Growing Through The War Years

An Orphan’s Christmas by Katie Flynn is an historical novel that I read in just one sitting.

The action begins in 1936 as we follow the lead character through the orphanage to a wooden dwelling and through the war years.

Molly is a plucky girl. It is her personality and her strength of character that get her through some very tough circumstances from the age of eleven when we first meet her.

The orphanage is stifling. It is a place of ‘less than’ with little heating and little to eat. An older girl bullies Molly, forcing her to make choices she did not anticipate.

Bonds formed in childhood persist into adulthood until the rose-tinted spectacles are removed.

A character who is on the sidelines proves to be more loyal than one who takes centre stage.

With World War II comes both bravery and loss. Characters live for today because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

I enjoyed An Orphan’s Christmas. It was an engaging read.

JULIA WILSON