Key learning points

1. 'When the Sky Falls' is set in 1941, during the Second World War.
2. A 12-year-old boy, Joseph Palmer, is sent from rural Yorkshire to the city.
3. Joseph finds himself in the care of Margaret Farrelly (Mrs F).
4. The narrative has historical details that are interwoven into the fictional narrative.
5. Joseph and Mrs F are both characterised as hostile or cold initially.

Keywords

• Summarise - pull out the key information and ideas from the text

• Historical context - the time period in which a narrative is set

• Characterisation - the way an author describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story through their actions, thoughts, dialogue and interactions with others

Common misconception