Helen Bate Press Reviews
This moving graphic novel is published in September 2016 and well worth pre-ordering. Peter is just an ordinary boy, who loves playing football with his friends and eating cake - until war comes to his city and the whole family have to go into hiding.. -- Sita Brahmachari * The Guardian *
This is definitely a worthy entry to the non-fiction shelves for the very young... It's a non-scary but still evocative primer for the fact that you didn't have to live in Germany to suffer at the hands of Nazis. * The Book Bag *
This debut graphic novel delicately balances the horror of those war years with a child's eye view of events, allowing young (and older) readers to gently explore some of the aspects of the Holocaust without it becoming overwhelming. There's a great deal of humour, and a real sense that children will always be children, however bad things get, finding ways to make new friends and creating new games to play even in the darkest hours, thereby giving us hope for better things to come....Peter's story is moving but also funny, horribly sad and sometimes frightening, before a page turn makes you smile. It is peppered with moments of laughter and is pitched just right for, say, upper Primary school aged kids. * Playing by the Book *
This moving, true story of the Second World War tells Peter's story in his own words, accompanied by excellent illustrations which really convey the sombre feel of the story. Moving and very effective. * Parents in Touch *
Without a doubt, this is the sort of book that is needed now more than ever, to educate children about the terrible atrocities of war, and how ordinary children like themselves became caught up in the conflict, taken far away from their homes and everything they knew and loved. At times it's quite a tough read, certainly a title for older children but it imparts its story with sensitivity and thought. This is the sort of book we'd truly love to see championed in schools and libraries. * Read It, Daddy *
Learn, in an accessible way, more abou tthe second world war...a moving and true story that will make readers think and help them to understand more about the experience of the war for children of their own age. * Armadillo *
A true story about a young Jewish boy...told with amazing depth in a simpler and effective way. Our teen reviewer was very moved. * Angels and Urchins *
Helen's graphic illustrations are just right for this kind of book, and should go down well with quite young readers. Let's hope, too, that they can see the similiarities with what's happening today in far too many places. If it was wrong then, it's wrong now. * Bookwitch *
An engrossing true story...superbly told in graphic format. Words and pictures are skillfully combined and from the start of this first person narrative, young readers will identify with Peter. * Books for Keeps 5 star review *
Even young children will get a sense of what it means to become the custodian of a memory. * Jewish Chronicle *
This book, which establishes 'the right to life and to live in freedom and safety could not be more pertinent for the current political climate, not only here in the UK, but also further afield. * IBBY Link *
The warmth of humanity shines through the story. There are many great books retelling the experience of WW2 and this is special because of its graphic format which will capture some who might find continual text off-putting. * School Librarian *
