Time Bomb

Betrayal by the adults in their lives sparks anger and solidarity in 11-year-old Andy and his three best friends. When the boys discover leftover WWII ordnance in their favorite play site, they make a life-changing decision as a result of these injustices. Set against a crisply realized backdrop of post-war Britain. Nigel Hinton's story will hook readers from page one and ignite discussion about right and wrong, prejudice and consequence, life and death. There was a bang as the door of the den slammed and a moment later Eddie ran out of the bushes and up the hill. My relief turned to panic as he reached the top of the hill and ran straight past us. I turned and ran after him, followed by Bob and Manny. Past the flagstones, out on to the street and down the hill until Eddie finally stopped and leaned against Mr. Barrington's wall. Sweat was glistening on his face and his eyes were wild. Oh God, he panted when he finally got a bit of breath back. What? Bob asked. A click, Eddie said. I was just patting the earth down a bit and there was this click. I don't know if it was the bomb or what, but I thought I'd had it. We're going to have to tell someone, Manny said. The police or something. Bob and I nodded, but that faraway look had come into Eddie's eyes again. Don't be daft, he said mildly. It's ours. We're going to keep it.

"British novelist Hinton's thought-provoking story will envelop readers in its convincing portrait of a boy growing up in post-WWII London. Told from 11-year-old Andy's perspective, the story opens with an attention-grabbing hook: 'I've never told this story to anyone because when I was twelve I swore an oath in blood that I would never tell it. But the friends I swore it with are dead now, so it's time to break that oath and tell the truth.' Andy then relates his adventures with his three friends (Eddie, Manny and Bob) after they find a seemingly inoperative bomb buried at their favorite play site, 'the Bomb Building' (where the Germans bombed a house in 1941), and pledge to keep its existence a secret. At first, the weapon acts as a symbol of their boyhood rage as they fantasize about using it to punish the adults who let them down (a wrenching example is Andy's father, whom the boy caught in a compromising position with his secretary). But later, when Capan older, peculiar and anti-Semitic guy who befriends Andy and Eddieis killed by the bomb's explosion, the boys have more than their urge for revenge on their consciences. Hinton's multilayered and shocking story will spark conversations about prejudice, deception, truth and responsibility. Readers will sympathize with heart-on-his-sleeve Andy as he struggles to do what's right." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"British novelist Hinton's thought-provoking story will envelop readers in its convincing portrait of a boy growing up in post-WWII London. Told from 11-year-old Andy's perspective, the story opens with an attention-grabbing hook: 'I've never told this story to anyone because when I was twelve I swore an oath in blood that I would never tell it. But the friends I swore it with are dead now, so it's time to break that oath and tell the truth.' Andy then relates his adventures with his three friends (Eddie, Manny and Bob) after they find a seemingly inoperative bomb buried at their favorite play site, 'the Bomb Building' (where the Germans bombed a house in 1941), and pledge to keep its existence a secret. At first, the weapon acts as a symbol of their boyhood rage as they fantasize about using it to punish the adults who let them down (a wrenching example is Andy's father, whom the boy caught in a compromising position with his secretary). But later, when Cap — an older, peculiar and anti-Semitic guy who befriends Andy and Eddie — is killed by the bomb's explosion, the boys have more than their urge for revenge on their consciences. Hinton's multilayered and shocking story will spark conversations about prejudice, deception, truth and responsibility. Readers will sympathize with heart-on-his-sleeve Andy as he struggles to do what's right. Ages 10-13." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Although the backdrop of Communist and Fascist protests may cause some confusion, Hinton has created a compelling story about the impact of secrets and the complexities of friendship." School Library Journal

"The strength of this book lies in the well-developed characters and the boys' friendships with each other." Children's Literature

Betrayal by the adults in their lives sparks anger and solidarity in 11-year-old Andy and his three best friends. When the boys discover leftover WWII ordnance in their favorite play site, they make a life-changing decision as a result of these injustices. Set against a crisply realized backdrop of post-war Britian, Nigel Hinton's story will hook readers from page one and ignite discussion about right and wrong, prejudice and consequence, life and death.AwardsThe Outstanding International Books for 2007Project of the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) and the Children's Book Council

Nigel Hinton was born in London in 1941 in the middle of an air-raid. He has written dozens of novels for kids and now lives in East Sussex.