On Wings To The Stars
What a stunning title for a book!

This story by Kate Poels
Reminded me a little of
The Shark Caller

It is a beautiful story
Of modern family life

A young girl with busy parents
Spends much of her time with
Ganny, her Great-Gran
We meet Eliza as her time
At primary school ends
She is juggling with big emotions
Around friendships
Moving school and
Growing up

This has all the elements
Of a coming of age tale
Interweaved with fascinating
Facts about life on the island of Malta
During the Second World War

Eliza’s great-grandmother
Gives her a journal
Full of stories about
Malta in WW2
Stories she says were told to her
Recently by her brother John
John, who died in 1912

This is such a clever blend of
Contemporary and historical fiction
I love Uncle John’s journal
And learned a lot about Fortress Malta
The island awarded the
George Cross Medal
The most bombed place on Earth
In 1941 and 1942
John’s home during the war

I loved Jellicoe and how Kate Poels
Used him to shine a light on
Prejudice in the armed forces
After the colour ban was lifted
Just before the war

On Wings To The Stars
Is fiction based on fact
And is a fitting tribute
To the people of Malta
And all those who
Lost their lives defending her

This is also a story to show
Young readers struggling
With anxiety and changes
In their lives
That they are not alone

It is also, I think
A wonderful reminder of
The strength and courage
Of those left behind after the war
Like Ganny

I loved Eliza and Ganny
I loved their Char and Chat
I also loved Eliza’s friendship
With Jonno

The supernatural elements
Reminded me of SA Jucke’s
The Night Animals
And something that she wrote
In her author’s note

“Learn to recognise ghosts when they come
Know that hauntings happen for a reason
They are memories, thoughts, feelings
They can help us
And remind us to be brave
They can lead us to the help that we need”

A brilliant and beautiful book
From Kate Poels
Do find a copy and read it if you can x

Thank you Kate
For sharing your dear Granny
And her beloved brother, John
I am so very glad to have met them
And heard their story x