t's the second World War and Billy's life will never be the same again. As he lies in his hospital bed, horribly burned, he longs for death. But when a soldier comes to see him and gives him a clarinet Billy realizes that there might just be something worth living for - some hope for the future... BLJames Riordan has now earned himself a reputation for writng about war in a powerful and uncompromising way BLHis background in retelling traditional stories shows in his excellent storytelling abilities BLJames Riordan lives in Portsmouth