You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Before reading this book, I regrettably knew nothing about the SS City of Benares. Such a tragic event, not often talked about (at least not in the US). This book was excellent, filled with emotion and lovable characters.
Before reading this book, I regrettably knew nothing about the SS City of Benares. Such a tragic event, not often talked about (at least not in the US). This book was excellent, filled with emotion and lovable characters.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
My first Hazel Gaynor book and it definitely won't be my last, I absolutely loved this one! So much so I finished this in two sittings. Definitely would have finished it in one day had I not been at other events that day!
The book is told through two points of view of Alice a schoolteacher who volunteers as a chaperone for children being sent abroad from England during WWII. The other point of view is Lily a mother of two who makes the tough decision to send them abroad instead of keeping them in London with her. When we are with Lily we first are introduced to her life in Kent, where she feels a little lost in the direction she wants her life to take. We see her volunteering to be a chaperone for the children sea evacuees and how her journey goes with that. While with Lily we see life in the big house, working class London, the effects the bombing had on the people and the city, air raids, and the conflicting emotions of whether to keep her children or send them away. The sea journey is not a simple one and we see the boat being hit by a U-boat and the catastrophic results of this and whether Alice and Lily's children will survive.
The book although fictionalised through the characters and storyline is actually based on real life events of sending children to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United states. Something I had never heard about before reading this book and which I found so interesting. The book also takes the real life story of one of these ships being hit by a U-boat and the subsequent rescue mission. The descriptive writing throughout is done brilliantly with the reader feeling like they are either in London during the blitz or on the lifeboat with Alice. I loved the characters, the storylines and everything this book offered. Definitely a page turner! A gripping tale from start to finish that tells the story of love, courage and survival instinct.
Overall I loved this one and would definitely recommend it and I can't wait to pick up more of Hazel Gaynors books!
The book is told through two points of view of Alice a schoolteacher who volunteers as a chaperone for children being sent abroad from England during WWII. The other point of view is Lily a mother of two who makes the tough decision to send them abroad instead of keeping them in London with her. When we are with Lily we first are introduced to her life in Kent, where she feels a little lost in the direction she wants her life to take. We see her volunteering to be a chaperone for the children sea evacuees and how her journey goes with that. While with Lily we see life in the big house, working class London, the effects the bombing had on the people and the city, air raids, and the conflicting emotions of whether to keep her children or send them away. The sea journey is not a simple one and we see the boat being hit by a U-boat and the catastrophic results of this and whether Alice and Lily's children will survive.
The book although fictionalised through the characters and storyline is actually based on real life events of sending children to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United states. Something I had never heard about before reading this book and which I found so interesting. The book also takes the real life story of one of these ships being hit by a U-boat and the subsequent rescue mission. The descriptive writing throughout is done brilliantly with the reader feeling like they are either in London during the blitz or on the lifeboat with Alice. I loved the characters, the storylines and everything this book offered. Definitely a page turner! A gripping tale from start to finish that tells the story of love, courage and survival instinct.
Overall I loved this one and would definitely recommend it and I can't wait to pick up more of Hazel Gaynors books!
A unique story about a horrible period during WWII when U-boats were torpedoing ships in the Atlantic. A ship carrying child refugees is sunk. A lot of mistakes were made with this program of sending children overseas to 'safety'. This is the story of one particular group.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No