I try and avoid sad books, because there’s enough sadness in real life and I read to escape.
Some authors like to wallow in the sadness of their stories, while others use the sadness to show fortitude and the resilience of the human spirit. In spite of being a book filled with tragedies, this one belongs in the latter category, and I am very glad that I read it.
As I have mentioned a few times, I find it interesting when my reading topics seem to follow patterns. I recently read another book that centered on the evacuation of young children to the countryside out of cities and strategic towns in WWII England.
This one has a similar setting, but I was pleased to find a different perspective on the experiences of the children. Molly and Jacob were fortunate to have found a town like Leadburn which proved that it really does take a village to raise children, especially in the face of war and uncertainty.
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I don’t want to go too much into the plot because I think that the reader needs to experience Molly and Jacob’s journey on their own; it will be much more powerful.
I liked how they befriended people who were in similar situations to them. Everybody in the town had lost somebody important, whether it was in the war, by natural causes, or (in Frieda’s case) by force. They all showed bravery in the face of adversity, especially Molly.
The author did a fantastic job of illustrating how loss doesn’t have to define the rest of one’s life and how good people can come together to support each other, maybe thereby lessening their feelings of loss. Isolation does nobody any good.
I also liked how the author showed the importance of making connections with other people. One never knows the influence a person can have on somebody else. Sometimes, it could even result in people who were kept apart coming back together.
Ultimately heartwarming and uplifting, I’m glad that I got through the sad parts (and yes, I did cry) because Molly and Jacob will stay with me for a long time.
Author Bio:
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.
