9.21am: business as usual on a high street in England. 9.22am: the explosions are heard for miles around, and in the early confusion there is talk of a gas leak, a plane crash, and even terrorism . . . The people of Heathwick had been preparing for Christmas unaware that many would die, and the rest would be transformed for ever. Travel with them, second-by-second, through the hopes, fears, love, worries, gossip, cruelty, kindness and trivia that dominated their final minute before tragedy struck. And in the everyday story of an ordinary street, look for clues to what happened, and why.

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised by the Carnegie Award. The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded by childrens librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. It was recognised in the Teen category by the Dudley Teenage Book Award. It also was recognised by the Catalyst Book Award.

This book has been graded for interest at 12-17 years.

There are 272 pages in this book. This book was published 2014 by Random House Children's Publishers UK .

Eleanor Updale is the author of the popular Mortmorency series. She has won several awards including the Blue Peter Award and been shortlisted for the Carnegie medal and the Smarties Prize. Eleanor is also a member of various children's charities and holds a PhD in History.