Tom Palmer, master of historical fiction for children, is back with another stunning story of real people facing the challenge and terror of war. If the Invader Comes takes readers to 1940s Cornwall. The threat of Nazi invasion looms over Britain as survivors return from the defeat at Dunkirk. Everyone is on high alert and doing what they can to keep the nation safe. River patrols to spot German E-boats and enemy planes overhead become a normal part of life as German invaders come ever closer.
Bobble, Cadan and new friend Cilla bond over their parents’ unusual roles in the war effort. Working as top secret agents, they often disappear on unexplained missions. In a time when those who help are considered heroes and those who don’t are, at best, looked down on and, at worst, considered the enemy, gossip spreads about what Bobble’s mum & Cadan and Cilla’s dads are actually doing. Once the children discover the truth, they support their parents by taking their place on patrols and represent their families on the home front.
Under the umbrella of war, each family has their own personal issues. Bobble’s father suffers with shellshock from the First World War. He needs to be cared for and shielded from news of the war. With her mother often away, Bobble must be extra grown-up and responsble to reassure him and help him with his job as a gardener. Cadan, the son of a fisherman, must look after ‘Iris’, his boat, and fill his father’s place on nervewracking river patrols. Cilla wants to be a fighter pilot which is unheard of for girls, but her determination and family story give her the best chance of success.
If the Invader Comes is full of real, raw emotion. Containing scenes of death and destruction, it brings a realism to the curiosity of what happened when Britain was at war. Tom Palmer balances the excitement children felt about bomb sites and enemy planes with the terrifying reality of death and threat to their homes. Bobble, Cadan and Cilla find themselves in perilous situations where they must summon all their courage, lean into the deception of covering for their parents and protect their home. They can’t really believe what’s happening in their little seaside town but war is coming to Cornwall and they need to do whatever they can to stop it.
Barrington Stoke has an incredible capability for sharing important stories in an accessible format. With dyslexia-friendly font, spacing and page tint, a greater number of children & teens can read these books. The manageable length and carefully chosen vocabulary encourages success and builds a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
If you like this, try these:
Click on the covers below to find out more or purchase online:
Bookshop.org:
Amazon:
Books by Kate Heap:
| Primary English In Action by Kate Heap will be published in August 2026. Preorder it now! |
Disclosure: If you buy books using the links above, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org whose fees support independent bookshops. As an Amazon Associate, Scope for Imagination earns from qualifying purchases.
Scope for Imagination 