A personal and moving coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the First World War. Life in Endstone changes for ever when war is declared against Germany and Ellie's dad leads the village men, including her best-friend Jack's older brother Will, to volunteer for the army. Ellie is distraught by her dad's sudden call to arms and feels even worse that she's left with her difficult mother. It doesn't help that Jack's so excited by the war and has no idea how she feels. At least it'll all be over by Christmas and life can return to normal.