51. When the Sky Falls

When the Sky Falls. Phil Earle. 2022. 320 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The platform was a battlefield: seventy yards of carnage transplated straight from the coasts of northern France. Smoke billowed; people clung to each other. 

First impressions: I knew going into this one that it had the potential for sadness. Not necessarily *only* because it had an animal on the cover. That in and of itself wouldn't mean it has to be sad (on principle). Once I knew that this was historical fiction set in England during the Second World War, I knew this one might be a heart-breaker. Again, war books don't always, always have to be sad tearjerkers. But the potential is almost always there. I wanted with all my heart for this NOT to be a sad book. I was okay with the potential for sadness, holding onto hope that even in wartime good things can happen...

Premise/plot: Joseph, our protagonist, is sent to London in 1940. He'll be living with "Mrs. F." a no-nonsense lady zookeeper. The zoo has closed officially--a result of the war. Many animals have been sent other places for safety and well-being...but not Adonis, a silverback gorilla. At first Joseph is scared (and rightly so) of Adonis. He wants absolutely nothing to do with taking care of Adonis... But as Joseph settles into his new life at his new home and at his new school, well, things change. Friends come in all shapes and sizes. 

Joseph is a vulnerable kid. And there are absolutely no bows tied at the end of this one. If anything his life may be even more unsettled. The difference being he has found a "found family." A found family being a family that you may not have any biological ties but they are your family nonetheless--your people, your tribe, those who have your back and love you unconditionally. Joseph *needs* his new family. But that doesn't mean that all is well and good.

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed spending time with the characters in this one. The story itself, well, the plot was hard-to-take at times. I'll try to explain. Hard on the heart. 

Joseph is dyslexic and at a time when little is known or understood about the learning disability (or learning difference). He is literally beaten (caned) by the powers that be (principal? school master?) for it. His teacher while not that cruel doesn't quite get it either. Of course, the rock and hard place being if Joseph literally says nothing about not being able to read and why he is not able to read--then he's not believed, he's a liar; if Joseph pretends to be able to read then he's lazy and a goof off and just not trying academically. This could definitely trigger some readers--especially teachers and perhaps parents. It is just all kinds of wrong to see how Joseph is treated in a school environment.

It is also hard on the heart as an animal story. I definitely needed a freezer for this one. 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews