The Grubby Feather Gang is a short book for KS2 readers. At just 100 pages, it also makes a great choice for teachers looking for a guided reading or class reading book which can be completed in half a term. It is 1916, and George’s father refuses to go and fight in the trenches of World War 1. He is branded a coward, and George does not know what to think. Worse still, the school bully hangs George upside-down from the hayloft, and the next day, George gets the cane! So, with a bit of help from Emma, a curious newcomer to the village, he decides to take daring and drastic revenge on both the bully and his teacher. But he could never have predicted what happens next… The Grubby Feather Gang is the story of four friends helping each other cope with their parents’ problems. (the late) Jonny Zucker - children’s author: “A well plotted novel about children living through tough times. A very entertaining read.” Karen Langtree - children’s author: “Just finished reading this. Another great book Antony. Love your characters. Love the issues you chose to explore. Love how it flows. Will there be another?” Achuka: “If subsequent titles are as good as this, ACHUKA will be happy to help promote them.” Read Achuka’s review - click here! TheBookbag.co.uk: “The Grubby Feather Gang is a book to read and discuss - and the characters will stay with you for a long time after you've turned the final page.” Read thebookbag.co.uk’s full review - click here! The School Librarian: “There is much to think about in this strong narrative. In just one hundred pages of crisp prose and sharp observations we are invited to consider war and pacifism, cowardice and bravery, family tensions, conscription, bullying and friendship. That may sound rather heavy, but this story is warm, uplifting, and ultimately positive.” Read the full review (WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS!) - Click here! Red City Review: “Antony Wootten does a nice job of getting the reader to see that each character, including the children’s abrasive teacher, behave in certain ways that one simply cannot understand without digging deeper into the person’s circumstances. The challenges that adults and children face due to war, bullying, and crime are laid out for further discussion if one is willing to take the time to ponder what these things really mean to the lives of the characters and how he or she might have reacted in said situation. A nice read to start a conversation on oftentimes hushed topics, The Grubby Feather Gang is a great book to read together with one’s older elementary to middle and high school age children.” Literary Titan Review: Rating: 5/5 The story follows George, a boy caught in the middle of a village torn up by war and judgment. He deals with bullying, fear, and the shame that others try to pin on his family because his father refuses to fight. As he meets Emma and Stan, the three of them slip into this oddly sweet little friendship that grows out of chaos. They stumble into adventures, trouble, and eventually form the Grubby Feather Gang, a tiny group held together by loyalty and a grubby feather that somehow becomes a symbol of hope instead of cowardice. Reading it felt like sitting beside these kids as their lives spun between fear and laughter. I found myself rooting for George right away. His thoughts felt real in this quiet, aching way. Sometimes I wanted to shake him, other times I just wanted to hug the kid. The writing surprised me. It has this softness running through all the messy bits. Even the sad scenes didn’t feel heavy for long because there was always some little spark of warmth or humor waiting around the corner. And Emma cracked me up constantly. She felt like the friend who shows up loud and strange and instantly makes everything better. What I liked most were the ideas behind the story. It’s a book about courage that doesn’t sound preachy. It tackles judgment and fear and the pressure to fit in. But it does it through the eyes of children who are trying to make sense of a world that doesn’t make sense at all. Some moments hit harder than I expected. Other scenes felt gentle and simple in a way that made me smile without thinking about it. I liked that the book didn’t pretend everything gets fixed, only that sticking together makes the hard stuff feel less impossible. I’d recommend this book to kids who enjoy stories with heart and a bit of grit, and to adults who like children’s books that don’t talk down to anyone. It’s great for readers who want friendship, trouble, and a little hope woven into history.

£6 paperback £2.50 Kindle

The Grubby Feather Gang

The Grubby Feather Gang