When reading a book about the First World War, one would generally expect it to be set in the midst of battle, describing the horrors of trench warfare which killed millions of men on both sides. Shadow of the Zeppelin, however, stands out in its approach as an 'adventure' novel set on the home front in England, the fighting front in France, and even in the sky with German air raids on London. I found this variety interesting in the way Bernard Ashley writes of the more unusual issues related to the war.

The idea of 'conscientious objectors' i.e. men who refused to fight, is particularly pertinent because of the point of view of Freddie, a young boy bullied at school because his brother, Will, has not joined the army yet on the grounds that it is not England's war to fight. Freddie himself is an instantly likeable character with a very understandable reaction to events, and allows the reader to think about the effect of the First World War on civilians. Similarly, Ernst, a zeppelin crew member, is also an easy character to empathise with in his reluctance to bomb innocent Londoners. This reminds the reader of how there were people on both sides who simply did their designated job to try to bring safety to their families at home by ending the war as soon as possible.

Furthermore, Ashley's choice to refer to Ernst's commitment to his Jewish faith is particularly interesting in light of what happened in Germany twenty years later in the Second World War.

However, I did find the plot development unrealistic in parts. Although, while this may have decreased the credibility of the book in terms of an accurate portrayal of the First World War, it does allow elements of it to be conveyed in an exciting way. I would recommend this book for readers around twelve to fifteen as the themes are heavy but written in an accessible way for this age group.

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