The Orphan Sisters is a beautiful story about two girls, Esther and Dorothy, who find themselves abandoned by their own mother, and are dropped off at an asylum for children, With WWII on the horizon, Shirley Dickson does a wonderful job at showing what it must have been like to live during that time of fear and sadness. A wonderful debut author!

Oh wow! Where do I begin with this book? I cannot believe this a debut it is THAT good!

THE ORPHAN SISTERS is beautifully told endearing story filled with love, laughter and heartbreak. What I also loved about this story was that it had an element of mystery to it as well.

It begins in 1929 when 4 year old Esther and 8 year old Dorothy were told by their mother, Eleanor Makepeace, that they were going to a special place. Little Esther was excited by the prospect and the ride in the tramcar whilst Dorothy was not so much. Upon arriving at this special place called Blakely Hall the girls soon discovered that it was an orphanage and was to be their new home until they turned fifteen. And that Blakely Hall was anything but special. Mrs Knowles was the matron, who was a strict disciplinarian with cold eyes, and Esther being so young couldn't understand why their mam had abandoned them. But as long as she had Dorothy, Esther knew she could endure anything. Blakely Hall was not a pleasant place and Esther, still smarting from her mother's abandonment, hardened her heart, rebelling against life at the orphanage. But all she had to do was to bide her time until she could leave.

Dorothy was the first to leave and was placed in service not far from the orphanage. She would visit Esther weekly until it was her little sister's time to leave.

By 1940 both sisters were free of Blakely Hall in body, though not quite in spirit. War had broken out two years before and Etty (as she was now known) and Dorothy find themselves learning how to live on their own and vowing to remain together. Life in Blakely taught them well when it came to rationing as they had lived without for so long that even living on rations seemed a luxury when they compared it to what they had, or rather didn't have, at the orphanage. Dorothy had married a wonderful man who adored Etty and, while Esther was apprehensive about sharing her sister with another, she soon discovered she loved Laurie just as much.

Blakely Hall had left their mark on the sisters - Etty in particular. She is defiant, questioning everything, and a little rebellious. She is determined to do something meaningful and make a different in the war. Dorothy, on the other hand, is the nurturer. She is content with making a home, taking things as they come, and often being the peacemaker and voice of reason for her sister. The two sisters are completely different and yet the love they have for each other is beautiful, heartfelt and fiercely loyal.

There is one point they disagree on and that is the topic of their mother. Dorothy has always wondered what happened to her and why she left them at Blakely Hall. She has always wanted to seek her out and find out. Etty, on the other hand, does not. Ever since the realisation that their mother had abandoned them and was not coming back, Etty hardened her heart towards their mother and claimed to want nothing to do with her. She didn't care what happened just as their mother hadn't for them when leaving them at Blakely. It tore at Dorothy's heart, but knowing how strongly Etty felt about it, respected her younger sister's feelings not to follow look for her.

The sisters' journey takes them through love, loss and the devastation of war as they each find themselves, embracing life and all that comes their way. I couldn't help but want the best for both Etty and Dorothy, hoping they come through the war - not unscathed, but fulfilled. At a time when air raids and bombs were an almost nightly occurence, what it was like to live through such devastation and atrocities must have been heartwrenching.
However, Shirley Dickson brings it all to life that the reader has a real sense of being there. Of hearing those sirens, of seeing the shadows of bombs, of hearing that whistling before they drop, of feeling that fear, of life during war. The story of Etty and Dorothy is breaktaking. It's heartbreaking and outstanding. A truly remarkable story that will remain with me for some time to come. I was surprised that THE ORPHAN SISTERS is her debut novel - it is THAT good.

I definitely recommend THE ORPHAN SISTERS. You will laugh, you will cry. But most of all, you will be entranced by Etty and Dorothy's story. And by the time you reach the end, you won't want to let them go.

A huge thank you to #ShirleyDickson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheOrphanSisters in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. It was unfortunately not something that kept my interest. I am sure their are many others that will really enjoy it

This really was a great book! Such a great story and the characters were so captivating. New author to look forward too!

This was a wonderful story and I loved it . Set between 1929 and 1945 it’s the story of 2 sisters who at a young age are sent to live in an orphanage . We follow their lives as they grow up and all through the book we see how close s relationship the two sisters have . It’s set before and during world war 2. Hard to believe it was a debut book as it was so good . Can’t wait for next book by this author .

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this arc.
Such a beautiful and memorable story. It had me in floods of tears in parts!
Two little girls presumably abandoned by their mother in an orphanage. When the eldest reaches the age of sixteen she's allowed to leave and gets work. A short while later the youngest leaves too. So life begins afresh for the two sisters. It's war time and people struggle to survive. Read on everyone and don't miss out on a fantastic debut novel by Shirley Dickson. Definitely five stars!!

One sister evolves as does her husband. One sister remains the steady compass as does her husband. 2 of the characters are self-serving and will never change while others are so kind they will never fulfill their dreams. Taking us through wartime, births and deaths the author shows us how 1 decision can change are path of life

The Orphan Sisters

by Shirley Dickson

In between the Great War and World War II, two sisters are dropped off by their widowed mother at the austere orphanage Blakely. Etty, the younger girl, has no warning or understanding of what had started out to be a fun family adventure on the train. Dorothy, the older of the two, is able to deal with the circumstances somewhat better. The girls remain there until they reach their fifteenth year. At that time each undergoes an adjustment to a world so different from the institution that had become an uncomfortable and regimented “home.”

In The Orphan Sisters, we trace the girls’ lives as they become adults, never willing to be far apart from each other. They have hopes and dreams and make choices that are life altering. As they move towards maturity, Great Britain is thrust into the war which affects every area of their lives with rationing, young men being called up for duty, relationships with the awareness that each day may be their last, and women being encouraged to support the war effort by taking on jobs.

The most dramatic parts of the book depict the physical and emotional effects of the bombings. There was great fear as people huddled in shelters and bombs exploded around them.

Shirley Dickson is a great storyteller. She weaves a tale that grips your heart and puts you in Geordie land with the accent and dialect particular to Tyneside. You will want everything to go well for Etty and Dorothy in the midst of the pain and chaos that surrounds them and invades their lives. You will hope for them to finally find peace in their search for their mother’s love.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction


Publication: January 22, 2019—Bookouture

Memorable Lines:

The Mistress’s smile was more of a grimace—it didn’t look at all welcoming. Her eyes held no warmth in them, and dull and glazed, they reminded Esther of dead fish eyes.

Thankful for being saved, she breathed in the acrid air. But the world now seemed a more frightening place, and even the moon, soaring high in a clear sky, appeared to have a malevolent face.

The nation was at war; an aerial attack might happen any minute, but if your nappies weren’t blindingly white as they flapped on the line—then, according to the housewife law, you’d failed as a mother.

The Orphan Sisters is the début novel from Shirley Dickson. It has such a striking and impressionable cover and that tagline certainly rings true as the further you delve deeper into the book which follows the story of two sisters Etty and Dorothy. 'Amid the heartbreak of war, two sisters only have each other'. This statement couldn't have been more true as right from the moment their mother abandoned them at Blakely Hall, an orphanage, Etty and Dorothy only had one another despite Etty clinging to the hope that one day their mother would return to reclaim them.

The question that stuck with me right from the very first chapter was - why would their mother leave them in the manner in which she did? Why did she never make contact and just leave the two sisters to their own fate more or less? The brief prologue set me up thinking such a thing would happen but as this is not referred to until the very end again it did go out of my mind. When we came back to it the author had certainly thrown another little twist in that left me changing my opinion regarding characters and certain situations.

Given the title of the book I presumed the majority of this book would be set in the orphanage but instead I would say about 20% of it was and then we moved on to follow the girls once they had reached the age where they were deemed adults and they had to venture out into the big bad world. Dorothy came of age first leaving Etty to weather the daily struggles of the orphanage on her own. It was so heartbreaking and cruel to read the scene where their mother left them, I couldn't understand why a woman could do this except she must have had a very valid and strong reason to do so.

Dorothy seemed to be more accepting of the situation but for Etty the more she comes to realise her mother will not come back for them the more it eats her up inside and she is determined once she can finally free herself of the prison she feels she is in then she will make something or her life. No matter what it takes or no matter the cost. I feel the chapters set in the orphanage were pivotal in showing how both Etty and Dorothy coped with the rest of their lives. It formed them as people and in my mind they turned out very differently than if they had remained in a solid family unit.

The chapters in the orphanage moved forward at a rapid pace, years were dealt with in a paragraph or two in order to speed up the lives of the girls. Dorothy leaves and marries a real genuine, lovely man with no ulterior motives. Lawrence Calvert was the father figure Etty didn't have and he was a marvellous husband to Dorothy. Their relationship was touching and a joy to behold given what Dorothy had been through in the past, I wanted even more of him to feature in the story. This method of moving time forward happened quite often in the book, one minute you could be reading about Etty as a teenager in the orphanage and then next thing she was out in the world looking for a job and a man of her own. I understand the author wanted to move the story on so the focus could turn to the years of World War Two which formed the bones of the story from the midway point and to me were the sections of the story that most held my interest. But still I felt issues and storylines were brought up in a paragraph and solved by the next page, things needed more fleshing out instead of being rushed through and I found it disconcerting and it upset the rhythm of the story for a time. This would be my only issue with the book, but as it is the first book from this author and it showed so much promise, I think there is plenty of time for this to be resolved in future books.

Dorothy is a softer person compared to Etty and I loved her gentle disposition and caring nature. She never judged Etty's actions or the situations she found herself in. Instead she was always there in the background ready to step in and offer solace and advice when needed. Etty was a different kettle of fish altogether and a character not without plenty of faults to her name. It was great to see a character with flaws and who was willing to admit to herself that she wasn't all perfect and did make mistakes. Whether she always learned from these mistakes was another matter and this made me like her one minute and then the next I couldn't make up my mind about her. I enjoy this as I was very much indecisive until the last chapter or two when I made my final judgement as to whether Etty had redeemed herself or not in my eyes.

I think Etty was so hardened, especially mentally, by the traumatic experiences of her childhood that it coloured her outlook on life. She made rash decisions and got involved with someone she shouldn't have as her judgement was often clouded. The sections of the book set during World War Two were very well written especially the scenes featuring the air raid. They were tense and fraught with danger and apprehension and the author really brought alive the feelings of worry and desperation that existed for many at the time on a daily basis. It tested Etty to the max and showed another side to her character. Etty has to battle with her conscious a lot given some of the predicaments she finds herself in and I questioned would she have been better off telling the truth in the first place instead of harbouring secrets close to her chest? Again events in her childhood made her not see straight or to look for love in the wrong place, a place where love didn't seem genuine. Instead I felt she was being used and the love she sought was right under her nose but maybe she wanted that little bit of fire and excitement in her life but gave scant thought to the overall cost and the feelings of others.

Overall The Orphan Sisters was an enjoyable read despite some of the slight issues I found with it. As previously mentioned, for a début read it was very good but I sense there is a lot more to come from Shirley Dickson. That she is really only warming up with what she can do writing wise. I thoroughly enjoyed the era she wrote about and would love to see more from her featuring WW2 but maybe as I have said not to gloss over certain aspects of the storyline and flesh them out a bit more. Fans of wartime sagas will enjoy this book and I look forward to seeing in what direction Shirley's writing will take her next.

Sisters Dorothy and Etty are traumatised by their abandonment by their mother when they were left at an orphanage without any explanation. Life at Blakely Hall was hard, they were given just enough food to maintain their ability to work and a basic uniform to wear. Therefore when they were released amid WWII the hardships of rationing didn’t come as a shock to them.

I loved the character of Laurie, who married Dorothy. A big, strong man with a heart of gold and he became like a brother to Etty, looking after her just like his wife. When Laurie had to go away to war the girls were left alone once more. The bond between them was so strong, through happiness and heartbreak they supported each other without question. The girls never really got over the fact that their mother had left them when they were so young and both needed to know why she acted as she did. If the truth was ever uncovered, would it be a blessing or a curse?

This was a compelling debut with a steady storyline which lead to a gripping finish. The main character Etty was quite flawed but she had a good heart and I couldn’t help but like her. It showed that love is not always a simple path, but one that cannot be ignored. The sense of family and companionship comes over very strongly and I will definitely look out for Shirley Dickson’s next novel.

I found Etty and Dorothy’s story utterly compelling and recommend to anyone who loves books centred around the time of WWII.

In 1929, four year old Esther and eight year old, Dorothy were told by their mother that they would be going to a special place. Esther was excited to ride in the tramcar while Dorothy was less excited about their trip. Arriving at Blakely Hall, an asylum for orphaned children run by Mrs Knowles, was to be the girls’ new home until they turned fifteen. Esther, being so young, could not understand why their mother had abandoned them, but Esther knew that she could endure anything as long as Dorothy was by her side. The orphanage was not a nice place and Mrs Knowles ran the asylum with an iron fist. Esther learned to toughen up and harden her heart just to make it through until she could finally leave.

Now that both sisters are out of the orphanage, times are getting a lot harder especially since war is on the horizon. Both Esther and Dorothy find themselves, for the first time in years, learning how to live on their own always vowing to stay together and in the back of their mind, always wondering why their mother left them. Their journey takes them through love, loss, and the atrocities of war as they each find themselves and learn what they are both capable of becoming.

The Orphan Sisters is a beautifully moving story and I found myself invested in both Esther and Dorothy’s lives right from the beginning. Esther is definitely the defiant one who questions everything. She goes after what she wants and is determined to make a difference in the war. Her sister, Dorothy, is the the nurturer. She is content with her life and seems to be more of the peacemaker and takes things as they come. Esther and Dorothy could be no more different than night and day, but the love that they had for each other is so touching and heartfelt. Esther and Dorothy are fleshed out characters that I could not help feeling for and wanting good things to come to both of them especially during a war where people were losing their lives and family members.

Shirley Dickson really shines light on what it must have been like during World War II and how fearful people had become especially with nightly raids and air horns blowing constantly. But on the same token, Dickson shows that war can not break someone’s spirit and that people can persevere during trying times. Esther and Dorothy lived life to the fullest – falling in love, experience heartache, making friends, losing people they loved. The Orphan sisters embraced life and everything that comes along with it.

I am so shocked that The Orphan Sisters is Shirley Dickson’s debut novel. It feels as if Dickson has been writing forever and she has a backlog of bestsellers under her belt. Dickson puts so much heart into this story and it shows. She will pull you in with her writing and never let go even after the last page is read.

The Orphan Sisters left me completely breathless. It is a heartbreaking tale that at times brought me to tears. This is truly a remarkable and outstanding story and I can honestly say this is and will be my top read of the year. There are not enough of stars available to give this book, that’s how good it is. Shirley Dickson has acquired a new fan. If you love stories set during World War II, then I urge you to pick up a copy and immerse yourself in a wonderfully written unputdownable book.

The Orphan Sisters is a debut novel but only in name. Shirley Dickson brings us a well versed, concise story that covers the very interesting lives of two sisters. Dorothy is 11 and Esther - Ettie by preference - is but 3 when the girls are placed in the Blakely Hall Orphanage in Westoe Village, Shields England by their mother in November 1929. Dorothy is calm mannered and sedate. Ettie is a fireball. And life at Blakely Hall is asture, with strict rules, little to eat and chores that keep the children busy all day. But despite the fact that their mother promised to return for them, Dorothy is released into service at age 15 on November 1937, and Ettie to Dorothy's care shortly after her marriage to sweet Laurie in February 1940. The girls are together again.

In spite of the war, they are happy. Dorothy is madly in love with her Navy husband, and Ettie is pleased with her job and thrilled to finally be out from under the thumb of the wicked headmistress at the orphanage. Life in Shields is covered picturesquely both before and during the war. The dates, the movies, the clothes are exquisite. Both girls have fine friends and Ettie has a fellow. Shields is often bombed and life is pretty uncertain but you find happy when you look for it, regardless. And wildly exciting at times, as well.

This is an excellent peek into the minds and souls of women in wartime. It is a wonderful slice of life in England in World War II. It is a novel I can happily refer to friends and family, and one I will want to read again at leisure.

I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Shirley Dickson, and Book Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

I've been reading quite a lot of books set during WW2 recently and this one grabbed me from the start. It's a book that will really pull on your heartstrings as you engage with the two young abandoned sisters. Shirley Dickson has a knack for recreating a terrific sense of time and place and it's an amazing debut novel. Aspiring authors note that you should never give up on your dreams. If you enjoy fast-paced stories that are full of the highs and lows of life set against the background of WW2 then you'll love this book.

The Orphan Sister's is the debut novel for Shirley Dickson and what a triumph it is. The story picked me up and transported me back to the 1940's and painted a vivid picture of North East life amidst World War II. I was hooked from the opening chapters and pulled into a familiar world with similar stories I have heard from family over the years.This is due to the fact that the story is set in my home town of South Shields and I felt drawn into the book on a deeper level as I could vividly picture every geographical description and felt comforted to read the Geordie dialect which added to the enjoyment of my reading experience.

The characters are created with such heart and soul and they all play their parts to perfection to portray England's unrelenting spirit during the trials and tribulations of war time. Dorothy and Etty's sisterly bond is for me the book's outstanding success. Their love and deep connection is woven beautifully throughout the story line like a heartbeat that keeps the plot moving to a joyous rhythm. I fell instantly in love with the pair and was right behind them and cheering them on to succeed in life and love and my what a life they lived. The emotional highs and lows of the story took my breath away but I loved every moment of my time spent in South Shields.

I can't speak highly enough of this heartfelt and moving story that will pull you in and take you on an emotional journey that you will never forget. The Orphan Sister's is a book that will stay with me for many years to come and I urge you all to grab your nearest copy and start reading immediately you will not be disappointed.

Dorothy and Edith are small children when they are left at Blakely. Blakely is an orphanage and their mother has just dropped them off, then walked away. They are there until they are fifteen. Dorothy leaves first being that she's the oldest. Edith is left until she is of age to leave also. Edith will never forgive her mother for abandoning them in such a cold and hostile place. If it wasn't for her sister coming and visiting her, life would be unbearable.
The sisters move into a house together. Dorothy has since married her beau, Laurie. Anything is better then where they were forced to grow up.
There is war now, and people are dying in the streets by the night raids of planes and bombs. Through everything both girls are there for each other. They are a team, fighting to find the good wherever they can. Through childbirth, death, friendships, betrayals and love. They know they will be there for each other.
A heartwarming, and heartbreaking story written during the war.
Strong characters, amazing story.

A great historical fiction book based in the 1920's during WWII. Ester and Dorothy set out on a trip with their mother only to discover they are being left in an orphanage. Confused and angry the girls struggle through the days wondering why they have been abandoned. Once the girls turn 15 they are put out of the orphanage and expected to take care of themselves. Dorothy being the oldest leaves first but comes back just before her sister turns 15 to petition to have Ester live with her.
They both establish lives for themselves and we see all around them what they are others are going through, how they are surviving and getting themselves through the war. There are lots of twists and turns throughout the book that you will not expect as well as many loveable and not so loveable characters that will stay with you.
A wonderful read!

My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this advanced copy.

Life was hard on the late 1920's through World War II in England. When a mother takes her two young daughters in a special trip, Esther and Dorothy's lives are changed forever. The sisters end up in an orphanage run by a cruel woman. This novel takes the reader on a journey through the eyes of the sisters as they try to find answers. Readers will be able to picture the journey through the author's descriptions. Recommended!

“The Orphan Sisters” by Shirley Dickson was one of the saddest novels I have read. It is written about two sisters, Esther, 4 and Dorothy, almost 8, whose mother dropped them off at an orphanage in 1929. Not understanding why their mom never returned for them, Etty grew up distrustful of everyone and harboring an intense dislike, almost hatred, for her mother. Dorothy knew a little of why they were left there but never shared with Etty. As they grew older, Dorothy, at age sixteen, had to strike out on her own, leaving Etty at the orphanage. Dorothy married and when Etty was fifteen, Dorothy petitioned to have her live with her. Her husband was called up to serve. What happens next to the two girls is both happy and very sad. Suffice it to say, that the war made difficult and extreme demands on everyone. There was no end to suffering and still, the citizens stayed loyal and determined.

I enjoyed reading this book but was also very sad because of the circumstances that the two girls had to endure.

Are you looking for the "UGLY CRY" kind of book? The kind of book that will make you sit there after you have turned the last page? Well, get your box of tissues handy because this is the book for you.

This is the story of two sisters that were dropped off at an orphanage in 1929 by their mother. Why did their mother have to do that? They lived in the orphanage until they were old enough to leave. Etty, the younger sister was able to move in with her sister, Dororthy at the start of WWII.

This is definitely a story that will not disappoint. The characters and the story are very well developed and believable.

My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this advanced readers copy.

I read a lot of books about this time period and this is a new take on it.
I over this coming of age story of the two sisters and the twists and turns of the story
The book was well written
Thanks for allowing me to read and review this book