Shirley Dickson

This book is set during the time of World II, from 1929 up to 1945 (VE Day). It is about two sisters who are dropped off at an orphanage outside of London called Blakely Hall at the age of eight (Dorothy) and four (Esther) by their mother. Their mother gave them no explanation at all, and left the building. Both girls never see their mother again. Life is difficult at the orphanage for these two little girls and living there forever changes their lives as well as their outlook on life. When the girls reach 15 years of age, they are released from the orphanage. When Etty leaves four years after Dorothy, the girls find each other and promise to never be separated again. The betrayal of their mother never is forgotten or forgiven. When the war hits, Dorothy says goodbye to her young husband as he goes off to sea, and Etty becomes involved with a man that she can never have. The book takes us through all of the Blitz and the devastation that that caused. Through marriage, childbirth and through widowhood, the two girls stay close until the War hits close to home. All this time they don't know what became of their mother, until after the war ends and the secrets come out. I enjoyed the story, and liked Etty and Dorothy, but I did think that the book was not that well-written. Hence the three stars. I must also note that there is nothing of historical significance about World War II or the Blitz. It is mostly a story about two young girls who are abandoned at a young age, and how it affected their lives, personalities and their futures.… (lisätietoja)

Shirley Dickson is a new author for me. I am eager to check out more books by her. I love learning from historical fiction, the whole idea of "land girls" in the U.K. farmlands was a brand new area of interest for me.

Two girls with very different backgrounds meet as land girls. Sandra had a very sad childhood. Her mother died when she was very young and her father was an invalid. She stayed home from school to look after her brother while her mother was busy washing clothes for people. Unable to take care of Sandra and her younger brother Alf, he took them to an orphanage. The orphanage separated the boy and girl, causing terrible sadness. Later, Sandra was sent to work as a housemaid. Her employer was a true meanie!

The other girl was a German Jew who was shipped out of Germany with her younger brother. Frieda was often bullied at school because of being Jewish and her brother refused to complete the journey to the U.K.

Both girls were worried about their missing brothers, they both had to adjust to farm work, and they slowly bonded as they began to share more of their past. Hard work, bombing raids, disappointments in love, illiteracy, and bulimia were a few of their problems. Not all bad times, there were some times for laughter and deeper friendships.… (lisätietoja)

The Lost Children is a story that is simple, yet stirring. The war rages on, shrouding this heartbreaking narrative in bleakness, showing yet another side to this monstrous war. With multiple narratives, both young and old, these voices lend a sincere depth to an otherwise simplistic tale.

Molly Moffat finds herself in a tough situation. After a night spent with the bosses son Molly finds herself in the family way, and on the day she is going to tell the man she loves about the baby growing inside her, she is fired by her boss, when he sees that she is pregnant. Having no other options she is sent away to give birth, and it is during her time away that she realizes she is having twins, and her heart knows there is no way she can give them up.

From their conception, Jacob and Molly have a hard life, but they have each other, and that’s all that matters. The Lost Children is the story of these two sweet cherubs and their harrowing journey to find where they belong. They both have such bravery, but Jacob is clearly wise beyond his years, having seen so much in his short life that many won’t see in an entire lifetime, and feeling the burden of not only caring for his own well-being but his sisters as well, as she has a handicap.

There is so much loss in this novel that it’s almost unreal, but such is how things were during the second world war. I hate how so many lost so much during this time, the war affecting every single person in one way or another, and for what? My blood boils when I think about the injustices from this time, and this story is just another example how far reaching this war went.

The heartache compounds as the story rolls on, one event after another that suppresses your psyche with sadness, wondering how much more loss can these children take. There is a sweet love story that is a nice breeze through an otherwise heavy story, a vital breath of fresh air.

My heart belonged to Jacob and Molly throughout and I craved to see these two get their happily ever after. The ending was predictable but appreciated, a contented sigh leaving my lips as I closed this novel. Shirley Dickson did a masterful job of putting you there into these characters minds, feeling what they feel, and seeing what they see. It was truly an immersive experience that I will not soon forget.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the publisher through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.… (lisätietoja)