The Lost Children by Shirley Dickson
Genre: Historical fiction, WW2, General fiction
Read: 26th September 2020
Published: 30th September 2020
★★★★★ 4.5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
As they walked towards the railway station, their mother took an envelope from her handbag. ‘I want you to keep this somewhere safe.’
‘What’s in the letter?’
‘Listen carefully. You’re never to open it unless you or your sister are in real trouble. Promise me.’
England, 1943: Home is no longer safe for eight-year-old twins Molly and Jacob. Night after night wailing bombs and screeching planes skim the rooftops overhead. They cradle each other, shivering in terror, not knowing if they will live to see dawn. Their mother, Martha, has no choice but to evacuate them to the safety of the countryside.
At the train station, Martha bites back tears as she says goodbye to her precious children. Knowing she might never see them again, she gives Jacob a letter, pressing the envelope into his hands and telling him to only read it if they are in danger.
In the country, Molly and Jacob must adjust to life with strangers. Every night they dream of returning home to the arms of their beloved mother. But then the unimaginable happens. Martha is killed in an explosion, leaving the twins all alone in the world.
The war has robbed Molly and Jacob of everything – all they have left is one another. Motherless and destitute, they face the grim reality of life in an orphanage. The time has finally come for Jacob to open the letter. What secret does it hold, and could it change the course of their tragic fate? Because if they are together, they can survive anything – but what if they are torn apart?
From the bestselling author of The Orphan Sisters comes an utterly heartbreaking and unforgettable tale of two children who must lean on each other in a time of tragedy and learn the shocking truth of their past. Fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe will be swept away by this sublime World War Two novel.
MY REVIEW:
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Shirley Dickson's latest emotional historical tale THE LOST CHILDREN.
I have been a fan of Shirley Dickson since her debut "The Orphan Sisters". Since then I have followed her book trail of fabulous historical fiction, reading each one and loving them all. Though having the backdrop of the second world war, her books are not about the war but more about those affected during the war...generally orphans or evacuees.
But what I especially love about Shirley's books, while none of them are part of a series, each one includes some characters from previous stories. For example, the orphanage that was much of the focus in her debut has been mentioned in each book since. As well the funeral director Mr Neville who has gained a mention briefly in this book who was so much a part of the first and second books. Now THE LOST CHILDREN features so many characters from her third book from earlier this year "The Outcast Girls" that they each play something of a different part now..and it was was lovely to revisit them once again.
South Shields, 1935: Working as a typist at a garage, Martha Moffat falls under the spell of Edward Fenwick and soon finds herself pregnant. When her condition is discovered, her boss sacks her with immediate effect and her mother is not best pleased either. Unmarried and pregnant, Martha is shipped off to a hospital for unwed mothers for the remainder of her pregnancy. Determined not to grow attached to her child her plan is to have the baby adopted, but then she is surprised when the nurse finds two heartbeats. Her mother, when she tells her, is livid. But when her babies are born, Martha is overwhelmed by a sense of pure love for them...and in that moment, she knows that she cannot give them up.
1943: The war is now into its fourth year with no sign of letting up and Martha works at a munitions factory while her mother looks after her twins Jacob and Molly She hasn't been home for some time to visit and when she manages to get 24 hours leave she is eager to see her now 8 year old twins. But upon arrival she finds South Shields in disarray. The wardens will not let her enter her street which had been decimated by a raid the night before. Her house was now a pile of rubble and her mother gone, who died protecting her children.
Determined her children must remain safe at all costs, Martha decides to evacuate them to the country where they will out of harms way. At the station she thrusts a letter into Jacob's hands, telling him not to open it but to give it to a grown up when they find themselves in trouble. How will I know, her young son asks. You'll know, she whispers to him.
Jacob is the older of the twins with a forthright manner, a stubborn streak and will protect his sister at all costs whereas Molly is the quieter of the two and much shyer. She had a difficult birth, leaving her with a weakness on her left side they called Cerebral Palsy resulting in her having to wear a calliper on her left leg. It often angered Jacob that people thought Molly wasn't bright because of her physical disability but she was much cleverer than him. Other kids often teased her and on such occasions Jacob was quick to jump to her defence. Their mam treated them as equals and that Molly was no different. It made him mad when no one else saw it that way.
The children arrive in Leadburn, a seemingly sleepy village with cows and horses and none of the smell of industry that they have been so used to back home. Not wanting to be separated, and no one wanting to take on a crippled child as soon as they see Molly, the children are billeted to Mrs Merryfield who they call Aunty Brigit. Though wary at first, the children adjust to life in the country and Aunty Brigit is a godsend. She is just like an older version of mam and the children grow to love her. But when Aunty Brigit fails to return from the coal merchant one day, they are shocked to discover she had fallen and broken her hip and is now recuperating in hospital.
So Doris Leadbetter, the postmistress, takes charge of the children and delivers them to somewhat grumpy farmer Bob Nichols, who had recently lost his son in the war and wife to illness. Reluctant to take them on at first, Mr Bob (as the children call him) takes them in until Doris is able to find something more suitable for them. But when the unthinkable happens and the children's mother Martha is killed in an explosion at the munitions factory, they are faced with the possibility of being sent to the orphanage. When Molly overhears a conversation stating as such, she and Jacob devise a plan to escape so they can remain together.
But then Jacob remembers the letter their mam gave him for safekeeping until they were in trouble. Does this constitute "trouble"? And which grown up does he trust enough to give the letter to? And what will it mean when he does? Will he and Molly be separated? But nothing will prepare Jacob or Molly for what is to come when a secret in the letter is revealed.
THE LOST CHILDREN is a heartfelt story of love, loss and tragedy in the face of a turbulent time such as the war. The bond between the twins is so fierce no one could break it and Jacob wouldn't let them. The way he takes care of his sister and looks out for her is endearing and yet when Molly begins to find her inner strength standing up for herself and putting others needs before her own is exemplary. Jacob is the embodiment of the British 'stiff upper lip' that was so abundant of the time and yet he also showed a vulnerability which reminded us that he was just a child.
Alongside Jacob and Molly, I was delighted to return to Leadburn again and revisit Sandra, Frieda, Doris Leadbetter, Bob Nichols and Matthew Carlton, whom we all met in the previous book "The Outcast Girls". I love how Shirley blended their stories with the current one, bringing out a side not previously seen to one particular character that was simply endearing. It reminded me another favourite read of mine, "Goodnight Mr Tom".
A heartwarming story that is also heartbreaking, THE LOST CHILDREN will have you reaching for the tissues throughout but by the end you will be smiling. It's an emotional rollercoaster ride from beginning to end but one that will leave you satisfied.
A wonderful heartfelt tale that Shirley Dickson has delivered yet again! Recommended for fans of feelgood wartime historical fiction.
I would like to thank #ShirleyDickson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLostChildren in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Shirley Dickson was born and grew up in the seaside town of South Shields. She left school at fifteen and can’t remember a time when she didn’t write. She entered her first short story competition in ‘School Friend’ when she was eleven. After Shirley retired from auxiliary nursing, she was able to devote her time to writing.
After living in various locations, she settled under the big skies of Northumberland and has lived with her husband in the same house for over forty years. Shirley has three daughters and four grandchildren and likes nothing better than family gatherings.
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