It's lovely to read some good old fashioned adventure. Set during WWII in the countryside, two children - an evacuee and a farmer's boy stumble upon an injured German soldier. Against a background of loss and anger there's the constant theme of nature and the Cuckoo's journey. A good classroom read and historical adventure for children who like their stories sprinkled with friendship and peril.

CUCKOO SUMMER is a charming wartime novel about friendship, compassion and secrets.

This book is well-written and vividly described. The Lake District is untainted by WWII, with only the evacuees and drafted soldiers any indication there is a war going on, which is a refreshing take of the wartime novel – so many historical stories often thrust you right into the action. There's also the titular cuckoo, a gentle reminder of time passing through the countryside and a nice metaphor for the story arc.

Unfortunately, I found Sally's character to be utterly insufferable. I only started to vaguely feel interested in her when her secrets came to light, and even then she was frustrating. I don't think she's a bad character, per se, but she definitely didn't appeal to me. I also found there to be so many side characters that I couldn't keep straight, like the aunts, though the main characters were fun. Mr Scarcross, Sally's caretaker, was an utterly terrifying villain.

Overall, a sweet novel.

Such a great book. The setting ,both for the era and the geographical locations were beautifully described. The relationship between Tommy, Sally and the Aunties was a delight. The only slight (and personally specific to me) problem was Sally's dialect. I am from Sally's neck of the woods and I felt that the dialect was too strong and a bit forced. Even my Grandfather who was a miner during the war did not even have such a strong use of these Geordie terms. As I said though, that's just me. Loved the book.

Cuckoo Summer is a lovely children's adventure story set in the Lake District during summer 1940. The novel is centred around the friendship of two children living on neighbouring farms: Tommy, whose father is solider who is missing in action, and Sally, an evacuee from Tyneside. When they discover a wounded German airman they decide to hide him to keep him safe from Mr Scarcross, the vengeful and embittered farmer with whom Sally lives. However, they soon find that they are in danger too, and questions are being asked about Sally's past.

Apart from the gripping plot, one of the best things about this book is its sense of time and place - it makes a real effort to capture the language, traditions and rhythms of a lakeside farm during the Second World War. Tulloch's use of the dialects spoken by Tommy and Sally is fascinating (particularly the numbers used for counting sheep) and the novel is full of beautiful descriptions of nature, including the eponymous cuckoo. This all adds to the rich haze of nostalgia one associates with the best children's fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review!

I was drawn to Cuckoo Summer because the title and cover reminded me of books I read as a child - nostalgia is a powerful force!

Set in a Lake District farming community in 1940, the story follows the adventure of two children, local boy Tommy - who tells the story - and Tyneside evacuee, Sally. (The latter is a bit of a mystery, as she never talks about her home or family.) When the two friends find an injured German airman in the woods, they face a dilemma about what to do next...

The characters are a delight, especially the determined and resilient, if headstrong, Sally, whose Geordie accent is lovingly rendered, and the Lake District setting is vividly portrayed. The quiet farming community may seem almost untouched by war compared to the cities, but that's clearly not the case, as Tommy awaits news of his missing father. Tommy's Auntie Annie is also a great character. And there's a thoroughly dislikable antagonist in the shape of the unpleasant Mr Scarcross.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

What a heart warming story! Of friendship and strength, adversity and courage. I loved the plot from the get go, and this book made for very easy and entertaining reading.

The authors easy writing style effortlessly eases you into the times. Thrust into the drama of the Second World War, you’re thrown into an adventure with Tommy and Sally, who discover an injured German airmen and conspire to keep him safe from those who would shoot him on sight.

I loved the setting of this book too, in the green countryside of the Lake District, farming for victory and doing what they could for the war effort. I speedily devoured the pages and it flew by in no time. A really enjoyable book!