Most Popular Books by Paul Dowswell

A chilling and thought-provoking thriller about a Polish orphan's subversion of Nazi ideals

A meticulously researched epic naval adventure set in the 1800s and following the life of thirteen-year-old Sam Witchall, press-ganged into a brutal and dangerous life as powder monkey on one of His Majesty's Royal Naval ships

Presents a number of illustrated photographs and interesting facts and figures about military aircraft including early fighters and bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, biplanes and triplanes, World War Two fighters such as the P-51 Mustang and Japanese Zero, and the various types of helicopters designed after the war.

In March 1801, a mere six weeks after Sam Witchall's ship wrecked off the Cornish coast, his hopes for getting home are dashed when he is framed for theft and sent to Australia for punishment. The fifteen-thousand mile, eight-month journey is a hard and horrible one, and when he and his good friend Richard finally arrive, they find themselves fighting for their lives in the Australian bush. This epic sequel to Powder Monkey is every bit as exciting and action packed as its predecessor. "Adventure fans will not be disappointed with the daring rescues, shark attacks, espionage, and heated battles that fill the pages of this historically accurate and vastly entertaining sequel." -School Library Journal

A gripping, fantastical adventure set against the enthralling backdrop of ancient Bohemia

It is July 1945, Hitler's Third Reich has fallen, and Berlin is in ruins. Living on the edge of survival in the cellar of an abandoned hospital, Otto and his ragtag gang of kids have banded together in the desperate, bombed-out city. The war may be over, but danger lurks in the shadows of the wreckage as Otto and his friends find themselves caught between invading armies, ruthless rival gangs and a strange Nazi war criminal who stalks them ... A climactic story of truth, friendship and survival against the odds, Wolf Children will thrill readers of Michael Morpurgo and John Boyne.

'War Stories' recounts some of the most heroic, devastating and pivotal moments of World Wars One and Two, providing young readers with an approachable insight into the key military and humanitarian aspects of both conflicts.

Sam Witchall sails into battle at Trafalgar in the dramatic finale of this seafaring trilogy

Thrilling historical adventure set during the English peasants' revolt of 1381, by Paul Dowswell, the author of Ausländer, and Wolf Children. It's 1381 and the king, Richard II, has imposed a new tax on the people. In the village of Aylesford, Tilda and her ploughman father were already struggling to make ends meet. As serfs they have no rights to move freely or earn wages for their work. Tilda is desperate for a better life than the village can offer, so when the villagers begin to rebel she is swept up in the excitement. Tilda and her father travel to London with the others to petition the king, but the peaceful rebellion they hoped for soon ignites into violence, mayhem and treachery. Tilda's fight for a better life is only just beginning... This page-turning adventure sheds new light on a period of history which is covered in the KS3 curriculum, and will have readers gripped from start to finish.

A nail-biting thriller about a boy who escapes East Berlin, but not the reach of the Stasi - a chilling, page-turning junior le Carré

Examines the changes in weapons and tactics that impacted the way war was waged during World War I.

Examining key events of the 20th century, each title in this series outlines the lead-up and aftermath, explores the issues, and introduces leaders and key figures. Titles of useful websites and further reading recommendations are given.

A collection of thrilling adventure stories of the First World War. Ideal for reluctant readers, as well as adults.

ONE IN FIVE NEVER RETURNED. Every boy dreams of flying, but in war that dream can turn into a nightmare. Harry Friedman is the gunner of the Macey May, an American Flying Fortress stationed in East Anglia. The Second World War is raging and the Nazis have swept over Europe. The crews of every Flying Fortress face terrible odds on their bombing missions. To make it through alive, Harry will need luck on his side and courage ... Courage to keep going when he has watched close friends die. Courage to confront a terrible evil. And the courage to make it home from deep behind enemy lines. Nail-biting tension and compelling storytelling combine with Dowswell's meticulous research to deliver a page-turner for fans of John Boyne, Morris Gleitzman and Marcus Zusak.

Sorcerers and spirits have always played a part in the world of human imagination, and this book reveals the facts behind the fantasy.

A nail-biting thriller about a boy who escapes East Berlin, but not the reach of the Stasi - chilling, page-turning junior le Carré

A collection of real-life stories: extreme cold, perilous danger and daring exploration, including several stories of tragedy the mountain's slopes. Includes maps, a glossary of mountaineering words; further resources - including photos, video clips and a virtual climb of Mount Everest - are available via Usborne Quicklinks.

The welcome given to refugees from fascist Europe is part of our fond nostalgia for Britain's role in the Second World War, nestling in our imagination next to images of evacuees clutching teddy bears, and milkmen picking their way through bomb rubble during the Blitz. But there is a darker side to this story. Then, as now, there was great suspicion, resentment and fear towards new arrivals, much of it kindled by the tabloid press. Then, as now, politicians dealt with a reluctance to accommodate refugees by hiding behind bureaucratic hurdles and obfuscation. Many of the 10,000 Kindertransport children who arrived here in the late 1930s have warm memories of the kindness they were shown, but half a million refugees were refused entry and most of them died as a result. And those who were accepted found their troubles far from over. While Britain fearfully awaited invasion in 1940, 30,000 Jews were interned as 'enemy aliens' and some were sent off to the colonies on dangerous and sometimes fatal voyages. Nor were Jews the only refugees clamouring for the thin gruel of public sympathy. Those fleeing fascism and civil war elsewhere in Europe found that whether they were met with kindness or hostility depended on the locals' political affiliations and newspapers of choice. Interweaving personal testimonies with historical sources, Paul Dowswell casts a fresh eye on the wartime era, painting a vivid picture of what life was really like for Britain's refugees.