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HarperCollins Children’s Books
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.
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London SE1 9GF
First published in the USA by Scholastic Inc 2004
First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Children’s Books 2007
Text copyright © Kathryn Lasky 2007
Kathryn Lasky assert the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780007215201
Ebook Edition © OCTOBER 2016 ISBN: 9780008226824
Version: 2016-12-05
Winston Churchill was Prime Minister of England during World War II. For months, citizens of London were subjected to ceaseless bombings by the Nazis. It was called the Battle of Britain and the courage of the men, women and children was remarkable during this terrifying time. Churchill’s radio addresses helped rally an exhausted and frightened nation. It was said that Winston Churchill was the man who mobilised the English language. I would like to acknowledge a great debt to Churchill, for I very closely modelled many of Ezylryb’s speeches in chapters Eighteen, Twenty and Twenty-two after some of Mr Churchill’s most stirring addresses.
When I was a child, a popular reply to a bully was: Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
Now that I am an adult, I think this is not true. Words can hurt. But I never would have dreamed back then when I was a child that words like Mr Churchill’s could give such courage, strength, stamina and valour to the citizens who were facing the most horrific circumstances of war.
As Dewlap lashed out in futile desperation against the wind and water, the book she had left on the rock tumbled end over end into the sea …
CONTENTS
Chapter Two: The Watcher in the woods
Chapter Three: At the Great GaHoole Tree
Chapter Four: Sprink on Your Spronk!
Chapter Five: A Mission Most Dreadful
Chapter Six: Learning by Heart and by Gizzard
Chapter Seven: A Special Flint Mop
Chapter Eight: Across the Sea and to the St Aegolius Canyons
Chapter Nine: The Most Dreadful Place on Earth
Chapter Eleven: Flecks in the Nest
Chapter Twelve: The World According to Otulissa
Chapter Thirteen: A Rogue Smith Is Called
Chapter Fifteen: An Old Friend Discovered
Chapter Sixteen: Let Us Fly, Mates! Let Us Fly!
Chapter Seventeen: A Sodden Book
Chapter Eighteen: The Great Tree Prepares
Chapter Twenty: The News Is Not Good
Chapter Twenty-Two: Coo-Coo-Coo-Roo
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Last Battle