Book Review - The Child Without A Home by Author Ann Bennett - #HistoricalFiction

 

TITLE - The Child Without a Home

AUTHOR - Ann Bennett

GENRE - Historical Fiction

BUY LINK - Click here

SYNOPSIS -
Agnes was running as fast as her legs would carry her. She was dragging Dieter along beside her, her heart pounding, her mouth dry, her breath coming in great, sobbing gulps… She was running as if her life depended on it – and she knew it did.

1944. When the war comes to twelve-year-old Agnes’ village her life changes in an instant. Her father is dragged away by soldiers and her mother is mercilessly killed, leaving Agnes and her younger brother Dieter orphaned. Frightened, and surrounded by enemies, Agnes has no choice but to carry out her mother’s dying wish, whispered to her before the light flickered from her eyes: Promise you’ll look after your brother for me, Agnes… But when Dieter’s hand slips from her own while crossing a river, the rest of Agnes’s world shatters in an instant – has she truly lost everything?

Cambridge, present day. When her beloved grandfather dies, Freya is distraught. Not only has she lost the man who helped raise her, but she knows his stories of World War Two, and a part of her family history, is gone forever. But when Freya meets her new neighbour Agnes, whose accent is just like her grandfather’s, she notices a weather-beaten image of a little blonde boy in braces and boots that looks strangely familiar… Could Agnes hold the key to unlocking Freya’s past?

But Agnes has terrible secrets of her own, and she vowed never to speak about the little blonde boy in the photograph who risked everything to save her… But if she doesn’t, she might never discover what happened to her little brother all those years ago…

Inspired by the true stories of the forgotten orphans of World War Two, this heart-wrenching and moving tale is about fighting for your loved ones when all hope is lost. Breathtaking and unputdownable, this story of courage and survival is perfect for fans of Before We Were Yours, Sold on a Monday and The Orphan’s Tale.

I have never read any books by this author, but after reading this, I've added more to my list. 

This was a very emotional read, The main character is Agnes, who lives in East Prussia with her parents, and Brother Dieter. All was well before the war, but then the Country was torn apart. 

How life changes for Agnes and her Family, whilst well documented in history, is still unbelievable and heartbreaking. 

Although it's a book of fiction (I had to check), you can imagine it being true to live for displaced children during the war. 

With some amazingly well written characters, this book will pull at your heartstrings. It's certainly a book that will stay with me.