Phil Earl ALWAYS blows me away with his atmospheric writing. His unique way with words makes his books stand out from the crowd. This one is no different, an engaging story that is well written and appealing to all.

Phil Earle's writing just gets better and better! I have read so much of what he has written and have enjoyed them all - but 'The Dawn of Earl' surpasses them all!! This will be an award winner.

It is a sort of prequel to 'When the Sky Falls' but Adonis, the silverback gorilla, is the only cross-over character, and he can barely be called a character in this book - he acts as a motivator for the main story.

This is a story of rescues, bravery and determination. Nettie and Toff, two unlikely characters, are pitched together due to circumstances beyond their control and find themselves needing to go on a quest across London to deliver the baby gorilla to a safe house. They are hotly pursued by Goliath Deeds and his henchmen who believe there is an easy buck to be earned if they are in possession of the baby gorilla.

Both children have had tragedy in their lives, but prior to meeting have been raised in very different circumstances. Learning to trust each other and follow their instincts is a lesson hard won at times.

The setting of 1940's London is gritty and felt like a character in its own right. - there were times when I felt I was in London with them, so clearly was it described. Their escapade relies greatly on a hostile city and the children's varying knowledge of the way it operates. The characters are flawed and their development through the novel is truly compelling. This is a book of adventure, with thrilling twists and captivating characters - I could not put it down!!

I have to admit that I have read all of Phil Earle's recent books except for When the Sky Falls, so I had no prior connection to this book. However, it gripped me from the very first page. Phil Earle smacks the reader between the eyes with his dynamic voice and bold writing. The characters jump off the page and Goliath Deeds is the most vile villain I've read in a long time - my fear for the mum and baby gorilla was heart-thumping. Earle weaves a world, realistic of the time, with its criminal and heartbreaking brutality.
The narrative switches between perspectives. Toff Squabble, with all his character, reminded me very much of Oliver Twist's Artful Dodger and was just as loveable. Nettie, with her grief and moral compass and bravery is a heroine you can both get behind and feel for. The star of the show, however, is the baby gorilla, with his raw vulnerability.
Toff and Nettie meet some great characters along the way. The sewer scenes are suitably grim and the climax doesn't disappoint in terms of tension. An emotional triumph!

Oh my what a book! 44 chapters may seem a lot for a children's book but like all of Phil's book they are short - perfect for bedtime reading if you can put it down - and there are only 171 pages which is also short considering the length of some MG novels.

Read the prologue - the amount of times children tell me they don't read that but you really must!

The story is set in London in 1911.
The story follows Toff, a foundling child, and his "Uncle" Goliath Deeds. Nobody at the Foundling Hospital was sure but Deeds had the other half of Toff's coin necklace and said his mother passed away and she was his sister and he had come to claim the child. Toff likes to dress just so, and wears a top hat with a hole punched in the top.
But the other important person in the story is Nettie Beecroft, a vet's daughter. They lost Nettie's mother and brother during a traumatic early birth.

Toff is not happy. He is following Goliath through the backstreets of the docks. Apparently they are going to get something everyone else will want. Erasmus Gryce opens the door and lets them in...the room stinks. Inside there is a cage, inside the cage is something hairy, smelly and alive - just.
Goliath looks, Toff looks, it moves...but it's a female gorilla not the Silverback he was promised. Goliath is angry, very angry. Toff is scared.

Later Toff watches a man and his daughter. They look well off enough, and the man has a nice watch! Nettie, the girl, runs into the road to pick up a stray cat that has been run over, the man must be a vet.

When Toff returns to the warehouse with Goliath. it's clear they can't sell the Gorilla in this condition. They enter the cage and Toff tries to clean her gently not with the bristle brush Goliath gives him. Goliath get angry as he is too slow, and tries to do it himself - but she rears up and they exit the cage. When she calms she starts doing something odd...Toff knows immediately she's going to have a baby. Goliath is very happy at this news.
Goliath sends Toff to fetch someone, but Toff doesn't collect the man Goliath wants - he fetches the vet he watched earlier.

The vet is worried, a gorilla is not something he's worked on before but all Goliath is interested in is the baby, a boy. His mother dies in childbirth. Nettie and her father are thrown out, her father is injured and Nettie has to get him home.
Nettie returns to attempt to collect the vet's bag they left behind. There is no one at the warehouse so she is safe. But she hears a cry...they've left the baby gorilla.
She scoops him up and runs.

Toff finds her, but he becomes her and the baby's saviour because she can't go home. Her father is injured and the house is being watched already. They must run, Nettie thinks of an alternative place to go. But can they get there and who will help them? Will Toff continue to help or will the wrath of his uncle mean he lets her down? What of her father concussed and alone in his house, not knowing where Nettie is?

Absolutely outstanding! I have yet to read When The Sky Falls (it's on the pile, and I've already told the Head that we need the graphic novel version when it comes out), but I've read and cried over others and this is so good. We have to get it for school.

I have adored everything that I've ever read from Phil Earle and this new release is no different. Just pure brilliance from start to finish and I can't recommend it enough!

Another fantastic read from Phil Earle. I devoured this in 1 sitting.
This book tells the origins of Adonis, the gorilla from When the Sky Falls.
We meet Toff, a street kid working with his despicable uncle Goliath, who has taken ownership of a gorilla. Disappointed to discover she is female, but then surprised to find her in the throes of labour, Toff calls on Nettie and her pa, a vet, to help out.
Nettie can't bear the idea of the baby gorilla being stuck with Goliath and takes her opportunity to run.
Nettie and Toff then lead a dangerous journey across London to get to help.
A great adventure with humour, love, friendship and family, and of course, a baby gorilla in need of a home and a name.
Fantastic book.

An enjoyable prequel to “When the Sky Falls”, which was one of my favourite children’s books of recent times. I think this prequel worked well, and can also be read as a stand-alone or before the original book. It’s about 2 children in London from different backgrounds brought together to try and look after and save a baby gorilla. They’re on the run, pursued by a man who wants the gorilla for profit and they are trying to outrun and outwit him at every turn.

A very cool read for above 8 year olds to middle grade readers.
Toff and Nettie have contrasting carers/adults in charge and upbringings.
Together, they protect a gorilla and overcome many obstacles in 1910s/Edwardian London.
It was funny how the children referred to the gorilla as the ape and warmed up to it.
Nettie and Toff were amazing characters.
i wish this were longer.