Toppsta - Childrens Books – Reviews

Robert Westall

Robert Westall

  • 5 stars across 43 books
Robert Westall was born in 1929 on Tyneside, where he grew up during the war. He went to the local Grammar School and then studied Fine Art at Durham University, and Sculpture at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. He worked as an art teacher in Cheshire and for the Samaritans. His first novel for children, The Machine Gunners, published in 1975, was an instant success and was awarded the Carnegie Medal. His books have been translated into ten languages, dramatised for television and he won the Carnegie again in 1982 for The Scarecrows, the Smarties Prize in 1989 for Blitzcat, and the Guardian Award in 1991 for The Kingdom by the Sea. Between 1986 until his death in 1993, he devoted himself to his writing.
4th September 2014

The Promise

A picture book of great beauty and hope about the power we have to transform our world.On a mean street in a mean city, ... MoreThe Promise

(7 reviews) Review
8th September 2016

The Machine Gunners

Chas McGill has the second-best collection of war souvenirs in Garmouth but wants it to be the best. When he stumbles ... MoreThe Machine Gunners

(2 reviews) Review
4th May 2001

The Machine Gunners

'Some bright kid's got a gun and 2000 rounds of live ammo. And that gun's no peashooter. It'll go through a brick wall... MoreThe Machine Gunners

(2 reviews) Review
1st July 2002

The Kingdom by the Sea

Harry's family are running to the shelter when the bomb hits. As the rescue team pull him alone out of the rubble, Harry... MoreThe Kingdom by the Sea

(1 review) Review
6th January 2011

The Call

Sometimes one hero isn't enough-sometimes you need a full dozen. First in a funny, action-packed fantasy series by the N... MoreThe Call

(1 review) Review
1st April 2008

Size Twelve

(0 reviews) Review
16th October 2003

David and the Kittens

David's cat, Furble, is getting fat: she's going to have kittens! in this gentle, beautifully told story, Furble follows... MoreDavid and the Kittens

(0 reviews) Review
7th May 2015

Blitzcat

She made her way down the cliff, and on to the beach. At the edge of the waves, she stopped, shaking her wet paws. She k... MoreBlitzcat

(0 reviews) Review
9th October 2006

The Wind Eye

(0 reviews) Review
Image to show page is loading Show More Books

New Book

Most Popular Book

Recent Reviews

  • The Promise

    The Promise

    by Fwb

    A picture book with a strong message. The story to us was about how envirnoments affect people and their behaviour. Illustrations go from bleak to col...

  • The Machine Gunners

    The Machine Gunners

    I really liked this book. I prefer old books to modern books because I feel like these are more interesting. If you are interested in the Second World...

  • The Machine Gunners

    The Machine Gunners

    This is an absolutely brilliant book. It tells the story of a group of children in wartime Garmouth. The author’s own experiences in this place and ti...