With echoes of Carrie's War, and Goodnight Mister Tom, Parr brings her own fresh voice to what already feels like a wartime classic. This is also being enjoyed very much by the Y5 book club and is the last book we have to review for The Awesome Book Awards - could it end up defying expectations and being our overall winner? It's clear they are welcomed by some people in Llanbryn, but not others and that there is a deep division between the people who go the St. Mr and mrs Thomas were so kind and welcoming to the two boys, despite the town often being against them.

The Valley of Lost Secrets - LoveReading4Kids The Valley of Lost Secrets - LoveReading4Kids

Overall, this is a thrilling and touching story about change, family, and friendship, and also about giving people the chance – to support you, and surprise you. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. The Valley of Lost Secrets offered a different fictional perspective of evacuation during the war, seeing three London children move to the Welsh countryside. Lesley Parr's stunning debut takes us to Wales at the start of WWII with a group of young evacuees, They find (and lose) friendships but also stumble across a long lost secret.They sit in rows in front of the platform and, as we walk past them to the raised bit, I can feel the place swallowing us up – my little brother, all the others and me. Though this is a really great middle grade adventure/mystery with plenty of humor, Parr has explored some important themes in this novel, such as what makes a family and a community, forgiveness and acceptance, loss and guilt, courage and cowardice.

The Valley of Lost Secrets | BookTrust The Valley of Lost Secrets | BookTrust

Kindle rewards credit | Lovely and touching, if maybe a bit painful for the particularly sensitive young reader| Feels true in both the best ways and in how it presents the unkindness that will rear up in every community. I can see teachers covering World War 2 using it as a class reader, and I would not be surprised to see it featuring in awards lists in the coming year. Set during the Second World War, it tells the story of twelve year old Jimmy Travers and his younger brother Ronnie, who have been evacuated from London to the relative safety of Llanbryn, a village in Wales.His feelings of nurture and care for his younger brother, Ronnie were as expressive as his sudden bursts of indignation of outburst at Ronnie's zealous spirit and brash, forgiving behavior. Jimmy was such a real and believable protagonist - his honesty, his determination, his protectiveness for Ronnie, an his developing feelings of friendship for Florence, just flowed so naturally. A celebration of kindness and friendship at a time of upheaval, it's gripping, heart-breaking and yet full of hope. The language is sprinkled with Welsh dialect to add authenticity and there is cast of sympathetic characters and some (slightly clichéd) villains. One of the things that I really enjoyed about the book, and I’ve noticed happening more in older children’s books, is fleshed out adult characters.

The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr | Waterstones

Another lovely book by Lesley Parr that settles over you like a comforting blanket - one that already makes me very much looking forward to her next work. A gripping mystery, overflowing with heart - The Valley of Lost Secrets is one of the very best books I've read this year. The Valley of Lost Secrets is perfect for fans of Nina Bawden's Carrie's War, Michelle Magorian's Good Night, Mr. This middle-grade historical fiction is about three children evacuated from London to Wales during WW2. The story moves along at a compelling pace, the historical background is lightly touched in, the characters are memorable.i loved the simplicity of the language and the smooth incorporation of welsh words and phrases in the text.

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Jimmy's loneliness at being isolated in a new place resonated with me, that 'I already feel like a parcel, wrapped up, labelled and sent far away,' - as someone who doesn't know how to fit in and belong - yet, still wants to. Author Luke Palmer introduces his new book, Play (Firefly Press) about four boys growing up together, the challenges, the friendships, and what hap. But the story has a slightly darker feeling to it too, with themes of bullying, grief and of course the discovery of a skull - the mystery of which keeps you engaged and once revealed will have you sobbing! Jimmy has been worried that he and Ronnie will be separated, chosen by different families, but luckily, a woman named Gwen Thomas decides she will take the brothers in even though she only wanted on child. Jimmy understands it is for their safety, however this doesn’t prevent him from feeling isolated and resentful, while Ronnie is scared but views it a bit more like an adventure or holiday.

Jimmy is wary of everything and determined not to like it as it would seem like a betrayal of his own family. Find out about the latest book in the 'Girl, Missing' series, Secret Sister, in this short video by author Sophie McKenzie. Ronnie is a sweet young boy who, although he may sometimes slip up, obviously looks up to his brother immensely. The woman nods and points at Lillian Baker, who almost does a curtsy before moving along the stage and down the steps.