It's time to choose: friendship, family or loyalty to the cause.

When Emer Davey saves her neighbour Jack Madigan from drowning, it seems that they will be friends forever. But eight months later, they find themselves on opposite sides in a life-or-death struggle, as Dublin is torn apart by the Easter Rising.

Emer's father is an officer in the Irish Volunteers who believes that armed rebellion is the only way to gain independence from Britain. His daughter has inherited his passion and is determined to help the rebels in any way she can.

Jack's dad is a sergeant in the Dublin Metropolitan Police. They share a deep respect for the law and are sure that Home Rule can be achieved through peaceful politics and helping with the war effort.

These two young friends find their loyalties challenged as the terrifying reality of war sets in - and the Rising hits closer to home than either could have imagined.

'Beautiful writing' Sunday Independent on Stormclouds

This book has been graded for interest at 10+ years.

There are 240 pages in this book. This book was published 2015 by O'Brien Press Ltd .

Brian Gallagher was born in Dublin. He is a full-time writer whose plays and short stories have been produced in Ireland, Britain and Canada. He has worked extensively in radio and television, writing many dramas and documentaries.