The Exeter Blitz facts for kids
Front cover of first edition
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| Author | David Rees |
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| Cover artist | Laszlo Acs |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's historical novel, war novel |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
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Publication date
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1978 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 116 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0241897599 |
| OCLC | 476503406 |
| LC Class | PZ7.R25468 Ex |
The Exeter Blitz is an exciting historical novel for young readers. It was written by David Rees and came out in 1978. The story takes place in the city of Exeter in southwestern England. A big part of the book happens at Exeter Cathedral. It tells about a huge air raid (bombing from the sky) that happened in May 1942. The book shows how this event changed the lives of the Lockwood family. David Rees won the famous Carnegie Medal for this book. This award is given to the best children's book by a British writer each year. The book was first published in the US in 1980.
Contents
The Story of The Exeter Blitz
The story begins in Colin Lockwood's school. It is the night after an air raid. Colin falls asleep during a history lesson. His teacher, Mr. Kitchen, makes a sarcastic comment.
When Colin gets home, he annoys his mom and older sister, Mary. So, he decides to visit his dad. His father is working at Exeter Cathedral.
A Visit to the Cathedral
At the cathedral, Colin writes down an old carving. An ancestor of his made it. This is for his history homework. Mr. Lockwood needs to check the fire safety. Colin climbs to the top of the south tower. It is his first time up there. He is amazed by the wide view of the city. He accidentally leaves his jacket there. His homework is in the pocket.
When Colin returns home, his mom asks for his help. She needs him to hand out drinks and snacks. This is for a fashion show at Nimrod's. Colin actually enjoys helping out. He is surprised when Mr. Kitchen and his wife arrive. Colin gets the giggles. He listens to Mrs. Wimbleball describe the new clothes. His mom sends him out. He decides to get his jacket from the cathedral tower. He climbs back to the roof.
The Air Raid Begins
Suddenly, the air raid sirens start. The planes arrive very quickly. Colin sees the bombs falling. At first, he feels thrilled and fascinated. Then, he realizes he is in danger. During a quiet moment, he runs down the steps. He heads for an air raid shelter. On the way, he barely escapes machine-gun fire.
Mr. Lockwood and his younger daughter, June, are at home. They hide under the stairs. A bomb hits their house. Half of it is destroyed. When the "all-clear" signal sounds, they crawl out. They make their way through the rubble to the street.
At Nimrod's, some people get stuck in the elevator. The power station is hit. Then, a bomb hits the shop. Mrs. Lockwood is hurt. Mrs. Wimbleball cannot move. The Kitchens are killed right away.
Mary and her boyfriend, Lars, are at the cinema. They leave quickly for the nearest shelter. Mary is a nurse. She really wants to go to the hospital. But Lars makes her wait until the "all-clear." Later at the hospital, Mary sees her mom. Her mother is brought in unconscious.
After the Bombing
Colin meets his schoolmate, Terry, at the shelter. Terry is from London. They used to argue a lot. But the shared experience brings them closer. Terry's family fish shop is destroyed. Colin invites Terry to sleep at his house. Colin does not know his own house was also bombed. Instead, they camp out in the fields.
The next day, the city center is badly damaged. But the cathedral is mostly safe. This helps people feel better. Colin and Terry decide to use the fish from Terry's shop. It is no longer frozen. They cook free food for their neighbors. They cook all day long. People praise them for their efforts. This is a new start for Colin. He becomes more independent and grown-up.
The other family members do not do as well. They find a new home. Mr. Lockwood is very busy at work. Mrs. Lockwood gets better, but misses her old home. Mary feels sad. She is haunted by the injuries she saw. June misses all her favorite books and toys.
Main Characters
- Colin Lockwood: A 14-year-old schoolboy from Devon. He learns to be more independent during the war.
- June Lockwood: Colin's younger sister. She is still in junior school.
- Mary Lockwood: Colin's older sister. She is a student nurse.
- Brenda Lockwood: The mother of Colin, June, and Mary. She works at a fancy dress shop called Nimrod's.
- Ron Lockwood: The father of the Lockwood children. He works at the cathedral.
- Terry Wootton: Colin's classmate. He is one of the children sent away from London for safety.
- Mrs. Wootton: Terry's mother. She runs a fish shop in Exeter. Her shop in London was bombed.
- Mr. Kitchen: A history teacher. He came out of retirement to teach during the war.
- Lars: Mary's boyfriend. He is a ballet dancer who has just joined the army.
Book References
The book mentions other famous children's authors. These include Enid Blyton and Arthur Ransome. Their books were lost in the air raid.
