The Dawn of Adonis

The much-anticipated follow-up to the award-winning When the Sky Falls

By: Phil Earle

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Paperback | 28 July 2025

At a Glance

Paperback
240 Pages

Age
9 - 12

Dimensions(cm)
19.7 x 12.9 x 1.8

Paperback

RRP $18.99

$17.75

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This much anticipated companion to the award-winning When the Sky Falls follows the dramatic early life of Adonis the gorilla.

A tale of loyalty, loss, betrayal, and rebirth.

It is 1911 and London’s docks thrum with underhand deals, none so great as the arrival of a valuable, rare and exotic animal, smuggled from the depths of the Congolese rainforest. The baby gorilla stands to make one man, the shady Goliath Deeds, very, very rich: he and his right-hand man, juvenile pickpocket, Toff Squabble. Heaven help anyone who dares stand in their way, not least the brave and innocent twelve-year-old Nettie Beecroft, who finds herself embroiled in a dangerous rescue attempt where she encounters toshers, bone grubbers and gangsters.

Whom can Nettie trust? And can she save the life this very special creature?

Praise for When the Sky Falls:
‘A magnificent story’ Philip Pullman
‘Deeply felt, movingly written, a remarkable achievement’ Michael Morpurgo

About the Author

Born and raised in the north of England, Phil Earle is the author of numerous acclaimed, award-winning books for children and teenagers. He has worked as a carer, a dramatherapist, a bookseller and a publisher, and loves talking at schools and festivals around the world. His novel When The Sky Falls won the Books Are My Bag Readers Award and the British Book Award for Children’s Fiction. He lives on the side of a very steep hill with his wife, their five children and two dogs.

Industry Reviews

Nobody writes striking, heartfelt adventure like Phil Earle. The Dawn of Adonis is a showcase of everything he does best: humour and peril and towering stakes all wrapped up in stark, spare, powerful prose. I loved it! — Ross Montgomery

This is an astonishing story of loss, betrayal and rebirth — The Bookseller Buyers Guide, Spring 2025

Earle smashes it out of the park once again with this stunningly brilliant prequel… Enthralling, emotive and life-affirming — The Bookseller

I absolutely raced through The Dawn of Adonis! It’s a tremendous nail-biting read, tender and terrifying in equal measure. Both Toff and Nettie are fantastic characters, and little Adonis is the most endearing little creature ever — Jacqueline Wilson

This richly atmospheric adventure, full of drama, compassion and a brutal portrait of the city’s dark underbelly, confirms Earle as a master of his craft — The Daily Mail

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