Jamila Gavin on My Soul, A Shining Tree and historical fiction for kids and early teens

As we pause to remember lives lost and changed by conflict this Remembrance Sunday, we’re honoured to share an exclusive Q&A with award-winning author Jamila Gavin, whose powerful novel My Soul, A Shining Tree brings the First World War to vivid life for young readers. Chosen for our Macaw boxes earlier this year, this sweeping historical story follows four unforgettable characters whose courage, friendship and resilience shine through even the darkest times. In this Q&A, Jamila shares the inspiration behind the book, the surprising discoveries she made through research, and why stories like this matter so deeply today - especially for thoughtful tweens and early teens.

What inspired the book? 

The triggers for a book can come from unexpected places: from either a character, or a place, or an event. Sometimes all three suddenly come together. This time, set in WW1, it was a soldier from India crossing the ocean to fight in a country he’d never heard of, for a war whose aims he didn’t understand. But always, at the heart of my writing are the children and young people, also caught up in events they don’t fully understand, and to explore what happens to them.

What research did you do, and did you learn anything that surprised you? 

Research always brings surprises, when I discover things I didn’t know. Having been inspired by Khudaddad Khan, a real Indian soldier, who fought on the fields of Flanders, I read up a lot on the outbreak of WW1, and what brought Indian soldiers to Flanders fields. First surprise was his uniform which included red trousers.  My study was filled with history books and accounts about WW1. I also actually went to Flanders, to get a feel for that flat landscape, and see the village where my action takes place. Once I feel I know my geography, time, and place, it frees me to allow my fictional characters to appear and, with them, come their own personal lives. My main surprises come with what my characters decide to do in those circumstances.

Are any of your characters in My Soul a Shining Tree inspired by real people?

The Indian soldier, Khudaddad Khan was real. He was the first Indian soldier to receive the Victoria Cross for bravery. But apart from knowing he had joined into the 129th Duke of Cumberland’s Baluchi Regiment, and managing to find out a bit about his life and the village he came from, I wove his reality into my fiction along with the other characters who were my invention – but could be real.

What future do you think your characters had? 

In reality, my Indian soldier went home, and lived in honour for the rest of his life. For my fictional characters, Lotte, Els, Michael and Ernst, having survived the war with such resilience, I am sure they would have grown up to rebuild their lives and the lives of their communities – that is what I hoped to imply in the last words of the book.

In what ways do you think the story will resonate with young readers today?

Every day our screens are filled with war, invasion, and young children trying to survive with their lives in ruin. Many of us just watch, and will never have known such horror. I hope my book will help readers to empathise, and understand why war is so terrible for all people – but especially families and children. I hope they see how the power of loyalty and friendship strengthens them, and helps them to survive. But I also hope convey that struggle does come to an end, and that lives and relationships can be rebuilt.

Why did you choose to write for this age group?

I didn’t choose, the age group chose me via my publishers.  My youngest children are in this age group, that’s true, but I hope any age group will find something in my book to interest them – if not inspire them.

Do you have a favourite place to write?

It used to be my garden shed, but now it is my study indoors – but I need that privacy, silence, and isolation so as not to be undisturbed.  However, my research can take me anywhere – and I adore travel and adventure.

Which books have most inspired you? 

Growing up, I was initially inspired by Hans Anderson and the Brothers Grimm. I have never lost my love for the fairy tale. (Don’t know why they’re called fairy tales when they are hardly ever about fairies!) But I realise I am drawn to books about struggle and separation both on a small scale, but also large scale; from Tolstoy’s War and Peace, to Heidi, Mowgli, Kim, Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre, Treasure Island, Great Expectations – and on and on.

Which other historical books would you recommend for this age group?

I’m sure many readers are inspired by Michael Morpurgo’s books, and he has written wonderful ones about war like Kensuke’s Kingdom, War Horse, and Private Peaceful. And don’t foget the wonderful book, Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian.

Copies of our My Soul, A Shining Tree pack, including a copy of the book and loads of fun activities to go with it, are now available for individual purchase. Grab a copy while stocks last!

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