"Summerland" by Lucy Adlington is a book for young adults which I enjoyed very much, despite being well outside the age-range at which it is aimed.
This is the beautifully-written story of a young Austrian refugee, who is relocated to England after the second world war with the help of The Red Cross. On arrival in London, Brigitta breaks away from the group of evacuees, with the intention of finding Summerland Hall (and answers to questions about her past), which she does with astonishing ease. We learn of her trials and tribulations, and those of her mother, during the war years, as well as the setbacks she encounters once the war is over.
Throughout the story, we are given small clues to the remarkable twist towards the end of the book, but it is definitely unexpected and surprising nevertheless. It wasn't a perfect read though. I thought the last part of the book seemed a little rushed, and the somewhat open relationship between Brigitta and Joe was unconventional for the time, but all-in-all this is an enjoyable read, and thoroughly recommended.
This is the beautifully-written story of a young Austrian refugee, who is relocated to England after the second world war with the help of The Red Cross. On arrival in London, Brigitta breaks away from the group of evacuees, with the intention of finding Summerland Hall (and answers to questions about her past), which she does with astonishing ease. We learn of her trials and tribulations, and those of her mother, during the war years, as well as the setbacks she encounters once the war is over.
Throughout the story, we are given small clues to the remarkable twist towards the end of the book, but it is definitely unexpected and surprising nevertheless. It wasn't a perfect read though. I thought the last part of the book seemed a little rushed, and the somewhat open relationship between Brigitta and Joe was unconventional for the time, but all-in-all this is an enjoyable read, and thoroughly recommended.