Bringing World War II to life for young readers: York St John University professor’s new book uses family experience to connect the generations

“It’s easy to think of the past as distant and irrelevant, but stories like these show us how connected we really are.”  

This November sees the release of The Poppy Project, a new book by Professor Tom Dobson, Professor of Education at York St John University. The book aims to bring the history of World War II alive for young readers and draws on stories and experiences from Professor Dobson’s own family. It is a dual-narrative story which intertwines the life of a girl in modern-day lockdown in Leeds with the historical journey of a young evacuee during WWII.  

Inspired by a personal family connection, The Poppy Project tells the stories of Mia, a 13-year-old girl navigating the challenges of the 2021 lockdown, and Mary, a WWII evacuee. As Mia undertakes a history project, she uncovers the wartime experiences of her great-great-aunt Mary, drawing striking parallels between their lives despite the many decades that separate them. Through this project, Mia develops a deeper appreciation for family, history, and resilience in the face of adversity. 

The book draws on Professor Dobson’s own daughter’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emelia Dobson grew close to her great great aunt Shirley through a series of lockdown phone calls as she did research for a primary school history project.  This family research unearthed extraordinary stories of sacrifice and survival, such as Shirley’s evacuation, her sister Vicky joining the Land Army, her brother Eric’s tragic death while serving in the RAF, and another brother, Don, being lost at sea. The result is a touching story that spans generations.

Professor Tom Dobson said: “Learning about my family’s wartime history through Emelia’s project was a deeply humbling experience. I felt embarrassed by how little I knew about our family’s past. It made me realise how easy it is to think of the past as distant and irrelevant, but stories like these show us how connected we really are.”  

While The Poppy Project is inspired by true events, it is a work of fiction. Mia’s story, while based on his daughter’s experiences, takes on its own identity, and Mary’s character—largely inspired by Shirley—has been fictionalised to include a new character, Hannah, to highlight the suffering of Jewish people during WWII. This thoughtful addition adds depth to the historical narrative, encouraging readers to reflect on the broader experiences of those impacted by the war.  

Incorporating themes of friendship, family, and the generational impact of historical events, The Poppy Project aims to make history relatable and engaging for today’s young readers, especially those experiencing their own periods of uncertainty and change. The dual narrative allows for a rich exploration of how past and present can collide in unexpected ways, fostering important conversations between generations.  

Dr Tom Dobson, Professor of Education at York St John University said:

“It’s easy to think about war as something that’s not quite real. Something from the past. Something we’re distanced from. Something that happens to other people in other countries on the television.   

“But the reality of war is that it can happen anywhere at any time. That’s why it’s so important for children not only to learn about the past but also to understand and empathise with people who suffered in the war. This was one of my aims when writing The Poppy Project from the point of view of a 13-year-old girl in lockdown: to bring WWII into the present, into the consciousness of a young audience.”

Emelia Dobson, Professor Dobson’s daughter, said:

“I did my WWII project in primary school, and I really enjoyed learning about my family’s involvement in the war. I felt proud of them, and I felt sympathy for my great great auntie Shirley and everything she went through when she was the same age as me.”  

Catherine Coe, children’s author said:

“The Poppy Project is a beautiful, compelling novel about the power of friendship – between both peers and relatives – and the importance of believing in yourself. Tom Dobson uses a dual-timeline dual-narrative to cleverly interweave Mia’s and Mary’s stories into an emotional, gripping rollercoaster of a book.” 

The Poppy Project is now available to buy online and scheduled for full launch in January 2025. Aimed at schools, libraries, and young readers (10 +), this book is an invaluable resource for educators seeking to bring history to life in a meaningful and accessible way.