Content levels
Trigger warnings
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
When their island city, Zamascus, is bombed and overrun by soldiers, thirteen-year-old Imm and his twin brother, Saxon, have to survive by their wits. They find two other children who have survived, and the four meet a charismatic man called Knight who is gathering children and training them to undertake missions within the city to win back Zamascus. Over time Imm becomes suspicious of Knight, wondering who he is, who he's really working for, and why Saxon can't see beyond Knight's promises of power and action and revenge. Imm must make a difficult decision in order to save himself and save his city.
Is When Courage Came To Call appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 12 and up.
Parents should know this book depicts war, bombing of a city, and child soldiers being trained for combat missions. There's moderate violence and themes of manipulation and revenge, but no graphic content or sexual material.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include child harm, death, and grief (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Readers will find an intense survival story with twin brothers facing tough choices in a war-torn city, plus the mystery of whether their charismatic leader can be trusted.