Thanks a million Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book. A truly enjoyable and heartwarming story with hints of humour. I honestly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

“The Runaway Children” by Sandy Taylor is a historical look into the plight of those children who were sent away from the Luftwaffe bombs in the big cities of Britain. Most children were at the mercy of those who offered to house them until the danger passed. Most families were wonderful to these poor refugees who missed and worried about their families in danger. However, there were some unscrupulous people who just wanted these children for work horses around their farms and some had even more nefarious reasons for taking in these children.

This story is about thirteen year old Nell and her six year old sister who were sent to stay with a loving pastor and his wife. They were treated as their own children and were very happy there. However, after a time they had to be moved to another place where circumstances weren’t so welcoming. After a frightening incident, Nell and her sister ran away. Nell was resourceful in that she made sure that her sister was well taken care of. As the war lingered, so did the escapades that these two got into.

I enjoyed the book as I love to read about war times in Britain. I thought the characters were well defined and caused the reader to be sympathetic to some and angry at others…a good mix.

This book has everything I wanted but oh I wished too see more of olive. Great book and not generally my style.

What an unforgettable and gut-wrenching book that simply cannot be put down! Set against the backdrop of World War 2 this incredible story of two evacuated sisters is full of laughter, tears, love and friendship. A beautiful story that I am so very grateful I had the opportunity to read prior to publication. Thank you--this book was so special!

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy. 3.5 stars.

Thirteen year old Nell and her five year old sister are evacuated to Wales at the height of the Blitz in 1942. Leaving their mother, baby brother and eleven year old brother behind. Wales is strange, green, full of animals, strange names and people who talk funny. ( I can say this as I am Welsh lol)

They are taken in by the local Minister and his wife and soon make friends and settle into a different way of life. However things take a turn for the worse and the two girls are forced to go on the run. I laughed and cried through this book and loved both of these characters. Nell is caring, thoughtful and loving. Olive, oh little Olive is hilarious, mischievous and some of her conversations make me laugh out loud. Her interactions with adults were so funny and her prolific use of swear words was endearing and just so innocent.

The ending though just bordered on schmalzy and a little too Hallmark for my liking. Took me back to my childhood though and bread and dripping with lashings of salt with a side of inhaling second hand smoke.

Starting in London’s East End in the Bermonsea district, we meet Nell, Tony and Olive as they wait for their mother to give birth to a new sibling. It’s 1942 and bombs are ravaging the city and countryside, and as of this moment, the children have avoided being part of Operation Pied Piper – the evacuation of London’s children to the countryside to live in a more secure area with plans to return home after the war. With a father away fighting and air raids and poverty ever-present, it is decided that the three children shall evacuate and their mother will stay back with the newest addition to the family. Promises made to reunite as soon as feasible, Nell, Olive and Tony head off to places unknown until Tony, unwilling to leave the city or his mother, jumps off the train as it leaves the station. Seemingly endless hours later, Nell and Olive arrive in a completely new and totally foreign environment: Wales. With unfamiliar language in the air, trees, green and sheep unlike the ‘fluffy white balls of wool that they know from storybooks, the girls are unsettled. Taken in by the Methodist vicar and his wife – the girls are treated to al’ sorts of new experiences: a large bed, plenty of food, no air-raid sirens, and above all, kindness. They are thriving and growing strong – but Nell’s worry for her mother and brothers won’t lessen.

Just as they are both settled in and after a wonderful Christmas unlike any other, the Vicar has been relocated to Cardiff where the church feel his services are needed – the frequent bombings of the docks and city mean the girls can’t go along – and the rehousing official finds them a place on a farm some 20 miles from the little town they have come to love and view as home. Far from an ideal situation, when Nell’s protection of Olive leads to a confrontation, the girls run away for London – expecting to be joined by their new friend at the farm, Jimmy. When Jimmy doesn’t appear – the long walk to London is full of peril as Nell, determined to keep young Olive (now 7) safe , has her moving forward to the point of exhaustion. With help (and care) from an elderly widower, the girls are sheltered and cared for until a train ride back to London leads them home again.

Of course, the ensuing year has ravaged London even further, and the East End and docks are heaviest hit. While no one knows of her mother, brothers or father – there are neighbors who take the girls in, and plan to relocate to the coast, leaving word for her mother with a neighbor who is determined to stay settled in Bermonsea.
Throughout the story, Nell’s own determination keeps her and Olive safe, yet their final landing point at a guesthouse becomes the place where both can shine and grow. Each new place of acceptance allows Nell and Olive to grow and find friends, opportunities and new ways of looking at the world. As Nell realizes that her East End upbringing didn’t let her see the possible options for her life, she’s grown and learned about love, life, family and the possibility of hope even in the darkest times.

Perfectly charming – the story has moments of tension, humor (Olive is a total hoot), tears and joy as the seemingly impossible in the midst of war, loss and trial, become possible as Nell’s voice, determination and hope carry her journey forward for herself and Olive. A lovely book from Taylor and a perfect introduction to her writing.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=”https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9xD/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

I was unable to stop reading this book, it's gripping,mesmerizing and will leave you feeling many emotions throughout it! It was heartbreaking and heartwarming and when all sense of hope was lost it was found. Portrays streetwise children in London who must be evacuated for their safety during the early 1940's. This is a keeper!
Pub Date 08 Dec 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

If this was a movie I would watch it over and over. It should be a movie actually. So well written. Characters that you love instantly. I just wanted to stop into this book and help these children on their journey!

Princess Fuzzypants here:
I cannot imagine how wrenching it must have been for the children of London who were evacuated during the bombing in WWII. I have read some horrible tales of what happened when children who were products of one environment were thrust into a completely alien environment. It was a time that brought out the best and the worst of people.
As the bombings increase, Nell and her little sister Olive are sent to faraway Wales. Her younger brother, Mother and baby brother stay behind so it is up to Nell to protect her little sister. Luckily, they are billeted with a wonderful and loving couple who change the girls' world in ways no one could have imagined. Sadly, when the husband, a vicar, is transferred back to a city where bombs are falling, the girls are forced to move to a farm on the oppositive side of the spectrum.
It is so bad that the two are forced to runaway after Nell thinks she has killed the son of the farm who was about to assault Olive. There are many adventures, some terrifying and some filled with kindness and love, as they make their way back to the East End. Once there, they find their home has been demolished and no one knows the fate of their family.
The reader is swept along by the journey of these two and how the good and the evil they face changes them profoundly. It is heartbreaking at times and life affirming at others, probably the way it was back then. Having read historical accounts of the children who were evacuated, this book reads realistically. To say that Nell and Olive are plucky and admirable would be an understatement. I cared deeply about what happened to them so it was rewarding to see them through the trials and tribulations.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.

The time is 1942, in London and all around are air-raid sirens and bombs blasting, causing destruction of lives and homes as the war is in full scale.
Nell is a young girl whose father is off in the war and her Mom worries for the safety of Nell, her sister, Olive.
Food is scarce. She sends them to a safer area in England with the promise of "Hope ,Safety,and one day all being reunited".
Nell and Olive set off on the train to a safer location.
The girls find a wonderful family who love and care for them., but for how long?
This is a heart-felt novel that made me cry, hold my breath as the girls struggle to survive, and find their sense of belonging in war time where there is only pain and hurt.
"Sometimes it's the kindness of strangers that surprises you most" is the theme for this beautifully written book.
This is a novel of hope and faith. Beautiful!

Over the past several years I have become increasing interested in the history surrounding World War II and because of that I have begun reading more and more historical fiction books dealing with this subject matter with many more waiting to be read.  One thing that I really enjoy about reading them is that each one deals with a different aspect of that time period, some on the war itself with others on what it was like living in that period and being affected by the war.

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor dealt with an aspect of the war that I was not familiar with and found to be very interesting and tragic.  This story follows two sisters, Nell and Olive, thirteen and five at the opening of the story, as they are forced to evacuate London in 1942 as the city is being bombed.  The children of the city, and many others, were evacuated to the surrounding countryside in order to keep them safe from the bombings and constant air raid sirens.

Unfortunately this meant that the children where placed on trains that sent into areas that did not know to live with people that had never met.  For Nell and Olive all starts off well.  They are taken in to loving home in a picturesque village, but before too long circumstances and they were forced to move on.  Along the way they learned the hard way that there are both good and bad people in the world.

I really enjoyed this read, though I did find it a bit slow in some parts.  I loved watching the bond between Nell and Olive develop from simply sisters to best friends over the years that they spent together on their own as well as the development of Nell as a character.  Overall Olive was my favorite character with her witty remarks and her smart comments and I found myself smiling several times as I read along.

I would definitely recommend this book for those who enjoy historical fiction.  It opened my eyes to an aspect of World War II that I was not aware of.  I look forward to reading more my Taylor.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this book.

This is my first book by this author and I enjoy her style of storytelling immensely. This story takes place during WWII in the United Kingdom, both England and Wales. It is the story of two sisters that join many children in the countryside, outside of the bigger cities where the Germans are bombing. Thirteen year old Nell and her younger sister Olive are sent away by their mother who has just had a baby and is also hoping to hear from their father who is off at war, so she has decided to stay in London, hoping to hear from her husband, her other son who was supposed to have evacuated with the sisters, jumped of the train at the last moment, to help his Mom.
The sisters end up in a quaint little town in Wales, and end up loving it there, assigned to a great couple that takes them in, and treat them like family, they meet some special friends, and know most people in the town. All changes when that couple is reassigned to a different area and the girls end up on a long journey to get back home. The people they meet and the experiences they have, make you just want to keep reading. This was a wonderful story, and a journey worth taking.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book.

Interesting story of children that were sent away from their family for their safety during WWII, and the atrocities that happened to them during this time. The story is easy to read and a bit predictable, but still a very interesting read. During their journey, their goal is to be reunited with their families after the dangers of war are gone. Their journey takes them places you can't imagine with Nell struggling to maintain her and Olive's safety. Nell and Olive find friendship, love, loss and fear, but will they find home...

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor

The Runaway children is a beautiful tale about humanity, unconditional love and friendship.

The story is set in world war II time period. Two sisters, Nell and Olive are sent away from London to country side as evacuees. Their mother and two brothers decide to stay in London in case their father returned from war. At Welsh county, they were taken in by a Vicar and his wife. Vicar and his wife are very kind people. Olive and Nell settle very happily and find it as their second home. Everything seems to be going well until the Vicar is called in for war duty and the girls were placed in another home. Then, when little Olive’s safety is threatened by a man in the new home,Nell has to make a decision that will change their lives forever. They decide to runaway and find their way home. The rest of the story is their journey back home.

Sandy Taylor does a great job in bringing back the terrors of the world war II. It shows people suffering through the bomb raids, evacuations, the pain of losing our loved ones but we see humanity shining even in the darkest of times. It reminded me of 2015 floods that happened near my home town ( Chennai) where when the government closed their eyes, people opened up their homes and hearts. As the story progresses, We could see Nell transform from an innocent girl into a strong woman who is responsible for her sister's safety. And Olive, What a darling ! She is sweet, innocent, curious and funny. She would make you laugh when you least expect it. The conversations between Olive and Nell crack me up all the time. The bond that they share is amazing. Throughout the journey, we (the sisters) meet different kinds of people, some nicer than the others but everyone makes an impact. This book has amazing characters and its full of emotions.It is not the kind of book I typically read and It took me a while to get out of my comfort zone. I found it really slow in the beginning but as I read through, I was never able to put it down.

The Runaway Children about how a disastrous event such as a war brings out the best in people. It is a book packed with emotions, great characters and lot of beautiful moments that would stay in your mind for a very long time.

4/5 Stars.

What a fabulous read, enjoyed every page, it made me laugh and cry. Didn’t want it to end.

The war, the blitz, the fear and worry of parents that you will lose your children to a bomb and the desire to keep them safe even if it means sending them away . This was the reality that led to the evacuation of many children from London in the early 1940’s. The story, harrowing at times, brought to life by two characters I couldn’t help but love. Thirteen year old Nell has to grow up quickly as she evacuates with her
five year old sister Olive from London. They first go to the Welsh countryside to stay with a kind couple. Circumstances change and they are moved to a farm family where a different kind of danger lurks. Nell gathers up the strength as the two sisters are on the run to keep Olive safe.

I’ve read more than a few WWII stories and there is always something new to learn. I knew of these evacuations of people, many of whom were children and Sandy Taylor conveys the emotional journey in this book. Ultimately it about the bonds of family and friendship and the kindness of people that somehow thrived during these awful times. My rating would be 3.5 if I could. There was something about the dialogue that didn’t quite feel realistic to me at times and the ending was a bit too pat. Having said that I felt this was an important story and it depicted another facet of the war that I didn’t know much about, so I’m rounding up to 4 stars.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley.

My Review: 5/5

What a wonderful read! It takes place during WWII, in the outskirts of London. As children start to be evacuated to safer areas, Nell and her sister Olive soon join. The story takes us through their adventures, some good and some terrifying as we watch the two sisters grow and blossom.

The writing is absolutely beautiful. It’s a story of hope, and the true importance of family. I grew to love Nell and Olive as I traveled across the lands with them. Each place they stayed created unforgivable memories as they both met delightful and long-lasting friends. This was back in the day when letters were written, and times were much simpler (despite the war). They were innocent times, as Nell struggles to keep her sister safe, but also with herself growing into the woman she will become. I loved Nell. Her innocence was enduring and I enjoyed being with her as she discovered feelings of love, and guilt all the while making Olive her number one priority.

This is a book that I will read over and over again. The simple, yet complex story is one I won’t forget anytime soon!

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor is the story of Nell and Olive, two sisters evacuated to Wales from London during the war. After a promising start, the girls' fortunes change and they are forced to run away and make their way back home.

There are so many adjectives I could use to describe this book, the story and the characters - charming, heart-warming, captivating, endearing, a story of love, friendship, hope, resilience .....I could go on and on. I loved it. The Runaway Children had me both laughing out loud and crying on the bus to work. I did not want my journey to end until I had completed Olive and Nell's journey.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As sisters evacuated from London during WWII, Nell and Olive will be staying with strangers. The friendship and love between these two is touching and heartwarming. Having to return to bombed London, their bonds hold them together. Well written.

It’s 1942 and Britain is in the midst of World War II. Nell Patterson, thirteen years old and her little sister Olive, five, must leave their home in Bermondsey, London and be evacuated to the country to escape the air raids. Neither of the girls has ever been away from home before; Bermondsey is all they’ve ever known and they're reluctant to leave their loving mother.

Much to their surprise, the girls love their new home in the village of Glengaryth, Wales. Both are met with kindness by their foster parents and quickly make friends among the other local and evacuee children. The girl's lives are idyllic until unforeseen circumstances create an upheaval that leads to danger. Nell must save her little sister and herself; deciding they must set out, on their own, for the safety of Bermondsey and their mother.

This story is absolutely charming; I was pulled in right from the first paragraph. Nell is kind and brave, with the sort of insecurities that most girls experience at the age of thirteen. Her love for her sister Olive is touching and tempered with the usual frustrations older sisters feel when they have responsibility for a younger sibling. Olive is a joy; funny and original, she's the comic relief. Supporting characters, both children and adults are well drawn, and the settings are described in detail, giving a strong sense of time and place. The author has done her research and it shows.

If you enjoyed Anne of Green Gables, Goodnight Mr Tom, Carrie's War or read Katie Flynn or Rosie Goodwin novels, you'll love this. I wouldn’t hesitate to give this book to young readers, perhaps junior high and above. It's written from Nell's point of view and the simplicity of the writing and language reflect the fact that she's thirteen to sixteen years old when telling her story. Because there are a couple of unsettling scenes and more mature themes later in the book, parents may think it inappropriate for middle grade readers. All together, a lovely book.