I was asked by NetGalley to review this children's book, which I did over Twixmas.

A really interesting story - told from Stanley and Martha perspective.

It is the aftermath of World War 1, the village has lost so many boys and men in the trenches, whilst those who came back are damaged.

1918- a terrible time with men not returning, women struggling, and then to cap it off - the Spanish flu which infected around one-third of the global population and causing an estimated 50 to 100 million deaths. What did not help was men returning from the front had been subjected to terrible conditions, people at home could not afford medical attention ( years before the NHS would be born). The flu essentially had a high mortality rate for young people.

Stanley and Martha social standing is poles apart but the flu brings them together - Martha from a well to do background and Stanley from the village. Martha's Grandfather was concerned for the church stain glass windows and if the Germans would bomb the church, so he did the panes, he is dead and the village males who helped to take the panes down and hide these are lying on the western front. So no one knows where they are.

Stanley is convinced that the stain glass will save his mother - who has the deadly flu and save the village. Then Stanley comes down with the flu also.

The quest is on for Martha to try to locate the panes and bring the village together.

Martha learns valuable lessons, but will she find the stain glass that the village so badly needs.

A really well written story that keeps the reader guessing, showing just how wrong people can be with social standing and prejudices.

Thank you NetGalley and Firefly Press for letting me read before publication. 

Recommended read and due for publication February 5 2026.