The "ashes" of Morpurgo's title are those of the animals slaughtered earlier this year as a consequence of the British foot-and-mouth epidemic. By way of representing the events which constituted a national tragedy, this fictional account presents a close-up view of the suffering experienced by one particular family, the Morleys, on their Devon farm as they fearfully watch the gradual encroachment of the disease. The spokesperson for the family is 13-year-old Becky, whose diary entries between January st and April 30th provide the narrative. It is a tribute to Morpurgo that the changing nuances of Becky's voice come across so vividly and the interplay between her, her parents and her adored animals is conveyed with such economy of style - but without any diminution of emotional impact.