Not all the soldiers who survived the first World War returned to their families as the same men who left. Boyne's new novel centres on Alfie, a young Londoner, who plans a special mission to locate his father and bring him home. He is a wonderfully plucky hero, wise beyond his years, but with a beguiling naivety. Boyne's familiar plain-speaking style has a touch of youthful wonder, similar to his bestseller The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, and the story contains all the elements we expect in a tale set at the beginning of the 20th century, with some reminders that not everything has changed in the intervening years. Now it is easy to forget that shell shock was an unknown condition at the time; the medical professions were learning how to diagnose and treat it and families were learning that surviving the war was not a guarantee of a return to their former lives or relationships. While Alfie might appear to appeal more to young readers, his determination and love for his father make this touching tale equally enjoyable for adults.
