By Sufiya Ahmed (author)
"A fascinating glimpse into wartime India and the early days of the fight for Independence."
Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19
View All Editions (1)
This is another highly readable and engaging slice of historical storytelling from an author who is becoming well known for books which, by revealing little known aspects, can help us all to decolonise our understanding of history. I certainly learnt more about life in India in WW2, as we accompanied 12-year-old Anglo Indian Hassan on his journey from Coventry to Calcutta in 1943.
His parents have decided to send him there to stay with his grandfather after their home was destroyed in the Blitz. We learn about his travel with an Ayah escort and his first encounter with the Whites only injustice in India, which shocked and enraged him.
He has heard his parents talk of Ghandi and the campaign to free India and his white liberal grandfather is certainly not typically representative of the British Raj, having welcomed the marriage of his daughter to an Indian Muslim and has actually lived longer in his beloved India than in England.
On arrival Hassan meets Jaya, also living an equally privileged life as a very rich Bengali, but with grandparents who are firmly in support of the British Raj which had conferred a knighthood on her grandfather. Jaya is rebelling and is a supporter of the Bharot Charo – Leave India movement. She starts to show Hassan the realities of life in India including the results of the appalling manmade Bengali Famine (which in an afterword the author tells us killed over three million).
Yet both children realise that the world faces a more current threat, and that supporting Indian independence does not mean they do not want to do all they can to defeat the Nazis and they set out to help his grandfather’s plot to destroy a Nazi spyship (also based upon a real event).
There are some nail-biting, page turning moments in this dangerous escapade. Jaya is a wonderfully intelligent, resilient and determined character and she helps Hassan come to terms with the loss and grief he has carried with him from Coventry. Although the reader may well have suspected that there is something suspicious about the appearances of his little sister Hanna, Hassan has never acknowledged her death.
The support of Jaya and his grandfather allows him to finally let her go and this is a poignant and hopeful end to the story.
A valuable and relatively short read that packs quite a punch!
Join 12-year-old Anglo-Indian boy Hasan in 1943, after his family's life in Coventry is upturned during the Blitz and his parents send him to live with his grandpa in Calcutta. When he reaches India, Hasan is quickly introduced to a world of inequality, secrets and codebreaking.
Read the full description
After befriending a strong-minded girl named Jaya, the pair soon decide to stand up for what they believe is right: fighting for freedom.An exciting and heartfelt WW2 adventure featuring an engaging, brave and determined preteen, from the brilliant author of the Rosie Raja series.
Follow Hasan as he uncovers more about war, injustice and secret messages.
Perfect for fans of Michael Morpurgo and Emma Carroll, and those looking for diverse historical fiction.
Sufiya Ahmed was born in India and arrived in the UK as a baby. She lived in Bolton, Lancashire, before moving to London where she still lives. Sufiya has worked in advertising and in the House of Commons, but is now a full-time author.
In 2010 Sufiya set up the BIBI Foundation, a non-profit organisation, to arrange visits to the Houses of Parliament for diverse and underprivileged school children.
We've got some great stuff related to this book in our KidsZone. Head over there and check it out now.
Children's Books that Celebrate South Asian Heritage
The LoveReading4Kids Best Children's Books of the Year 2025
the best books for 9-12 year olds · the best books for teenagers
Letty and the Mystery of the Golden Thread
The Chief's Daughter
Asterix: Asterix The Gaul Album 1
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Under Fire and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Under Fire features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Historical Fiction, Recommendations, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Under Fire was written by Sufiya Ahmed and published by Bloomsbury Education an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
Under Fire has 200 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.