In the attic of his house Sam finds a leather case that belonged to his great great grandfather, Freddy Ovel. The case contains a diary, as Sam begins to read it he is taken right back to just before the First World War when Freddy was a boy. Sam also finds a photograph and discovers that at his age, Freddy was his exact double. The diary unlocks much more than just the events of the war. Sam discovers there is much more to 'Freddy' than meets the eye - not only heroic wartime deeds and terrible injuries, but also some very dark secrets. The Secret Message is part of the Cold Fusion series, published by Ransom Publishing, a specialist children's publisher. The series is designed for more able readers, gifted and talented children, and those who are curious, enjoy a challenge and like thinking outside the box. The Secret Message is ideal for more able readers aged 9 - 12 with a reading age of 12 + .