I used this book with my Year 5 Class for two weeks of English during our WW2 Topic. It had us all hooked from the first time we met Chas, the main character. Chas is a likeable, rough, loyal and patriotic boy who lives in the fictional Coastal town, Garmouth. He loves WW2 souveniers and has the second best collection in Garmouth. His arch enemy, Boddser Brown, who has the best collection, features in the book and his character portrayal united the class together in their hatred for him and support for Chas.Chas and his friends form a close knit gang when they find a Machine Gun and make a den, Fortress Caparetto. The comaraderie is envied by all and the pupils all want to be in Chas' gang with Nicky, Cem and Audrey. One of my favourite parts is when the gang are in the Fortress, childlike but also acting like they are in an army barracks. From Westall's description, you can almost feel the warmth and cosiness of the den along with the excitement and anticipation of being young, feeling like you can take on the world.The story unfolds and the ending has a twist which every reader will enjoy. The story is a great potrait of the excitement and horrors of the war. Underlying the main theme, is the relationship of the children and their efforts to protect their town from the German Invasion.This book is suitable for Year 5 and upwards. It is brilliant for parents to enjoy with their children, especially if they are learning about WW2. I hope you enjoy it as much as my class and I did! I can't wait to use it again next year!