Kate Cunningham

Mary lives in her locked white room - alone apart from the testers who take samples from her.Vander has lived through the Red Plague and seen the choices families had to make to survive.When they meet their actions will trigger events that spiral out of their control and change countless lives.They must decide what price to put on freedom.In this Young Adult dystopian story the characters are forced to fight for survival in a world where the meagre resources are controlled by a handful of faceless organisations. Orphans or abandoned children as given up to the Child Bank and enter a lifetime of indentured service to one of these companies. When Vander finds Mary trapped in the Facility, he chooses freedom over imprisonment, and follows his emotions rather than the rules. However, there is a reason why no one can enter Mary's room without a biohazard suit and when Vander releases her he also releases a disease that has already threatened to wipe out the human population once before.

During the First World War carrier pigeons were essential for communicating at a time when telephones were unreliable. This is the tale of one pigeon and his essential role in saving lives. Vlad the flea narrates the story of his adventures with Crisp VC the carrier pigeon. The action is set on 25th March 1918 as they return from occupied Belgium with a secret message for the allies. Vlad explains how Crisp VC received his name from the Skipper of an armed smack in the North Sea, who died after engaging a German u-boat. During their flight to Britain Vlad and Crisp VC become caught up in a dog fight with the Red Baron, Fly over Second Lietenant Walter Tull in his trench, and land in a field hospital where Dr Phoebe Chapple tends to Crisp's injury. Finally Vlad and Crisp VC fly over the Indian Cavalry and cross the channel back to Britain to deliver their message.This account of their adventure is based on historically accurate information with a map, glossary and fact file included to explain the context. As a fully illustrated picture book the story is accessible to primary school children, but also celebrates a range of important people and emphasises the diversity of nationalities embroiled in the conflict. As a text it gives young children the opportunity to discuss who is remembered, how they are commemorated and if we could do more to celebrate the achievements of heroes who broke boundaries in the course of difficult and dangerous times.