I really liked this book, and I would have loved it when I was younger. It did really well capturing the urgency of the Blitz, and the emotions of the children that lived through it. I'm a big fan of Narnia, so it's no surprise that I also enjoyed this book about children being sent to the countryside to escape the bombing. The main character was a lovely character to spend all of our time with, and her friends were just as lovely and charming. I do wish that the mystery with the black market stores was expanded a bit more, as it was only in the last 20% or so. I realise the book's intended focus was the Blitz anyway, but I found that plotline interesting and was disappointed it ended so quickly. I also was hoping there would be more of a reunion at the end, with the children going back to London and reuniting with their parents. In this case, everything is wrapped up nicely and they all settle into their temporary homes happily, but war is still knocking and nothing is wrapped, not really. But different ending or not, I did really like this and I would happily read it cover to cover as a child repeatedly.

The appeal of this book would be greatest, I think, for middle school readers who know very little about England during the Second World War. The author does an admirable job of describing what it must have been like to a child living through those times. The characters are well drawn and realistic.

Joyce and her little sister have been living through the Blitz in England during World War II. So far, their family has been safe but others aren't so lucky. When they are evacuated during Project Pied Piper Joyce doesn't know what to expect. Will they be safe? Will her family be safe? Who will be taking care of them and will they be nice?
Together with some children they meet on the train and the daughter of the family that takes them in Joyce embarks on some adventure and a bit of a mystery.
I warmed up to this as it got going. This would be best for readers who are just entering into historical fiction and aren't ready for really meaty work.

An enjoyable read on a subject that many have written about. It was a well paced read. very descriptive with good dialogue that carried the story along nicely. Being from the children's POV made it a refreshing tale on what life was like for evacuated children during world war 2. It captured the emotions they went through clearly and eloquently.

Would highly recommend schools put this on there reading list when covering World War 2.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for allowing me to read an advance copy of Keep Calm & Carry On, Children which is due to be published on September 5th 2019. What follows is my honest review.

I was very pleased to be able to read and review this book which focuses on telling the story of how children dealt with the Blitz in London during World War Two. The cover art caught my eye initially but the narrative itself drew me in and kept me reading. The story itself was inspired by the experiences of the author’s grandfather whose parents took in two young evacuees from London during the war.

The story begins in September 1940 with the whirring sound of bombs falling. The author used this sound quite effectively to let the reader know that bombing is underway. The voice the reader hears is that of Joyce, an eleven year old girl who lives in one of the poorer parts of London. There is an immediacy to what she describes that made me better understand what it must have felt like to be in the midst of a bombing attack. The publishers describe this book as being a part of their Young Adult Fiction. I can see how it would work very well when teaching about history of war and could help pupils understand better what it might be like for young people currently living in parts of the world where bombing attacks are all too common.

Over a fairly short time period, the situation in London deteriorates to the point that Joyce’s parents make the difficult decision to send Joyce and her younger sister Gina away from London to a safer spot in the country. This had to have been made even harder by the fact that they had no idea exactly where their children were being sent or who would care for them. They had a list of supplies they were to bring with them and some of the supplies listed were things they didn’t even own.

The train ride to their new temporary home must have been terrifying for the children and the author captured this well in her writing. Joyce and Gina make some new friends en route and finagle things so that they all end up getting off the train at the same spot where they are paraded in front of the townspeople hoping they will be picked by nice people and that siblings will be able to stay together.

As I read the book it reminded me in part of the many Enid Blyton books that I read and enjoyed as a youngster (some of which I have re-read in recent years). The children form friendships, have adventures together including a “mystery”, get into trouble together and support each other through it. I felt I was learning a lot about the times and how different life was for those coming from London versus children the same age who lived in better circumstances further from the wartime actions. Joyce and her sister for example had never owned toothbrushes because their parents felt they were not needed until after the adult teeth were all in! Despite their different backgrounds, the children worked well together and really bonded with each other.

As the story ended the author finished with the line “The End of the Beginning”. This makes me wonder if there will be more stories About Joyce, Gina and their friends. If there are, I would definitely be interested in reading them.

I did find a few mistakes in the advance copy, but hopefully they can be corrected before publication. I certainly enjoyed this “Young Adult Fiction” even from my perspective as an almost senior citizen. If you are interested in knowing how children experienced the war or what life was like in rural Britain in the forties you should enjoy this book.

I feel like this is quite a unique historical fiction story, the fact that it's about the child's experience during the war and being evacuated to the country, normally I have only read stories from the adults perspective.

I think this book reads more middle grade than teen/ya, and it can come across quite juvenile at times. I would say it would be quite an exciting and thought provoking story for a child, and could see a lot of children enjoying it.

I was really interested in this book as I love anything to do with World War II.

Joyce and Gina are evacuated out of London and into the countryside after enduring nights of bombing during the blitz.

I was disappointed in this book. I felt that the plot was weak and lacked anything that I could sink my teeth into.

The writing was also quite simple and I found it dull to read. There were also a few grammatical errors throughout.

A good story and one in which i know my teenage granddaughter will enjoy. I know i enjoyed reading this book, even though i am at the other end of the age scale.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review, freely given.