Something of a children's publishing event, this is the first new book from Michelle Magorian in ten years. Set in the post-war years, it is the story of Henry, a boy whose life with his step-family is bleak and who misses his father who died a war hero. His life is enlivened by his obsession with the cinema. A strong evocation of the social prejudices, atmosphere and culture of late 1940s Britain, weaving topical themes of discrimination and tolerance into the story of a boy struggling to understand his identity. A special hardback edition is available to independent booksellers only (see below), and 3 backlist titles are also published this month. Ages: 10+.

Henry misses his father who died a war hero. One day Mrs Beaumont lends Henry a camera for his school project. Henry is disgusted that he's been put in a group with Jeffries, the son of a man who went AWOL, and Pip, who was born illegitimate; but he's about to learn that tolerance and friendship are more important than social stigmas.