The Freedom Tree
James Watson
Paperback
(Puffin Books, Aug. 27, 1998)
It is 1936 and Spain is engulfed in Civil War. Sixteen-year-old Will has left the dole queues of Jarrow to enlist in the International Brigade. He's too young to join officially so joins the Six Bells Brigade - a group of young men fiercely committed to the Republican cause. He arrives in Spain to find the Republicans disorganised, ill-equipped and untrained, but he is inspired by their courage and optimism - qualities that help him in the hard months of fighting. His story is one of war, adventure, love, gallantry, humour, brutality and finally, hope.