Across the Cold Ground: Beyond the Stars

By Oisin McGann

A moving short story from the collection, BEYOND THE STARS, written and illustrated by a great Irish talent in children’s fiction today

When his brother goes missing in action, Charley knows he has a duty to enlist for the army himself. Soon dispatched to the Somme, he and his comrades are far from home and living in fear of a faceless enemy. Cold and wet, letters from their loved ones in Ireland and well-meaning banter with each other are the only things that keep the soldiers going. But just at the moment the troops are given the command to go ‘over the top’ and cross no-man’s-land to face the enemy, Charley realises the precious letter from home that he’s been saving to read could have been about his brother and that maybe he should have read it after all. Terrified, Charley knows that whatever decision he makes at that moment could change his life for ever…

A moving and affecting tale, brought to life by evocative illustrations.

Look out for the other eleven stories – also available as e-shorts!

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Oct 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9780008103415

Oisin McGann

Born in Dublin in 1973, Oisín McGann spent his childhood there and in Drogheda, County Louth. Art college ruined any chance he had of getting a real job, so when he left in 1992 he set himself up as a freelance illustrator. In 1998, he moved to London, and through no fault of his own, he ended up working in advertising as an art director and copywriter. After three and a half years, he began to fear for his immortal soul. He returned to Ireland in the summer of 2002 much as he had left—with no job, no home, and some meager savings. Ever the optimist, he now works once more as an illustrator and mercenary artist by day and escapist writer by night.