[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”off|off|” module_class=”booksection” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#fafafa” custom_padding=”39px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” transparent_background=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_tabs _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_tab title=”Note” _builder_version=”4.16″ body_font=”||||” body_line_height=”2em” tab_font=”||||” tab_line_height=”2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” body_line_height_tablet=”2em” body_line_height_phone=”2em” tab_line_height_tablet=”2em” tab_line_height_phone=”2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A Note from the Author<\/h3>\n
In 2001, I grabbed a pen and some lined paper, crawled under my parent\u2019s bed, and wrote the first lines of this novel. I was thirteen years old.<\/p>\n
Over the next few months, I kept adding to it and filling it in, convinced that I could be a published author at a young age. I drew maps and colored them in, all the time delving heavily into Narnia, mystery authors and general fiction.<\/p>\n
As you will see, some of the names on the maps are drawn straight from a map of Ireland; it was my inspiration at the time. I see this book as an insight into themes and topics that attract children of that age, perhaps a little younger.<\/p>\n
It has been re-edited over the years, and now this new edition brings you a story that your child will enjoy to read aloud, just like my youngest brother did when he was ten.<\/p>\n
Dominic<\/em> Joshua Douglas clutched the bottle of milk to his chest as he raced home through a small English village. The dull grey clouds hung low to the ground like a damp cloak.<\/p>\n World War Two had just begun in the skies over Britain. The hum and blast of bombs dropped from German bombers shivered the bricks in the buildings.<\/p>\n He leapt a fence into the granite ruins of an old factory, pounding through the tall grass poking through the pavestones. He fought to keep his breath as he sped among the cracked pylons.<\/p>\n He tugged his woolen cap tighter on his head, pushing his brown hair out of his face. His dark eyes kept watching for holes and openings.<\/p>\n Then he heard the sound.<\/p>\n It was a terrible sound; the sound of a harsh, buzzing drill that echoed through the sky. He looked up.<\/p>\n Above the tall walls and empty windows, a heavy, grey German bomber roared low, chased by a green Spitfire. The bomber ducked and weaved, trying to get away, but it couldn\u2019t evade the nimble wings and maneuvers of the fighter, silvery lines of bullets smacking holes in its undercarriage and cockpit.<\/p>\n The bomber shivered and peeled sideways, smoke billowing like black banners from its fuselage. And then it started falling, groaning with the terrible growl of a dying Titan.<\/p>\n Joshua\u2019s heart leaped into his mouth. He grabbed his cap in one hand, the milk in the other and ran. He looked over his shoulder.<\/p>\n The bomber dived out of the huge sky straight into the ruins of the factory, churning up broken tables and stones and dirt and flying glass.<\/p>\n Joshua threw himself behind the protection of a huge steel girder in terror. He covered his face with his arms. The bomber skidded and slewed and bumped across the ground toward him.<\/p>\n Joshua cringed and tucked himself against the pillar. The paving shook beneath his feet.<\/p>\n The bomber rammed into his pillar and jerked to stop, spitting off bits of metal and smoke all around him.<\/p>\n Joshua waited for everything to fall silent. Then he carefully opened his eyes. He stood slowly and took a few steps.<\/p>\n And then the bomber exploded in a cloud of fire and dirt, throwing him clear across the room.<\/p>\n Sods of earth rained down through the smoke, forcing Joshua to keep his mouth buried in his elbow to breathe. As the smoke cleared, he stood up and brushed the dirt off, his ears ringing.<\/p>\n He looked up.<\/p>\n The ruined bulk of the flying machine was shattered in pieces, scattered around the rim of a huge, charcoal crater.<\/p>\n He bent down to pick up the intact milk bottle. And then noticed something strange.<\/p>\n Something glowed in the middle of the crater.<\/p>\n He stepped closer and peered in.<\/p>\n In the middle lay a muddy ring.<\/p>\n He carefully slid down into the pit, the sides hot through his thin shoes. He crouched over it and stared.<\/p>\n It was crusted thick with dirt. He picked it up. It was cool in his palm. Some of the dirt flaked off, and he saw a glint of red – a ruby?<\/p>\n Then once again, he heard the deep drone of the Spitfire whipping by overhead, and the scattered shouts of people running toward the factory.<\/p>\n He tore off through a hole in the wall, hopped the fence and ran through cobblestone streets all the way home.
\n[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Sample Chapter” _builder_version=”4.16″ body_font=”||||” body_line_height=”2em” tab_font=”||||” tab_line_height=”2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” body_line_height_tablet=”2em” body_line_height_phone=”2em” tab_line_height_tablet=”2em” tab_line_height_phone=”2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dominicdesouza.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ring-color.png\")
<\/h3>\nChapter One:\u00a0Finding the Ring<\/h3>\n
\n[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Reviews” _builder_version=”4.16″ body_font=”||||” body_line_height=”2em” tab_font=”||||” tab_line_height=”2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” body_line_height_tablet=”2em” body_line_height_phone=”2em” tab_line_height_tablet=”2em” tab_line_height_phone=”2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]”I think this novel was a great read aloud, as it is advertised. The chapters were short, but filled with enough descriptive language to keep our family motivated to keep turning the pages to see what was the next adventure for the main character, Joshua Douglas. I loved how all ages could enjoy this book together and it was fun to discuss with our children what they thought was going to happen next in the story. I would highly recommend de Souza’s book for any family.”<\/p>\n