Publisher's Synopsis
An extraordinary tour de force that examines the impact of faith and fanaticism on a community beleaguered by war
Set during the early part of World War II, this novel follows the fortunes of Campbell and Gig, two children who move to a shipbuilding town, with their alcoholic father. Both come within the orbit of Miss Aherne, their strict but charismatic primary school teacher, although she is particularly drawn to Gig. As Campbell and Gig experience life in the war-torn town, along with a fascinating cast of characters each coping with the privations of conflict and poverty in their own way, it becomes clear that Miss Aherne is not all she seems. As an all-out aerial assault on the shipyards by the Luftwaffe draws near, tensions within the community rise. It's left to Campbell and his friend Danny to expose Miss Aherne's real agenda before tragedy befalls them all. This beautifully rendered portrait of a community in crisis explores themes of love, loss, and family, and the consequences of fanaticism for the innocent.
