Set during World War II, this novel focuses on Kak, a 16-year-old boy who lies about his age in order to join the Canadian Air Force. Trained as a wireless operator, Kak is shipped off to England where he participates in his first bombing flight. After this flight, Kak realizes that a fighter pilot's life is full of danger, fear, and death--in short, far different from the heroic glory he imagined. Lost and lonely (and terrified that his crew will find out he lied about his age), Kak forms a friendship with Bert, a demoted pilot who now trains the carrier pigeons that accompany the fighter pilots on their missions. It is through his relationship with Bert that Kak finds a way to cope with the realities and horrors of life during wartime. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.