Just Henry

Description

From the award-winning author of "Goodnight Mister Tom" comes "Just Henry": a gripping mystery-thriller and an insightful snapshot of time, set in post-war Britain. It's 1949 and life is bleak for Henry. He misses his father who died a war hero, and he escapes from his annoying stepfather and stepsister whenever he can and goes to the cinema - his passion.One day in the cinema queue he meets Mrs Beaumont who also loves films, and lends Henry a camera for his school project. Henry is disgusted that he's been put in a group with Jeffries, the son of a man who went AWOL, and Pip, who was born illegitimate; but he's about to learn that tolerance and friendship are more important than social stigmas.Henry will need his new friends when he processes the film and makes an alarming discovery.Like a bomb waiting to explode, Henry's world is about to unravel.

Reviews

"'The author has a wonderful gift for hanging a richly woven tapestry around an essentially simple frame.' Times Education Supplement."

Author description

Michelle Magorian was born in 1947 in Southsea, Portsmouth, of a Welsh mother and Irish father with an Armenian surname! Michelle spent her toddler years in Singapore and aged 7-9 in Australia. Michelle trained for the theatre at The Rose Bruford College of speech and drama in Kent from 1968 to 1969. It was while there that she started writing regularly. From 1969-1970 she was a mime student in Paris. Since then Michelle has worked in theatre, television and films and has an established reputation as a comedienne, performing in plays and musicals. Michelle also toured with her one woman mime show in Italy and England. Michelle's first novel Goodnight Mister Tom was published in the UK in 1981 and won numerous awards including the Guardian Children's Fiction Award. Michelle's other books include A Little Love Song, A Spoonful of Jam and Cuckoo in the Nest. In July 2006 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Portsmouth University.