Bombs are falling on London. Children have been evacuated but not Glory (Gloria) and her young brother Rich (Richard). A year ago their parents worked in the sweet factory in their neighbourhood but now it is 1940 and factory has been changed over to munitions. Mum now works in a parachute factory. Dad stayed with the factory and at night he works with the civil defence force. As this story opens The air raid siren sounds. Mum, Glory and Rich race to the Anderson shelter in their backyard. A bomb is dropped and their neighbour is killed. Glory and Rich are badly injured and so mum makes the heart wrenching decision to send the kids to stay with strangers in the country.
People in the village of Thorntree seem distant and unkind. Glory and Rich move in with Miss Saunders. Glory is sure this strangely distant lady does not want them to stay especially with Rich being such a nervous kid. Glory tries to understand the other kids in the village - Jess is another evacuee and so is a silent boy called Archie. Lawrence is the son of the farmer Mr Wills. Miss Saunders does not like Jess, Archie or Lawrence and she avoids Mr Wills. Glory needs to find out why? She also needs to re-examine her own reactions to the villagers. When she stops to listen to Jess, Archie and Lawrence she discovers they are not teasing her precious brother and they are not laughing at her behind her back. Making peace and acknowledging mistakes are important milestones for Glory.
"Please call me, Glory, Miss Saunders,' I say softly, words tumbling form my mouth before I can stop myself. Miss Saunders studies me carefully for an unnerving minute or two. 'Very well, Glory,' she says finally. 'But only if you will call me Auntie Sylvia."
Life in the country is especially good for little Rich. He overcomes some of his fears and is able to melt the heart of Miss Saunders. The war has changed everything for Glory and Rich and their arrival in the village precipitates a series of events which help undo the misunderstandings and hurts of the past. This is an emotional story especially the final chapter which is set in 2015 - seventy years after the end of WWII. It felt so good to learn what happened to Glory, Rich, Jess, Archie and Lawrence. Such is the power of this writing that I found myself really caring about these kids.
Read some reviews for more plot details:
If you loved Goodnight Mr Tom; The War that saved my Life; and Vinnie's War you will most certainly want to add Catching falling stars to your "to read" list.
I had not heard of UK author Karen McCombie but she has written over ninety books. I certainly need to hunt out some of her middle grade titles.
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