THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS
by Michael Morpurgo
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 043979661X
Ages 7-10
208 pages

Michael had been close to his grandmother all of his life. So when she promises to write him a letter while on her mysterious trip, he believes her. Yet when the letter arrives, even Michael finds surprise at her incredible news. To help explain her shocking announcement, Michael's grandmother, Lily, also includes pages from her girlhood journal.

The journal begins on September 10, 1943 when Lily is 12 years old. She lives on a farm in England with her mother, father, grandfather and beloved cat, Tips. The war is tearing the world apart, yet it hasn't affected Lily personally until her father joins the British Military and ships off to who knows where. Then Lily's lack of involvement quickly changes.

A temporary refugee in her school comes to live on the farm with Lily, and she finds that she kind of likes having a little brother. And then Lily meets some soldiers from America and becomes friends with a fellow named Adie. But all too soon the tragedies of war become clear when her teacher's husband is killed in action. And then the war really hits home when Lily's town is forced to evacuate so that the soldiers can practice sea-side landings on the beach. When the day arrives for Lily's family to move down the road to her uncle's farm, Tips disappears!

Lily is devastated. She can't leave behind her best friend, but she must. She swears though that nothing will stop her from looking for her cat --- not even the danger signs, the barbed wire fencing, the soldiers' dogs, or the exploding bombs. She will find Tips no matter what.

THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS is indeed amazing. Mostly written in journal formation, readers get a firsthand and very personal look at World War II from a 12-year-old's point of view. Lily's tears and fears and joys are expertly deployed by the author, Michael Morpurgo. He also adds a bit of humor and adventure, making this story a joy to both genders and any age group.

   --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT and THE BLACK POND.

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