Shoes for Anthony

Eleven-year-old Anthony, better known as Ant, is living in South Wales, far removed from the front lines of World War II. Money is scarce in this coal-mining town, and the boy's only shoes are a pair of oversize Wellingtons. As the villagers eagerly await the rumored arrival of U.S. troops, a plane carrying German soldiers crashes into the side of the mountain upon which the town sits. Ant and his friends discover that an escaped Polish prisoner of war has survived the accident, and they bring him back to Ant's home. The book reads like a film script, with action and dramatic plot twists—appropriate, considering Kennedy's acting background. The writing is simple, and the sprinkling of Welsh words throughout give it a realistic feel. The author balances humor and intrigue in this perceptive tale of a boy's maturation. While the novel is marketed for adults, even young teens will appreciate it.