St Endas is no ordinary school, and Padraic Pearse is no ordinary headmaster.

His pupils are inspired by his vision of freedom and an Irish Republic, and John Joe and his friend Roger see the Easter Rising as their chance to fight for Irelands freedom. But the two boys are horrified to learn that they are too young to take part.

They disobey orders to stay away from the city centre and quickly become caught up in the dramatic events of the Rebellion. Called to be brave and resourceful beyond their years, they witness events that change their lives forever.

Another dramatic blend of history and fiction from the inimitable Morgan Llywelyn.

Review

A readable, exciting history that introduces the young reader to historic events and those who made them.

Books Ireland Books Ireland

An informative and thought provoking read, bringing 1916 alive for a new generation of children.

The Irish Independent Irish Independent

A compelling fictional drama.

Evening Echo Evening Echo

About the Author

Historian and novelist Morgan Llywelyn was born in New York City, but after the death of her husband and parents in 1985 returned to Ireland to take up citizenship in the land of her grandparents and make her permanent home there.

After making the shortlist for the United States Olympic Team in Dressage in 1975, but not making the team itself, she turned to writing historical novels exploring her Celtic roots. The most successful of these wasLion of Ireland The Legend of Brian Boru, which was published in 1980 and has sold into the millions of copies.

She received the Novel of the Year Award from the National League of American Penwomen for her novelThe Horse Goddessas well as the Woman of the Year Award from the Irish-American Heritage Committee forBard: The Odyssey of the Irish. The latter award was presented to her by Ed Koch, then-mayor of New York City.

Morgan is also the author ofA Pocket History of Irish Rebelsfor theOBrien Pocket BooksSeries.

In 1990 Morgan Llywelyn turned to writing for the young reader, with the publication ofBrian Boru, Emperor of the Irish, a biography in the novelistic style, by The OBrien Press, Dublin. For this book she won an Irish Childrens Book Trust Bisto Award in 1991. Her second book for the young reader isStrongbow, The Story of Richard and Aoife (The OBrien Press) 1992, for which she won a Bisto Award in the Historical Fiction category, 1993 and the Reading Association of Ireland Award, 1993. Her third novel for young readers, entitledStar Dancer, (The OBrien Press) was drawn from her experience of the world of showjumping and dressage. She has also writtenThe Vikings in Ireland, an exploration of what actually happened when the Norsemen landed in Ireland.

Morgans latest book for children isPirate Queen, the story of Grace OMalley, told partly through letters from Granuaile to her beloved son. It is a thrilling tale of adventure that brings this unorthodox and inspiring historical figure to life.

• Publisher : OBrien Press Ltd (1 Feb. 2006)
• Language : English
• Paperback : 224 pages
• ISBN-10 : 0862785790
• ISBN-13 : 978-0862785796
• Reading age : 10 18 years
• Dimensions : 12.7 x 1.52 x 19.3 cm