Angel of Grasmere

Tarn Forthergill is eleven and in mourning for the supposed death of her beloved older brother, Joss, at Dunkirk. The year is 1940.

In this deeply felt novel, it transpires that Joss did not die but deserted from the army following his experience at Dunkirk and he now has PTSD. He has been performing acts of kindness in secret and has been dubbed by his local community in the Lake District, as the angel of Grasmere.

How will his community react when they discover that someone they had lorded is actually a deserter? And how will Tarn react to the apparent resurrection of her brother?

For a very short novel, published by Barrington Stoke, this book is packed with some dark and very adult themes. Palmer handles them with great sensitivity and compassion. This book could be a comfort to anyone who has someone close who is dealing with PTSD.