Summer 1940. As the cuckoo sings out across the Lake District, life is about to change for ever for local boy Tommy and his friend Sally, the mysterious evacuee girl who lives on the neighbouring farm. When they find a wounded Nazi airman in the woods, Sally persuades Tommy not to report it but to keep the German hidden. This starts a chain of events that leads to the uncovering of secrets about Sally’s past and a summer of adventure that neither child will ever forget.
With echoes of Whistle Down the Wind and Goodnight Mr. Tom, Cuckoo Summer is a captivating story set during the war in a remote village in the Lakes.
This is a story about trust and conscience. The children know what they could do and also know what they should do. Despite the risks that they are both taking, Tommy and Sally believe in the power of doing the right thing and it is this quality that shines through.
The book gives a snapshot of one place in time during World War 2. The story conveys a strong sense of the rural village and the various characters are all vividly depicted. The story is powerfully rooted in its location; the fields, farmhouses, tarns and waterfalls are crystal clear thanks to Jonathan Tulloch’s beautifully evocative writing. This is a book to share with a class and one that is likely to be remembered for a long time.
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review
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
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Curriculum links (if relevant)
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