‘Shrapnel Boys:' A Book Review

Geek Dad

08-05-2025

This week sees the 80th anniversary of V.E. Day, and here in the UK, there have been fly pasts and street parties (blighted by the weather, of course) to celebrate. Following on from the excellent Under a Fire Red Sky , published last month, Usborne Books has brought us another first-class children's novel set in World War 2. Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson is compelling from first page to last, and a fine addition to the genre.
The book takes place in almost exactly the same part of London as Under a Fire Red Sky , on the south side of the Thames. The two share a starting point, too. The eve of the war, as the evacuation trains are leaving. Once again, this story follows children who stayed in London.
Ronnie and his brother Michael have remained in London so that their mum isn't alone. Their dad upped and left, and they are all she has. Together with their friend Billy Missel, or 'Lugs' as they call him, they'll end up embroiled in a plot that will place the British war effort in jeopardy.
The villain of the piece is Johnny Simmons. A young man who helps Ronnie and Michael's mum dig their Anderson shelter. He sticks around, inserting himself into the family, and while Ronnie can see his darker side, his mum and brother are enamoured by this good-looking man with a smooth voice and a twinkle in his eye.
The story is narrated in the first person by Ronnie, and its delivery is pitch perfect.
When I was growing up, it was 40 years closer to the end of the war. I was never that drawn to war stories, but the ones I do remember focused heavily on the heroics of the British and the implacable evil of the Nazis. They were largely 'Boy's Own' adventures.
With another 40 years to reflect and examine the history of the period, the stories have changed. They can be told with a more modern outlook and understanding. In this book, Lugs' father is a pacifist. He's sent to the front line as a stretcher bearer. Ronnie thinks of him as a coward, not wanting to fight, but over the course of the novel, he begins to understand that this takes a different sort of bravery. Another child returns from his evacuation, haunted, vowing never to go back. I don't think this element would ever have been present in a story 40 years ago.
Much like in Under a Fire Red Sky, we see the social history of the war, as well as the psychological toll it leaves on those bombed night after night. Ronnie's dad is abusive, but he also signs up to be a pilot, and this is after he has already fought in World War 1. A conflict that, by Ronnie's mum's account, left him a changed man. How is Ronnie supposed to feel about this? Is his dad hero or villain?
A major plot point is Johnny's links to Oswald Mosley and the Blackshirts, which is juxtaposed against the fact that Lugs' family is Jewish. Johnny pulls Michael, Ronnie's brother, into his sphere of influence and begins sending him about the city on nefarious tasks. Ronnie can see it happening but is powerless to intervene. Johnny always seems to have an answer. Ronnie has sworn to protect his brother, but how can he, without alienating Michael completely?
These are the comparatively small frustrations Ronnie must deal with, especially when set against the canvas of a world of turmoil. Small, but the center of Ronnie's world, and Pearson makes his story utterly compelling. She conveys the tension and horror of the period, as well as the strength of wartime camaraderie, penning a host of well-drawn characters. Shrapnel Boys is not overly sensational, yet Pearson still manages to ratchet the tension to almost unbearable levels.
There is nothing not to enjoy about Shrapnel Boys. It's a first-class read that delivers thrills, laughs, and a tear at the end. It's a book about the strength of friendship and the difficulties of speaking out, especially when you're in a position of weakness.
Shrapnel Boys is also a timely reminder of what war does to a civilian population. I was reminded of Ukraine and Gaza, conflicts that have been reduced to short news reports and casualties that have become mere numbers. 80 years on from a victory in Europe. Shrapnel Boys reminds us of the true human cost of war.
If you would like to pick up a copy of Shrapnel Boys, you can do so here in the US and here, in the UK. (Affiliate Links)
If you enjoyed this review, check out my other book reviews, here.
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