Introducing THE WAR LANTERN Book Trailer!

 

THE WAR LANTERN has a new book trailer, I hope you enjoy it!  

THE WAR LANTERN is my newest book and also happens to be my sixteenth, somehow. That's sixteen books in seventeen years of publishing, and I'm incredibly grateful to my publisher at DCB Young Readers for helping get this book into the world. 

My first book, THE GARGOYLE IN MY YARD, was published in 2009 and I'm pleased to say that it's still in print. Here's a book trailer for the LOST GARGOYLE SERIES of three books (my very first book trailer attempt, it's pretty sweet!).

NOTE: I recorded the droning engines of a squadron of WWII Hurricanes which flew over my house last Remembrance Day, which is the background sound in THE WAR LANTERN Book Trailer.

All Posts About THE WAR LANTERN on this blog.

A great KIRKUS REVIEW for The War Lantern!

 

"A powerful reminder, told with immediacy and intimacy, that during wartime, every perspective tells a human story. (Historical fiction. 9-14)" 

-- Kirkus Reviews (August, 2026)

What a wonderful pre-publication review for The War Lantern from Kirkus, thank you! 

The reviewer notes that the book explores war from both sides of conflict. After the bombs fall, we realize that the three frightened teenagers, two in England and one in Germany, are all connected. That is one of the themes of the story; the trauma of war is unexpectedly far-reaching and universal.

Here's a little more of this terrific review:

"The story vividly captures the devastating impact of a single bombing, not only on those directly involved but also on the town and the next generation left shell-shocked in its wake. Dowding’s author’s note reveals that her own father survived the real-life bombing of Parnall’s at age 15, adding a personal layer of authenticity to her research."

I hope I captured the essence of my father's WWII bombing story; it's been a challenge and an honour to try and write it. Pre-order a copy from a local bookstore here.

You'll find the full Kirkus Review here.

The author's father, age 15, in 1941.

Starred Review for THE WAR LANTERN in School Library Journal

 

I'm incredibly honoured that THE WAR LANTERN has received a Starred Review in School Library Journal! Thank you to my amazing publisher, DCB and to the SLJ.

More from the SLJ Review: "As the novel progresses, the three storylines gradually intersect and overlap in deeply satisfying ways that may prompt rereads ... a well-rounded and immersive portrait of life during World War II."

THE WAR LANTERN is inspired by a bombing in England in 1941 that my father survived at age 15, while at work at a local aircraft factory, and research took me to England and to museums across Canada. This middle-grade book told over 24-hours is one of the most challenging and rewarding writing projects I've ever tackled; historical fiction for children is extremely demanding (and kudos to all who do it)! Thank you to everyone who has helped me on this 7-year journey, and thank you to my father for sharing his survival story with me one night in 1996.

I'll add more on writing, researching, and creating THE WAR LANTERN in this space soon.

For now you'll find ALL CURRENT POSTS ON THE WAR LANTERN here.

The Lancaster Bomber at Canadian
Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton, ON

Thank you to the Canada Council for the Arts for their generous Research and Creation grant, and to the Ontario Arts Council for their support of this project.

Introducing THE WAR LANTERN, historical fiction for middle grade readers ...

 

The War Lantern is coming October 2026 from my publisher, DCB Young Readers. Consider this amazing cover revealed!

Here's more about the book: 

"On February 27, 1941, bombs fall, families vanish, and the war lantern burns …

In England, fifteen-year-old schoolboy Marcus isn’t supposed to tell anyone about his work at Parnall’s Aircraft Factory, not even his mother, for fear of Hitler’s spies. 

In Germany, fourteen-year-old Gisele’s baby brother is about to be taken away by Nazi officials, who deem him “life not worthy of life.” 

Overhead, Tail End Charlie, an underage Royal Air Force rear gunner, flies for a German steel factory behind a squadron of bombers.

Each lead seemingly separate lives, struggling to survive amid World War II, until the roar of bombs — and the silence in the aftermath — connects them all.

Inspired by her family history, Governor General’s Literary Award–winning author Philippa Dowding delivers a carefully researched and powerfully moving wartime story for young readers about family, connections, and resilience."

The author's father,
England, 1941

PRE-ORDER! I'm delighted to also announce that Indigo, the national bookseller, has just selected The War Lantern as a Most Anticipated Book for Fall 2026 in the children's category! (You can pre-order your copy now, and pre-orders =  book 💕!)

I'm just delighted to have this book ready for the world; it's been a 7-year project but really a lifetime in the making. My thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts for their generous Research and Creation grant, as well the Ontario Arts Council for their support. Most of all, thanks to my wonderful publisher for making it happen and to my father for sharing his wartime survival story. 

In the coming months, I'll be posting about the journey of writing historical fiction for children, some of the most challenging writing I've ever done. I'm grateful for all the help I've had along the way.