Share this review
The Girl From London
By Olive Spooner
Published by Moa Press (Hachette Australia)
ISBN9781869715120
Accidentally or I would like to think, it was fortuitous that a book on the ill-fated ship MS Rangitane found in the local library, led to Olivia Spooner to writing The Girl From London.
Most books I read and review are well written, but this one is outstanding. Talk about a page turner, I couldn't put this one down.
Set over two eras, firstly in 1940 as the CORB (Children's Overseas Reception Board) was evacuating children from Britain to the Dominions - Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Ruth who a school teacher, who like so many others is fed up with the bombings in London and wants to do something useful.
Two generations later, we meet Hazel a young New Zealander who is on her first international flight and a big adventure, to London. To her surprise shortly before leaving New Zealand, Hazel has been giving an old musty book by her grandfather or Gramps as she calls him, to read on the flight. He said she should read it, to learn a little more about him, it will also reveal Ruth's story.
While waiting to board the plane she accidentally spills her can of Coke over the t-shirt of a fellow passenger from London called Joe, for which she apologises. To her dismay on boarding the flight Hazel is asked to change seats as the airline has accidentally booked separate seats for an elderly couple. She kindly agrees is placed in the seat next to Joe. He also becomes interested in the book her grandfather gave her. The seeds of an interesting relationship develops between the two of them which carry on until the end of the story.
Meanwhile back in the 1940s, Ruth sees an advertisement that escorts are needed, particularly those who are teachers, nurses and doctors to help and accompany children to safety. She is engaged to Peter, but does not want to marry until after the War; unlike many other engaged couples, including her brother.
Her mother does what she can to discourage her, she is naturally worried. But Ruth who doesn't get on well with her mother and her best friend Florrie, sees this as an adventure, helping take children to safety and travelling by ship to the other side of the world. It is risky, they could be torpedoed by German U-boats but they do have the security of several accompanying boats from the Armed Forces until almost at the equator.
The ship that carries the evacuees together with the key characters in the story, Ruth, Betty, Una, Bobby, Devan, The Reverend and several others embarks from Liverpool on a three month voyage stopping in Cape Town and some Asian ports en route.
Nine year old Fergus becomes an important focus to Ruth, He is unhappy at having to leave his parents, an older brother and a younger sister behind in Glasgow, but he does have his younger sister, six year old Rosie with him. Fergus becomes increasingly homesick and forms a strong unexpected bond with Ruth.
The children disembark in Sydney and go to safety with the families who have agreed host them. However Fergus does not settle in well.
On their way back to England the escorts including Ruth are on the ship MS Rangitane which is torpedoed and raided by the Germans. All survivors are taken prisoner and held in pretty tough conditions until they are transferred to yet another German ship and then released onto a remote and tiny island in the Pacific which after all they have endured is pure paradise. The story continues with some surprises.
It is interesting to read the interaction and relationships that develop between people when caught in these various situations, both good and extremely bad.
This is a beautifully written captivating story based on true events with just the right amounts of emotion and showing resilience of human spirit.
Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended reading. The Girl from London is available for pre-order, it will be out middle November.
This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you
Liked this review, Buy me a coffee
