Spies In The Sky: Inspired by the true lives of the brave pigeons who helped win the war
By (Author) Beverley McWilliams
Pantera Press
Pantera Press
31st October 2023
Australia
Fiction
Paperback
200
Width 129mm, Height 198mm
226g
From the writer of The Reindeer and the Submarine comes a tale of courage and hope, inspired by the true lives of the brave pigeons who helped win the war Royal Blue is a royal racing pigeon of impeccable pedigree. His father was a racing champion, and Blue cant wait to follow in his impressive footsteps. Every morning he wakes up in his comfortable box in the beautiful loft at Sandringham House, eats the very best of seeds, and spends the day training with his friends to be the fastest and strongest pigeon in Britain. But the landscape beneath him as he flies is beginning to change: the lovely gardens are being dug up, ugly vegetables are replacing the beautiful flowers, and large trucks are driving up and down the roads. Until one day the King himself comes to visit the loft, choosing Blue personally for a very special assignment. Blue finds himself on the coast of Englad, far away from his comfortable home, the newest member of the Royal Pigeon Service, a group of pigeons that dont appreciate his refined manners and requests for better food. Racing soon falls away, as Blue takes on new responsibilities, helping with rescues, carrying secrets, and facing dangers he could never have imagined. As he and his new friends face the dark days of war, one thing will become clear: courage and friendship can be found in the unlikeliest of places. For readers of Katrina Nannestad and Bren MacDibble comes an uplifting adventure story about how even the smallest of us can make a big difference.
Beverley McWilliams loves sharing history with young children. In August 2019, she published her debut picture book Born to Fly, which tells the story of South Australian aviator Captain Harry Butler and received a notable commendation from the CBCA. Beverleys writing has also been published online and in magazines, and she is a regular contributor to The School Magazine, Australias longest-running literary publication for children. Beverley is the event coordinator for the Society Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI SA) and a member of the Australian Society Authors. She lives by the beach in beautiful South Australia with her family and menagerie of pets who provide endless inspiration. The Reindeer and the Submarine (2022) is her first middle-grade novel.