REVIEW: Girl with Secrets by Carol Rivers

Girl with Secrets by Carol Rivers

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW2, General Fiction

Read: 8th March 2021

Goodreads
Published: 23rd February 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A coming of age war story and family saga full of romance, mystery and danger in London’s East End. From the Sunday Times and ebook bestselling author of the Lizzie Flowers series and A Wartime Christmas comes a gripping NEW coming-of-age saga about love, loyalties and secrets.

IN THE TURMOIL OF WAR, CAN SHE KEEP HER FAMILY TOGETHER?

'Surely one of the best saga writers of her time' – Rosie Clarke

1938, East London. Nine year old Daisy Purbright is a country girl at heart and together with beloved brother Bobby, they’ve enjoyed the endless freedoms of rural England.

But when her father gambles the family’s fortunes on a speculative investment in London’s docklands, Daisy and her family are swept up into the intrigue, danger and excitement. Desperately the Purbrights attempt to settle to a new life in the East End, but the whisperings of war grow louder.

Then, one late afternoon in September 1940, Adolf Hitler conducts a paralysing bombardment on London and war tightens its grip. Life changes dramatically and closely guarded secrets threaten the Purbrights’ happiness.

Can Daisy and her family survive one of the most fateful events of the 20th century?

Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Pam Howes, Rosie Clarke and Dilly Court.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Carol River's heartwarming coming of age tale GIRL WITH SECRETS.

I have read many a story set during WW2, particularly in London, but this one is something of a different nature in that it is from the perspective of a child. For me, I found it to be eye-opening as my dad grew up during WW2 and he felt the terror of the Blitz and, later, Germany's doodlebugs, V1 and V2 rockets. Seeing the war in London's East End, where my dad lived, through the eyes of a child was as equally terrifying to hear the bombing night after night after night for 57 days straight and to see the devastation it wreaked as if we had lived it ourselves. I cannot imagine the terror a child would feel hearing the drone of those planes coming, the air raid siren warning of their approach and the explosions that came with them. The mere thought of it brings tears to my eyes. And yet, they survived.

Beginning in 1938, nine year old Daisy Purbright lives with her mother Florence, father Nicholas (pops) and brothers Bobby (10) and Matt (17) in Poplar Park Row in London's Isle of Dogs. As the only girl, Daisy has often enjoyed the spoils as such but with it also came the responsibilities of being a girl, such as helping her mother do the washing, cleaning and cooking - all of which she loathed but preferred over standing for hours in line at the shops for their measly rations, if available. Her pops, who adored his daughter, ran a family engineering business in the docklands inventing things that would one day change the world.

But Daisy was a country girl at heart, having grown up in Wattcombe before the family moved to London. She missed the fresh air and the smells of the country. But she soon adjusted to life in the East End alongside her brother Bobby. Together they explored the area, both with big dreams and ideas of what they would become when they were older. But when Daisy came up against bully Peter Brady who was beating up Bobby, she launched herself at him without a thought for herself, scratching his face to ribbons. As a result, Daisy and Bobby were punished while Peter, crying off as the injured party, didn't. Daisy seethed at the injustice of it while Bobby reminded her that Peter would not forget the incident and will look for payback. Daisy spent the rest of the school year looking over her shoulder for fear of reprisal.

As 1938 drew to a close, the rumours of war were rife. It seemed only a matter of time before Britain would find themselves in yet another war with Germany and families were already preparing themselves as Anderson shelters were delivered to homes to install in their yards. Daisy couldn't imagine anything worse than sitting in a dark smelly tin hut for hours on end and thought playing in it a better option. 

Then in September 1939, everyone's fears were realised when Britain declared war on Germany. Suddenly children were evacuated to safety in the country and school was closed indefinitely. Daisy didn't know when she would see her friend Sally again, who confided that her parents were sending her away. At first, all was peaceful and everyone thought it would all be over quickly...but then a year later came the Blitz. Daisy and her mother had been picking apples in the backyard when the siren sounded and they hurried to the shelter. Having been unprepared for attack, Florence had not yet kitted out the Anderson with supplies so Daisy and her mother spent a long night with just some lemonade and a scone to share, and no blankets or bedding. When the all clear sounded the next morning, they couldn't open the door and were trapped by the fallen debris. Florence made a decision then and there that Daisy and Bobby would be sent back to Wattcombe to stay with Grandma and Aunt Pat.

Daisy didn't want to leave her family but as the youngest two they were sent to safety. Believing they would only be there for a couple of months, the children enjoyed their time with their grandmother and aunt. The smells of the countryside, the fresh air, the warmth of the stove. But when it came to school, they were in for a shock. Their old favourite teachers had joined up so they were left with old teachers who'd come out of retirement for the duration. Daisy, as the oldest at 10, was put in charge of her class to look after them while their elderly teacher, Mrs Grainger, sat in the corner and fell asleep. Many of the children were barely old enough for school and in the midst of teaching them their numbers and reading stories, she also had to clean up when they wet themselves. Daisy, who had always loved school, hated it now and longed to return to London.

Upon their return to the East End, which Daisy now considered home, they were then sent to another school as theirs remained closed. But aside from numbers and letters and reading, Daisy is quickly learning about life and how to survive...and that adults, as well as children, have secrets. She has always overheard conversations she didn't understand and when confiding them to Bobby he would always scold her saying eavesdroppers never hear anything good. But as Daisy learns, maybe Bobby was right...because some conversations she has overheard have left her feeling uncomfortable. And Daisy soon becomes the bearer of many secrets within the family as she unwittingly overhears whispers she shouldn't have heard.

Then after one particularly rough night of bombing, Daisy, Bobby and their mother step out of the confines of the Anderson thinking their house once again was spared. But as Daisy opens the door, she catches a flash of orange and red before her mother yells "Incendiary!" and then BOOM! it explodes...and everything goes black. 

There is so much to GIRL WITH SECRETS that I can't begin to outline it all. It's a coming of age story as Daisy grows from a 9 year old to almost 12 by the book's end. It's a heartfelt tale of families, of love, of danger during wartime in London's East End. It is about more than the war and yet it is about growing up and survival. It's one girl's journey through childhood, secrets and war.

My first read by this author, GIRL WITH SECRETS is unique in the way that it is from a child's perspective. As an adult who is wrapped up in their involvement in the war effort, a child's is one of innocence and fantasy. The war is just a far off thing that doesn't seem real...until it is. And yet we get glimpses of that childhood still there in the midst of the constant bombings when they experience the pure joy of building a cart out of a milk crate and pram wheels or skipping with a piece of discarded rope. But then we also get their terror and fear when those bombs drop night after night after night. It's a unique and somewhat refreshing perspective as it there is still a touch of innocence woven throughout and is not bogged down with detailed descriptions and narrative. What we get in GIRL WITH SECRETS is a simple narrative that is as innocent as it is eye opening.

I simply loved GIRL WITH SECRETS that I really didn't want it to end. It is a heartwarming story that is unique and will bring a tear to your eye so tissues are recommended.

Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Rosie Clarke and Pam Howes.

I would like to thank #CarolRivers, #RachelsRandomResources, #Netgalley and #AmazonPublishing for an ARC of #GirlWithSecrets in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Mum and Dad were both East Enders who were born on the famous or should I say the then infamous Isle of Dogs. Their family were immigrants who travelled to the UK from Ireland and France, while others emigrated to America.

As a child I would listen to the adults spinning their colourful stories, as my cousins and I drank pop under the table.

I know the seeds of all my stories come from those far off times that feel like only yesterday. So I would like to say a big heartfelt thank you to all my family and ancestors wherever you are now ... UK, Ireland, France or America, as you've handed down to me the magic and love of story telling.

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