Young Readers
Real lives. Real evidence. History with the gaps left visible.
The Young Readers collection brings the true stories behind The Things They Left Behind to younger readers. Each book begins with a real person, surviving family memories and archive material, then asks children to think carefully about what we know, what we can infer and where imagination has been used to bridge the gaps.
Available Now
Tommy’s Story for Young Readers
Meet Tommy Benson, who lied about his age to enlist at sixteen and found himself travelling from training in Whitley Bay to Ypres, the Somme and the Battle of Delville Wood. Based on Tommy’s own recorded memories, his story invites young readers to explore war, memory, evidence and the difficult questions history leaves behind.
Walter’s Story for Young Readers
Follow Walter West from his first job in the grocery trade at fourteen through more than fifty years of extraordinary change. Walter’s story explores changing shops and high streets, wartime life at home, memory and evidence, old money and the challenge of Decimal Day.
Ken’s Story for Young Readers
Follow Ken Greensit from a farming family into RAF service and wartime life far from home. Using his diary, family memories and surviving artefacts, Ken’s story helps young readers explore everyday war, primary sources, evidence, inference and the things families choose to keep.
The Teacher’s Companion
The Things They Left Behind: Teacher’s Companion brings together the unabridged Tommy, Walter and Ken stories with lesson plans, archive sources, QR-linked resources and classroom activities built around Beyond the Story Shelf’s story-led approach.
For schools — workshops and author visits
Bring history to life through real stories, family archives and historical evidence.
Claire Greensit also offers tailored school workshops, delivered either in person or remotely. Sessions can be adapted to suit different age groups, curriculum topics and learning objectives, with opportunities to explore original sources, ask questions and discover the people behind the history.
To discuss a workshop, author visit or school project, please email claire@beyondthestoryshelf.co.uk.
