When the Siren Wailed (Lions)

A touching look at the lives of three small children who are evacuated from London during WWII. The sibling are moved into a grand old country home and must struggle with a different way of life, even as they miss their parents desperatly. Streatfield -- who lived in London for the duration of the war -- vividly conveys wartime England, in all its stress and drama and her protagonists are touchingly human, with all their worries and confusion over gas masks and nazis. A must read for any child with an interest in history.

Growing up, I was positively addicted to Noel Streatfield's well-known "Shoes" series, thanks to its ability to speak to the interests and dreams of a child. "When the Siren Wailed" provides a perspective of WWII uniquely suited to a child, by telling it from the point of view of the English children who understood blackout curtains and bomb shelters, but not much else about the chaos around them. I think I may have read it as much as three times, though that was many years ago. Highly recommended as an exciting and informative read for kids.

Growing up, I was positively addicted to Noel Streatfield's well-known "Shoes" series, thanks to its ability to speak to the interests and dreams of a child. "When the Sirens Wailed" provides a perspective of WWII uniquely suited to a child, by telling it from the point of view of the English children who understood blackout curtains and bomb shelters, but not much else about the chaos around them. I think I may have read it as much as three times, though that was many years ago. Highly recommended as an exciting and informative read for kids.