The Dolphin Crossing

Story

Set in 1940 at the height of World War Two, The Dolphin Crossing is a gripping wartime adventure story. It follows two boys, John, a public school boy, and Pat, an evacuee, as they make a daring plan to sail a boat to Dunkirk to help the British soldiers.

Why we chose it

A compelling historical adventure set at a significant moment in the second world war and told from the point of view of young people who took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk.

Where it came from

This book was Jill Paton Walsh’s fiction debut. She wanted to write a serious book for young readers to open their eyes to their parents’ experiences during the war, showing that real heroic actions are painful and costly. Above all, she wanted to show that there were actually schoolboys who helped the war effort, highlighting real risks and the consequence of them.

Where it went next

The book was well received by young readers, and more than 50 years on is still recalled as a wonderful story that is both uplifting and melancholy.

Associated stories

Jill Paton Walsh has written other novels, both for adults and children. Her best known children’s books include Fireweed, which won the Chicago Herald Tribune Book World prize, and Gaffer Samson’s Luck which was awarded the Smarties Prize Grand Prix.