The clue to the content of this book is in the cover but every time I picked it up I saw a craggy mountain. In fact it is the silhouette of a gorilla.

It is 1941 and Joseph has been sent to the city to live with Mrs F, the brusque owner of a rundown zoo. He has many personal issues to deal with, but in wartime there are also concerns regarding the welfare of the animals.

Joseph isn't thrilled to be sent to live with Mrs F, and she's not keen to have him with her either. But this is wartime.

Joseph's mum left him when he was tiny and his dad has gone to fight. He has to make friends at the new school but is soon the victim of bullying. He's a whizz at maths but when he tries to read, the letters dance on the page.

Back with Mrs F, Joseph is expected to help look after the animals and after a difficult start, he soon comes to look forward to feeding the huge silverback gorilla, Adonis.

But a shocking reality that Joseph struggles to take on board is that should the zoo take a direct hit in any bombing raid, it is up to Mrs F to kill the animals to ensure they don't escape into the community.

Based on a true story, this is a moving and uplifting tale of grief and loss, friendship and community, and the bonds between humans and animals. It's suitable for readers aged nine years and above.