Tales of War Series

"…fast-paced and gripping" CCBC Magazine It is 1913 and Edward Simpson is enthralled by his German uncle, Horst, who designs and builds simple—and extremely dangerous—planes in his barn. Fascinated by flight and dreaming of a life in the air, Edward helps his uncle whenever he can. In return, Horst teaches his nephew the rudiments of flight and, one magical day, lets him take his latest barn-built creation up for a spin. Edward is hooked, he will be a pilot and escape the dull, boring world suffered by those whose feet are stuck to the ground. But it is 1914 and events in far-off Europe are dragging the world into a catastrophe that even a farm boy in Saskatchewan cannot avoid. Edward sails for England where he joins the Royal Flying Corps and is sent over to join the battles in the skies over France. He is soon fighting for his life in aircraft even more uncertain than the ones Horst built, against an enemy who is better trained and who fly better armed and more maneuverable planes than he does. As he struggles to survive and watches his friends shot down one by one, he finds his beliefs tested in ways he could never have imagined. Exhausted and bitter, he fights to simply stay alive as the horrors of the Battle of the Somme unfold beneath him. "Wilson writes eloquently about one boy's love of flight and his dream of flying…[and] Edward's narrative is thoroughly engaging. A fine, old-fashioned-feeling… tale set in the World War I skies." Kirkus Reviews "Eddie's emotional and psychological development moves us…What makes Wings of War especially engaging, though, is Wilson's artful weaving of Eddie's story with the technical details of early flight: airplane construction and handling, and the specialized techniques required for successful aeronautic battle." Resource Links

"Dark Terror is part adventure and part history, with just a touch of romance. It's a fast-moving, gripping take on a little-explored side of the [First World] war effort." CBR In June 1915, young Alex Shorecross is trapped by a cave-in at a copper mine in Newfoundland. Facing possible death for a mere 13 cents an hour, Alec swears that if he survives he will find a different direction in his life. Unfortunately, options are limited and he is swept up in the naive enthusiasm for the possibilities of adventure in the First World War. In an ironic twist, his mining background lands him in a tunnelling company, working deep below the fighting in France. As his comrades push tunnels out beneath the enemy trenches and pack underground rooms full of explosives, it is Alec's job to listen for enemy activity that might bury them all forever under the Flanders' battlefields. "Wilson ably evokes the claustrophobic, dark terror of the underground wand the coming of age of young men amid the battles…A fascinating war tale that will have…readers digging in for a captivating read." Kirkus Review

"…a strong, engaging read." CM Magazine   "A Dangerous Game is a pleasure to read. It's a fast-paced, exciting story with lots of accurate historical information…a great read [and] a refreshing change from zombies, nasty girls and dystopian survivor novels…it showcases ordinary people at their best, bravely working together in terrible times." Historical Novel Society   An enthralling story of a young woman risking her life to free her country. Manon Wouters has an idyllic life in Belgian town of Damme, where she spends her afternoons cycling into beautiful Bruges to study nursing. But as Europe, and the world, erupt into a devastating war, teenaged Manon soon finds herself faced with unbelievable choices: should she run, hide or fight and, if the last, how?   After months nursing British soldiers in the UK and Egypt (where she meets Alec Shorecross, the young tunneller from Dark Terror), Manon is enlisted as a spy and returns to Belgium. As she toils away at the local hospital in Bruges, nursing injured enemy soldiers, no one guesses that she is collecting information and passing it on to the Allies. As 1917 progresses, zeppelins and huge Gotha bombers are devastating British cities and hordes of U-boats are sinking ships carrying vital supplies. Manon's tasks become more complicated and dangerous—can she help destroy a new German super bomber and discover vital intelligence on where the deadly submarines are being sheltered. As she races to fulfill her missions, Manon must confront enemies at every turn, sometimes even within her own family.