Going Solo – Roald Dahl's Africa and Wartime Memoir (2027-28)

Going Solo is the second half of Roald Dahl's true life story, and it begins where Boy: Tales of Childhood stops. It follows a young Dahl as he leaves England to work in East Africa and then becomes a fighter pilot in the Second World War. The Puffin paperback has cover illustrations by Quentin Blake and shows a small plane over a young man among palm trees. It suits older readers in Class 7 to 10 and is a rich choice for the 2027-28 session.

Exams Book House, Shop Number 4, Al Fazal Market, Urdu Bazar, Lahore, supplies it with cash on delivery across Pakistan and delivery to the Gulf countries.

Quick facts about this copy

• Title on the cover: Going Solo
• Author: Roald Dahl · Cover illustrations: Quentin Blake
• Imprint: Puffin
• Kind of book: autobiography, the follow-up to Boy: Tales of Childhood
• First published: 1986
• Setting: East Africa and the Second World War
• Session: an older reader's pick for 2027-28

What is Going Solo about?

In Boy, Dahl described his childhood. In Going Solo he is a young man. The first half of the book is set in Africa, where he travels by ship to work for an oil company in Tanzania and meets the heat, the insects and the snakes that the continent offers a newcomer. The second half takes place after war breaks out, when Dahl trains to become a pilot in the Royal Air Force and flies fighter aircraft in dangerous skies over Libya and Greece.

What makes the book a good read is the voice. Dahl tells serious events in a plain, lively way, adds small funny details and never makes himself out to be a hero. Many readers also notice that the book is about growing up fast: the boy who was sent away to boarding school at nine now makes his own decisions in the world.

The book contains war and some frightening moments. It is not a children's book in the same sense as The BFG, so it is best for confident readers who are at ease with a longer, more mature text.

About this copy

Besides the cover, the page we show is the one headed "Puffin Books by Roald Dahl", which lists 22 titles, starting with The BFG and ending with The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More. We do not print this book's own chapter list here, so we describe it by its two halves instead of guessing chapter titles.

How the book is built

1. Part one: Africa. A sea voyage and a new life far from home. The writing is full of detail about work, animals and the surprising ways of the places Dahl visits.
2. Part two: The war. The story turns to flying, training and combat. It is full of tension, but Dahl describes events as they happened to him, without exaggerating.
3. Reflection. Throughout the book you can see how a young man's choices shape his later life as a writer.

Who should read it?

• Students in Classes 7 to 10. Strong readers in Class 6 may also enjoy it with some help.
• Parents who want their older child to read a good true story in English that is not a textbook.
• English teachers who want an example of first-person narrative writing, or a reading that connects with history lessons on the Second World War.
• Roald Dahl fans who have read the children's books and want to know where the stories came from.

Why read it?

It teaches a lot without feeling like study. Readers see how ordinary people lived through a world war. They also learn how to write a good personal account: the best parts of the book are the ones where Dahl lets a small, true detail do the work. It also works as a bridge from children's books to adult non-fiction.

When and how to use it

Read it after Boy if you want to follow Dahl's life in order. A good rhythm is ten to fifteen pages a day. Keep a small notebook with three headings: places, people and new words. After every few days, ask your child to retell the most exciting event in their own words. For school, a map of the journey from England to Africa and then to the war zones is a helpful project.

Boy and Going Solo side by side

Questions to talk about after reading

1. What surprised you most about how Dahl describes Africa?
2. How does the writer make a frightening moment feel real without exaggerating?
3. Which choice that the young Dahl makes would you have made differently?
4. What does the book show about courage that is different from the courage of a story hero?
5. If you were writing the next chapter of your own life story, what would you include?

Words and ideas worth looking up

Royal Air Force, fighter pilot, desert, continent, colony, snake, voyage and memoir. Looking up a few words before each reading session helps younger readers keep up and also builds a useful vocabulary for history lessons.

Is it a good book for 2027-28?

Yes, for older readers it is a smart addition to the 2027-28 reading list. If your school asks for a particular edition, send us your list on WhatsApp so we can find the right one.

What to read before and after

• Boy: Tales of Childhood comes first in Dahl's life story.
• For fiction, try Matilda, The Witches or The BFG.
• For another novel with a wartime setting, see The Messenger Bird.

Buy it in Urdu Bazar, Lahore

• Shop: Exams Book House, Shop Number 4, Al Fazal Market, Urdu Bazar, Lahore 54000
• Urdu Bazar Lahore book shop number: 0317 4846676 (call or WhatsApp)
• Open: Monday to Saturday, 9 AM – 9 PM; closed on Sunday
• Delivery: all over Pakistan with cash on delivery, and to the Gulf countries

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Frequently asked questions

Is Going Solo suitable for session 2027-28?

Yes, as a reading book for older students. Check your school's list for any required edition.

Is it a children's story?

It is a true story with war scenes, so it is better for ages twelve and over than for young children.

Should I read Boy first?

It helps, because Going Solo continues Dahl's life story, but each book can be read alone.

Who illustrated the cover?

Quentin Blake, as printed on the cover.

Can I order by WhatsApp?

Yes. Message 0317 4846676 with your name and address. We deliver across Pakistan with cash on delivery and to the Gulf countries.

Inside the book — contents and sample pages