Times Children’s Book of the Year, winner of a Books Are My Bag Readers Award, the British Book Award for Children’s Fiction and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

Nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing

When Peggy saves a stray dog from near-death, a beautiful friendship begins. Peggy and 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 the city, where he becomes the most extraordinary and unlikely of war heroes. Night after night, as bombs rain down and communities are destroyed, Beau searches the streets, saving countless families. But then disaster strikes, changing Peggy’s life forever. With her parents killed, both she and Beau are left alone, hundreds of miles apart. But Beau has a plan to reunite them at long last…

While the Storm Rages

Phil Earle

Chapter book

While the Storm Rages is the eagerly awaited new novel from the bestselling author of When the Sky Falls: The Times Children’s Book of the Year, winner of the Books Are My Bag Readers Award for Children’s Fiction, winner of the British Book Award for Children’s Fiction Book of the Year and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

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 the government advises people to have their pets put down in readiness for the chaos of war, hundreds of thousands of people do as they are told. But not Noah. He’s not that sort of boy. With his two friends in tow, he goes on the run, to save his dog and as many animals as he can. No matter what.

Two Places to Call Home

Jess Rose & Phil Earle

Picturebook

Popular author Phil Earle offers a new picturebook with an authentic representation of a child experiencing parental separation and divorce.

Meet Florrie. Florrie has two of everything…. including two different homes. Her mum’s and her dad’s. When her parents separated, Florrie and her brothers were expected to divide their time between the two homes, and at the beginning of the book, this makes her feel a little uneasy.

This book shows how each parent works separately with her to make her feel comfortable about the situation, giving her coping mechanisms when she misses her other home. The lovely twist at the end is how Florrie is then able to help her father, when she realises that he misses her when she is not with him too.

This uplifting picture book will help children to embrace change, and could be a brilliant starting point for discussion about feelings about separation and divorce as well as about navigating negative thoughts and feelings towards changes outside of own’s own control. Beautifully illustrated by Jess Rose, the details in the pictures really bring the story alive, and provide great talking points when reading this story with your child, whether they have personally experienced separation or not.

Supernan’s Day Out

Phil Earle & Steve May

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

An unexpected family secret has hilarious consequences in this action-packed story from Phil Earle and illustrator Steve May – perfect for superhero fans.

Plane crashes, robberies and fires were not what Stanley was expecting on a day out at the seaside with his nan and the other residents of her care home! Nan doesn’t know about his superpowers, so Super Stan can’t step in to help as it would blow his cover.

Luckily, though, another mysterious superhero seems to be on hand, saving the day. But who could it possibly be?