Summer 1945. The Second World War is finally over and Yossi, Leo and Mordecai are among three hundred children who arrive in the English Lake District.
Having survived the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps, they’ve finally reached a place of safety and peace, where they can hopefully begin to recover.
Will life by the beautiful Lake Windermere be enough to bring hope back into all their lives?
Published by Barrington Stoke. Press Release here
Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot” here.
Read Chapter 1 now
Written for 10+ children. (We suggest teacher or parent pre-reading to assess the suitability and appropriateness for the individual child. For KS3 pupils the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education have produced lesson plans and materials for KS3 History, RS, Cit and Eng here).
Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot” here. Find now at your local library, local independent bookshops, Waterstones, Amazon and Kindle.
Overseas :
Australia: Boomerang Canada: Amazon Canada
New Zealand: Wheelers USA : Indigo books
After the War audio version is now available to listen to
10% of author royalties donated to the Lake District Holocaust Project.
“Superb.” The Daily Telegraph
Holocaust Memorial Day 2025
Monday 27 January 2025 – Holocaust Memorial Day
“We Will Tell Your Stories”
FREE resources suitable for every school to use around Holocaust Memorial Day.
“We Will Tell Your Stories” marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
These resources aim to inspire pupils to create non-fiction historical writing pieces based on the powerful stories from the Holocaust and life after liberation.
More and sign up for a reminder here
“I’ve just read your book and I loved it. I’m second generation and my father was one of the Boys who went to Windermere. I’m currently writing a presentation for ages 13 plus and will definitely recommend your book. I thought how you portrayed the children was spot on especially how they kept being reminded of what they had witnessed and lost. I found it very moving. I look forward to sharing it with my grandchildren when they are older. Congratulations” M Turgel
“A moving and thought-provoking read which shares the experiences of the Windermere Children. Tom has worked carefully with survivors, including members of our much-loved survivor family, to create a book which captures many of their memories of arrival and first months in Britain. For students, ‘After the War’ will be a first glimpse into the importance of listening, and witnessing to, the testimonies of survivors of the Holocaust.” Louise Stafford, Director of Learning, The National Holocaust Centre and Museum
“When Tom Palmer approached me to ask if he could write a book about the Jewish children and their stay in the Lake District, I was immediately taken by his desire to totally immerse himself in the story. We worked with him on this extraordinary book project and he was always full of the same compassion as those who helped the children in their early days of recovery. He was also utterly dedicated to doing the story justice, and I am sure you will see that he has. It is a story from the past, told in the present, with lessons for us all for the future. ” TREVOR AVERY
“The best children’s fiction book I’ve yet read about the Holocaust. After The War manages to be vividly engaging both as history education and as a human story – eye-opening, exciting, hugely touching. Beautifully structured and written it may be aimed at 9-14 year-olds, but no-one should miss it” CEO Anne Frank Trust UK
“After the War is the book every teacher of the Holocaust needs.” Kate Heap
“This is such a hope-filled and uplifting read and we think it will be an important addition to year 4-6 classes as well as being a great read-aloud novel for evenings at home with children who are aged 9 and up.” The Literacy Tree
Thank you St Andrews C of E Brighouse for sharing this special song inspired by Yossi, written by Mrs Music’s Memory Makers
Check out our gallery of other school responses to After the War here.
Awards
The response from young people, survivors, teachers and organisations including the Anne Frank Trust UK, the National Literacy Trust, UCL Centre for Holocaust Education,
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Lake District Holocaust Project, the Huddersfield Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre, the National Holocaust Centre & Museum and the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy’s Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Programme has been amazing.
Thank you.
I am so proud that After the War was recently selected for the EmpathyLab‘s #ReadForEmpathy collection and that it won 
the 2021 @historicalassociation Young Quills Award and the KS3#JamesReckitt #HullChildrensBookAward. Thank you to all the hardworking history teachers and school librarians for organising and their young readers for voting.
In addition, I am delighted that After the War has been :
- nominated and longlisted for the @CILIPCKG Carnegie Book Award
- shortlisted for the North Somerset Teachers’ Book Awards #NSTBA20
shortlisted for the Redbridge Children’s Book Award- shortlisted for the 2022 Grampian Children’s Book Award
- shortlisted for the inaugural 2022 York Book Award
- shortlisted for the Calderdale Libraries Primary School Book of the Year
longlisted for the 2022 UKLA Book Awards (11-14 + category)- longlisted for the Spark Book Awards Kingston and Richmond Children’s Book Awards
longlisted for the Sussex Amazing Book Awards- longlisted for the Cumbria SLS book awards.
- selected as Beckenham children’s book of the month October 2020
- selected as one of the Daily Telegraph’s Children’s Books of the Year 2020
Thank you!
“I don’t normally review books because I think they are personal opinions of the reader, but I am making an exception in this case because it’s a book that should be read by young and old and it puts life back in prospective. My son is a primary teacher and I passed the book on to him for school.” Amazon Reviewer
(Accelerated Reader Quiz No: 238677, Points 4.00, Book Level 4.80,
Middle Years – Key Stage 2)
Resources
Writer’s Scrapbook (images courtesy of Lake District Holocaust Project)
NEW book club resource containing discussion questions and writing activities available from the National Literacy Trust here
FULL Lesson plans and materials for KS3 History, RS, Cit and Eng produced by the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education here
Blackout Poetry Challenge here
includes how to guide, examples, text and certificate
READ Chapter 1 here
A book cover prediction sheet. Look at the cover of After the War and answer questions about what you think the story might be about here.
Paper dolls. Work as a family to decorate paper dolls of the children. Then put it up as bunting to mark the 75th anniversary of their liberation here
Comprehension. Read the section of the book where the children talk about their very different experiences of VE Day, then answer some questions here.
Black Out poetry. Create your own black out poetry using a VE Day scene from After the War here.
Extra resources created by and kindly shared for free by Mrs Forrest, Framwellgate School, Durham:
Student Glossary
Download here
Student workbook
Download here
Extra resources created by and kindly shared for free by Classroom Secrets …
This After the War What’s the Question? Activity checks pupils’ understanding of chapter one of Tom Palmer’s new book. Children will be given an answer and must choose what the question might have been. Download here
Downloadable poster here
Book trailer here
Podcasts
Listen to a podcast with Exploring Childrens Literature here . It is available on all major podcast platforms.
Listen to the interview with Nikki Gamble of Just Imagine here.
Latest After the War films
Catch up on my World Book Day 2023 virtual chat with the Anne Frank Trust about my book “Resist” and the links between Audrey Hepburn and Anne Frank here.
Catch up on my online Holocaust Memorial Day Q&A event with Mala Tribich, a Holocaust survivor on here
Films of the settings about research and writing After the War
Researching After the War
I really applaud the way you’ve got so many historical details into such a short text, and made it emotional too. It’s honestly brilliant, and I’ll be recommending it to all the Jewish schools, and reminding HET about it. You haven’t shied away from those cruel and harsh memories, and you’ve represented it very fairly. I should think the survivors would be pleased at your perpetuation of their memories. ” CLARE ZINKIN book blogger and teacher
“What a brilliant way for many thousands of children to learn the truth about the Holocaust, as well as the value of friends and family.” MARION FOTHERGILL, former resident of the Calgarth Estate
Read my blog about reading and writing history for the FCBG here.
Writing After the War
I am very grateful to have the kind support of key witnesses, from Trevor Avery and the Lake District Holocaust Project and from pupils at Grasmere Primary.
There are many stages to my writing “process” but here’s an indication …
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
If you are want to know more about how I write – often useful for teachers to show pupils – I have some short writing tips films here.
“With ‘After the War’, Tom Palmer cements his place as one of the very finest historical storytellers for children. No word is wasted, no emotion left untapped. This book may be slight in its page length, but its story of brotherhood is huge of heart.” Phil Earle
After the War Q&A with Tom
Why did children come from the Holocaust to England?
Tom: They needed to get away from a war torn Europe where food was scarce. Even though the war was over and the Nazis defeated, the children could not go home. The locals on their home countries had stolen many of their houses and possessions, so it was dangerous for them to go home.
Did you meet any of the children in the story?
Tom: Yes, I met and talked to three of them and have worked with a man who had interviewed dozens of them. That means I am very confident what I have written is authentic: it is based in real events. I wanted to make sure of that to be respectful to the memory of those who survived and those who didn’t.
What age is this for?
Tom: After the War is for children aged 10 plus. I wrote it with selected Year 5 Grasmere School pupils, but a few Y5s might find the subject matter too intense. The Y5s I worked with said they wanted to know what happened in the Holocaust. They wanted the facts so they can understand. So I made the book more about the facts than trying to evoke intense emotional reactions.
Was it hard to know how best to write about the Holocaust?
Tom: Yes. Very. I took a lot of advice at every stage and even did a course on teaching the Holocaust in schools. These things need to be spot on. The Auschwitz Memorial tweeted recently: “Inventing a fake game of human chess … is not only dangerous foolishness [and] caricature. It also welcomes future deniers. We honor the victims by preserving factual accuracy.”
There is a more in-depth Q&A here https://historiannextdoor.co.uk/q-a-with-author-tom-palmer/
Or please email me here if you have any questions about writing After the War.
After the War NEWS :
Autumn 2021
Very exciting news that the Duchess of Cambridge met with some of the meeting Windermere Children, their families and Trevor Avery.
The survivors, their families and Trevor were so generous in helping me write ‘After the War’.
Summer 2021
This summer, I travelled in the footsteps of the 300 Windermere Children, who came from Auschwitz to Ambleside over 75 years ago. Along with headteacher Simon Robinson, I cycled 30 miles from Carlisle airport to Ullswater; canoed 10 miles up Ullswater and then fell ran the 15 miles (and 1000 metre climb) from Ullswater to Windermere.
We raised over £7,500 to support the Lake District Holocaust Project’s amazing work to combat racism and intolerance through the story of the Windermere Children. Thank you everyone for your support!
The Book launch
Listen to the interview with Just Imagine here
Follow my #AFTERTHEWAR ROAD TRIP on 20 July 2020 here.
Watch my films about researching and writing After the War and join me for morning coffee in my office for the book launch here.
Catch up on a special online event hosted by the British Association for Holocaust Studies with me, Trevor Avery of Lake District Holocaust Project and Helen McCord of the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education here
Places to go to find out more …
Lake District Holocaust Museum
Booking is now open to visit the exhibition about the Windermere Children at Windermere Library here
Epping Forest District Museum
Read His Name is Ben – my short story for children commissioned by Epping Forest, illustrated by James Innerdale – about Sir Ben Helfgott, one of The Boys who came to Loughton and went on to become an Olympic weightlifter.
Find out more about the Holocaust Survivors at a new Epping Forest District Museum exhibition here .
Other Useful Links
www.holocaustremembrance.com Teaching and Learning about the Holocaust guide here
www.worldjewishrelief.org/theboys – gives information about their role in the rescue and features some of the children’s brief stories
www.worldjewishrelief.org/kindertransport – they were also instrumental in organising the kindertransport and this page has more information.
www.worldjewishrelief.org/archives – more information about the files they hold
The Lake District Holocaust Project http://ldhp.org.uk/
Reviews
‘A moving and thought-provoking read which shares the experiences of the Windermere Children. Tom has worked carefully with survivors, including members of our much-loved survivor family, to create a book which captures many of their memories of arrival and first months in Britain. For students, ‘After the War’ will be a first glimpse into the importance of listening, and witnessing to, the testimonies of survivors of the Holocaust.’ Louise Stafford Director of Learning, The National Holocaust Centre and Museum
“I hereby sing from the felltops that @tompalmerauthor’s #AfterTheWar is absolutely wonderful. It tells the story of three of the #WindermereChildren – 300 Jewish child refugees rescued by @WJRelief after the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps exactly 75 years ago in August 1945, who were then cared for in a camp in the #LakeDistrict before settling to new lives across Britain.
It’s the story that’s researched and shared by the excellent @HolocaustLake and that was dramatised in a recent BBC drama. But @tompalmerauthor caps them all. The best children’s fiction book I’ve yet read about the Holocaust After The War manages to be vividly engaging both as history education and as a human story – eye-opening, exciting, hugely touching. Beautifully structured and written – ending on a marvellous image of take-off – it may be aimed at 9-14 year-olds, but no-one should miss it.
And right now it’s a timely reminder of the generosity that Britain at its best has shown to refugees. This is what we’ve done before and should do always.” CEO Anne Frank Trust UK
“It was so well written that – although we can never imagine or put ourselves within this experience – it made the reader really develop an emotional connection to the characters and what they went through. I truly believe that it is important children learn of the Holocaust and how harrowing this period in history is, in order to prevent anything like this happening again. It shows them how dangerous prejudices can be, as well as teaching them compassion. Tom’s book not only helps with this, but does so in a way which helps children build empathy and understanding of something which is quite a difficult subject to comprehend.
The characters created, which are based on some real documented experiences, feel authentic and are well developed. Alongside the three main characters, there are some important interactions they have with ‘supporting’ characters from both the surrounding community and beyond. I really liked that it was included that there was still prejudice in England towards the Jewish community; England wasn’t painted as a solely peaceful country for them to escape to. It is important to recognise this. I really do believe this is a book that should be on every classroom shelf. I know I’ll be using extracts myself around during Holocaust Memorial, alongside factual accounts and poetry to help children begin to access the topic.” The TeacherBookwork.com
“The sense of brotherhood in this book floored me. It’s gripping, tough, meticulously researched and you feel that in every page. That – and its huge heart.” Phil Earle
“I was really looking forward to reading After the War and was not disappointed. Tea was late today as I just had to finish it in one go!
I am looking forward to promoting the book at school especially with our history department and a poster will be really useful. As ever, the depth of your research shines through your absolutely compelling and accessible storytelling.” Librarian Bury Grammar School
“What an immensely beautiful & heartfelt story you have created. I don’t have the right words to truly express the impact this book has had on me. But my goodness it was a story that needed to be told & you have done it so well. I love how you have shown how the War impacted/affected the lives of so many, & in so many ways. It must have been an extremely difficult story to create, but you have crafted a most wonderful tale. The story of Yossi, Leo & Mordecai will be forever engrained in the hearts and minds of the reader & therefore these horrific events will not be forgotten. I will be encouraging colleagues in UKS2 & KS3 to share this with their pupils Using the words from Trevor Avery: ‘It is a story from the past, told in the present, with lessons for us all in the future.’ Truly an exceptional book.” VALDA VARADINEK (teacher)
“I have been eagerly awaiting this book for a while and I must say it doesn’t disappoint. ” Mr R’s Book Blether (full review click here)
“It’s really powerful. Really good. I think it’s particularly hard-hitting as its told in such simple language – I really applaud the way you’ve got so many historical details into such a short text, and made it emotional too. It’s honestly brilliant, and I’ll be recommending it to all the Jewish schools, and reminding HET about it. You haven’t shied away from those cruel and harsh memories, and you’ve represented it very fairly. I should think the survivors would be pleased at your perpetuation of their memories. ” CLARE ZINKIN book blogger and teacher
“What a brilliant way for many thousands of children to learn the truth about the Holocaust, as well as the value of friends and family.” MARION FOTHERGILL, former resident of the Calgarth Estate
“When Tom Palmer approached me to ask if he could write a book about the Jewish children and their stay in the Lake District, I was immediately taken by his desire to totally immerse himself in the story. We worked with him on this extraordinary book project and he was always full of the same compassion as those who helped the children in their early days of recovery. He was also utterly dedicated to doing the story justice, and I am sure you will see that he has. It is a story from the past, told in the present, with lessons for us all for the future. ” TREVOR AVERY
“How do people find the strength to endure the unendurable? How can they rebuild their lives after witnessing the very worst of what human beings can do to one another? How can love and friendship survive the horrific brutality of war and genocide? After the War tackles these huge questions by following the journey of three boys rescued from Nazi concentration camps at the end of the Second World War. After they are taken to Lake Windermere to recover, we see them struggle to come to terms with the loss of everyone they’ve ever known and to put the horrors of the camps behind them. This powerful story of a friendship forged in the worst of circumstances is ultimately a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and a moving act of remembrance.” AILSA BATHGATE
This is a story of compassion and welcome, of finding peace and belonging. Fear of the unknown has become ingrained in Yossi, Leo and Mordecai. They struggle to trust and struggle to understand that they are now safe with enough food to eat and a warm bed to sleep in. Gradually, day by day, they learn that the horrors of their past are over but the loss they’ve suffered is real – loss of childhood, loss of loved ones, loss of strength and loss of trust. The task of rebuilding their lives will take time but it is possible.
Whilst we in no way feel that the situation we are living through now is comparable to the unimaginable horrors experienced during the holocaust, the idea of a threat and the shock and disbelief that this brings and then getting through a situation only to then struggle to comprehend it will be a familiar one for many just now. And fear: the worry for some that they won’t feel safe or truly happy again.
This is such a hope-filled and uplifting read and we think it will be an important addition to year 4-6 classes as well as being a great read-aloud novel for evenings at home with children who are aged 9 and up.” The Literacy Curriculum
“It is instantly clear After the War is well-researched and depicts the real-life events with great sensitivity. The three central characters are all inspired by the true stories of survivors …
As Yossi, Mordecai and Leo recover, they slowly being to trust again and see hope for the future, helped by the hard work of those looking after them. The beautiful setting of the Lake District provides a stunning backdrop to the harsh reality they have left behind – and must have been part of the healing process for all those who survived. Beautifully told, After the War is an opportunity to celebrate the bravery and courage and determination of those who survived persecution by the Nazis. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the kindness of the people of Windermere as they helped hundreds of children recover from the horrors of the holocaust.
But most importantly, this story is an act of Remembrance – both in its creation and for everyone that reads it. We cannot ever forget the service and sacrifice of wartime heroes and ordinary people, who secured our freedom and restored hope to so many.” thebookactivist.blog/2020/11/05/new-review-after-the-war-by-tom-palmer/
“I have been reading After the War every week in my senior library lessons and the response has been quite incredible. So many of our pupils were not engaged in reading when they first came back to school in September so i wanted a story where they could really think about what they are currently going through and then to listen to some of the experiences and choices of children during WW2.
The pupils really were surprised to have to think about what children their own age went through and we had some really interesting discussions about what they would have done in their position. The feedback I have had so far is that the flashbacks that Yossi has were the most thought provoking. The pupils were surprised that the smallest things would trigger them, such as a look, a smell or an object not seen for 6 years.
Out of all the books I have read to pupils over my 15 years as a librarian I can confidently say this book both silences a class whilst creating so many thoughtful comments and questions.” Hayley Stallard, Mayville High School
Thank you everyone for reading my books and for sharing your opinions.
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After the War audio version is now available to listen to.
Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from my local independent children’s bookshop “The Thoughtful Spot” here.
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Australia: Boomerang
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USA : Indigo books
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