December 1, 2020
Three plucky orphan siblings are in search of a mother in wartime England. When their grandmother dies, 12-year-old William, 11-year-old Edmund, and 9-year-old Anna are left in London in the care of an elderly housekeeper. As part of the World War II evacuation of children to safety, they are relocated to the countryside, something the family solicitor hopes may lead to finding adoptive parents. However, they are billeted with the Forresters, an unpleasant family reminiscent of the Dursleys. Bullying by their hosts' two sons, who despise them; the ever present fear of German attack; and the dread of homelessness test their mettle to the limit. The orphans long to find a home of their own, and good boy William is stressed by his responsibility as head of the small family. Edmund's desire for revenge against the Forresters and a prank involving a snake get them evicted from their billet, and they end up in a much worse situation. They find sanctuary in the village library and a savior in the librarian, who is married to a German and therefore ostracized by the locals. Mrs. M�ller provides them with moral support, a listening ear, and true appreciation and love. The classic books she chooses for them--The Wind in the Willows and Anne of Green Gables, among others--may generate ideas for further reading. All characters are White. A wartime drama with enough depth and psychological complexity to satisfy budding bookworms. (reading list) (Historical fiction. 12-16)
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December 21, 2020
In this heartwarming debut that contains nods to British children’s classics, three orphans—heirs to a fortune—join the WWII London evacuation after the death of their forbidding grandmother leaves them guardianless. Though they seek safety from the Blitz and the possibility of finding a permanent, loving home, the siblings’ plight instead becomes precarious. At their first residence, responsible 12-year-old William, roguish 11-year-old Edmund, and earnest nine-year-old Anna encounter bullying from their foster siblings. At the next—a starkly impoverished billet with a harried mother of four—the children experience hunger, and the boys are forced to kill rats for extra funds. Happily, a friendship with their village’s warm librarian, regarded by many with suspicion because of her absent German husband, offers solace and hope to the three. Albus infuses the closely bonded siblings’ search for found family with dry humor (“Funeral receptions can be tough spots to find enjoyment”), affectionate and authentic-feeling characterization, and a plot that alludes to and aligns with the works of Enid Blyton, Frances Hodgson Burnett, and E. Nesbit. Includes a bibliography of books mentioned. Ages 9–12.
Starred review from March 11, 2022
Gr 4-7-It's 1940 in London, and William, Edmund, and Anna have found themselves orphaned for the second time in their short lives. With the Nazis breathing down England's neck, the children are sent, with hundreds of other children, to the countryside to live with a billet, a foster family that takes them in temporarily and protects them from the war. Their family's solicitor has advised them to be on the lookout for a family that could be a forever home for them while there. The oldest, William, has the best memories of their mum and dad and often tells stories about them to his siblings, one being that the children were so loved that they could probably hang the moon in the heavens if they wanted to. With that in mind, the three of them know that only a family that thinks the children "hang the moon in the heavens" will be the right fit. While away in the countryside, the children stay with a variety of families, some more traditional than others. With the solace of the little library as their only constant and the town librarian their only friend, the children learn to piece together a family until a real one is found. Told in third person, Albus's rich character descriptions and quick story pace will keep tweens turning the pages until the very end. Vivid details of World War II-era England are written from a child's perspective. Characters are white. VERDICT For fans of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's The War That Saved My Life, this is a highly recommended purchase. Readers will laugh, cry, and root for the three siblings as they endeavor to survive in this endearing tale.-Tracy Cronce
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Starred review from February 1, 2021
Grades 4-6 *Starred Review* The year is 1940, and German air strikes on London are looming. After their formidable, wealthy grandmother's funeral, orphans William (12 years old), Edmund (11), and Anna (9) Pearce learn that they will be evacuated to a village where (the solicitor charged with their welfare hopes) they might find a permanent home. They live with a butcher's family until Edmund retaliates against one of the bullying sons by placing a dead snake in his bed. A desperately poor mother with four young children takes them in but barely feeds them. Their only refuge is the lending library, where they find a warm fire, good books, and kind words. After their short-tempered caretaker slaps Edmund, the children strike out on their own and unexpectedly find a new home on Christmas Eve. Albus achieves a great deal in her first novel. While the Pearces' initially bleak situation is firmly rooted in classic children's books (a bibliography of their reading choices is appended), the narrative is fresh, lively, and captivating. The characters are drawn with conviction and a good deal of empathy. Lit by wit and humanity, the novel offers a heartening story in which three resourceful children keep a secret, find what they long for, and treasure it.
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