Book Review
Battle of Britain
Author: Chris Priestley 
This is the story of Harry Woods an R.A.F. Spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. He tells his own story. This book gave me a good insight into what it was like to be a pilot in the front line and often the firing line during the war. It also gives a good description of the time the pilots spent on edge waiting for German air raids.
In the story the air-raid sirens are constantly going off and Harry and the other pilots take off to intercept and shoot down the oncoming planes of the German Air Force. Harry has a number of close shaves most notably when he is in the freezing Channel waters along with a German pilot. He is saved by local fishermen but they don't want to save the German. Harry insists that they save him and eventually they do.
Although this book is based on fact, Harry Woods is a fictional character who was designed to represent pilots in the front line during the Battle of Britain. Despite this the book is written as if it were a factual account.
The book includes an historical note and a short timeline giving all of the main dates and events of the Battle of Britain. There are also some photographs from the Imperial War Museum, London.
Overall, I think this book gives a good account of what a pilot in the Battle of Britain went through. It was easy to read, maybe a bit too easy. I would consider the book suitable for 9 to 12 year olds. I would give it 8 out of 10. I would drop the 2 marks because I found the descriptions a bit simple. I also thought the story was a bit too short.
Michael O'Dwyer, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin.
Age 12