Caught in the Irish Civil War, Katie has divided loyalties: her shell-shocked father fought in the First World War and wants peace, but others still want to fight for a united Ireland.
Category: Children's fiction, Historical Fiction
When Katie's father returns from the Great War, he is shell-shocked, his personality destroyed. Now, four years later he has more or less recovered, but another war is breaking out, this time at home in Ireland. The Treaty with the British has been signed by Michael Collins, but many disagree with it and want to continue the war for full independence. The country is on the brink of civil war. There are divided loyalties in Kate's family, and she has to choose whom she will support. Finally, she and the Welsh boy Dafydd make a bold plan to destroy an arms cache…
His first book, Katie's War, is about the civil war period in Ireland; it was published in 1997. Katie's War has recently won the Peter Pan Award 2000 -- an award created by IBBY Sweden for a children's book, translated into Swedish, which gives information on another culture.
Wings Over Delft, the first book in the Louise trilogy, won the Bisto Book of the Year overall award in 2004.
'Very, very impressive indeed'
'Well written and entertaining; it also gives an authentic historical perspective on the time'
'the writing is resonant and strong ... the gripping climax is compelling reading'
'A dramatic book, full of history and action ... 10 out of 10.'
Aubrey describes where the ideas for the characters in Katie's War came from, and how they grew and developed into real people.
