Charming And Nostalgic

The Evacuee Summer by Katie King is a delightful historical novel set in Harrogate during the summer of 1940. It is the second book in the Evacuee series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The threat of the blitz meant children were evacuated from London during the autumn of 1939. The phoney war reigned and some children returned home.

The Evacuee Summer is a time of simplicity. Simple pleasures were enjoyed as money and goods were scarce. Homes were opened to evacuees and mothers with babies. On the whole they were welcomed by the locals but there were a few skirmishes.

Separation from husbands did cause some friction as lonely husbands did not always realise what they had until they had thrown it away. Hurt wives were comforted by new friends.

There was a pulling together of the English as Churchill rallied the bulldog spirit with his speeches. The radio was important in family life.

The war seemed far away from the fields of Yorkshire until planes of ours and the enemy were seen blackening the skies.

The Evacuee Summer was a time of camaraderie and enjoying and appreciating the love of family and friends. It was a nostalgic look at a time which in reality must have been hard to live through. I thoroughly enjoyed this charming read.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON