This is a fascinating story based on the horrifyingly true events surrounding the desperate evacuation of allied troops from the beach at Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo) in 1940. Bali Rai tells the story from the unusual perspective of a young Indian soldier, Private Fazal Khan, who, somewhat idealistically, abandoned his home in Rawalpindi to join the British forces fighting against Hitler. Throughout the story, Fazal is guided by the voice of his beloved grandfather who fought at the Somme and who has instilled in him a sense of honour, courage and duty. However, as the reality of war dawns, Fazal's commitment to British Imperial Rule is increasingly shaken. He is forced to confront the uncomfortable and terrifying truth that much of the British army views him as 'foreign' and 'inferior' to the 'Tommies' who are fighting to survive Dunkirk and that his life is regarded as no more important to many of them than the mules he has been employed to care for.

As the German threat intensifies, Fazal finally realises that his survival will depend on his own resourcefulness more than anything else and that he needs to choose his moment to fight very carefully. He also comes to recognise and understand that there are some 'unsung heroes' whose respect for human life and dignity is universal and who provide vital support when it is needed most.

Although the book is advertised as being aimed at readers aged 8-12 and handles the horrors of the retreat from Dunkirk with sensitivity, there are elements of the story which make this seem more appropriate for the upper end of this range and even above (KS3 readers). It is shocking too to learn that following the recent release of the film Dunkirk and the criticism of its focus on white soldiers, the presence of Indian soldiers at Dunkirk was denied. In fact, the story of the officer in charge of the Indian Army Corps is a true one (Captain John Ashdown was the father of Lord Paddy Ashdown (former British politician and leader of the Liberal Democrats who died in December, 2018)). Once you know this, the story becomes even more powerful as a story not just of personal survival and the 'unsung' contribution of imperial soldiers, but also as an insight into the development of what we would now describe as 'British values' and the importance of standing up for what is right, whatever the personal cost.