Gripping and heartbreaking historical fiction - The Runaway Children

The book was not an easy read as you lived the struggle. I felt as if the author could have shortened it a tad without taking away from the content. It was a solid story. Personally, it was a draining book to read. The ending was a bit of a surprise. Overall I thought the author did an excellent job.

A gripping and touching story. A beautiful interplay between two sisters Nell and Olive. I just loved Olives character and sense of humor. It’s a book you cannot put down and have recommended it to everyone. Well done Sandy Taylor on this excellent book..Lola

This was a very good story, it's take you back in history but in a different direction. You see how it effected the children and their families. I had a hard time putting it down and was so glad the weather was bad giving me a good excuse to sit by the fire and read!

This is the fourth book I’ve read by Sandy Taylor. Having absolutely loved The Brighton Girls Trilogy, I felt rather sad when it came to an end. How on earth was I going to cope without another book in the trilogy to look forward to? So, when I found out about The Runaway Children, I was dying to read it! What can I say? Oh my goodness, she’s done it again, as I’ve fallen in love with this book and a whole new set of adorable characters within its pages.

This is a book of mixed emotions. Set during the Second World War, we are faced with the horror of war. The injury or loss of loved ones serving in the military, homes being bombed, families torn apart and evacuees running for their lives. Then there is the magic that Sandy Taylor always creates with her wonderful characters, who are impossible not to love. Even during the darkest of times, the kindness of humans shines through.

The Runaway Children is a remarkable story of two sisters, forced to leave the rest of their family to try and find a safe home in a little village in Wales, with mucky sheep, much to the horror of Olive, but luckily no bombs. They are faced with challenges two young girls should not have to face alone, and they meet an interesting cast of characters along the way, some nicer than others. I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying Nell and Olive on their travels, although some locations felt a little more homely than others. It was wonderful seeing Nell and Olive grow up, not just in size and age, but as young women-to-be faced with important decisions, that made them become stronger in themselves and even closer as sisters.

Olive has to be my favourite book character this year. She was such a wonderful little girl, who had me frequently giggling away to myself. She was the perfect mix of sweet, endearing, inquisitive, opinionated and funny. She was like a cross between my ever-so-chatty grandma, who was also called Olive (I do miss her), and my six year old niece, Daisy, who absorbs everything you say and is full of never-ending questions. I loved how she had such a human-like relationship with her doll, who she called Auntie Missus. It reminded me of the cuddly toy my auntie gave me for my first birthday. I called him Mr Mousy. I still have him and often have a little chatter away to him, even though I’m almost forty years old. I wanted Olive to jump out of the pages and become a real part of my life. Mind you, based on how much of an emotional impact all of Sandy Taylor’s books have had on me, I dare say there will always be a little part of Olive inside me wherever life takes me.

I love that each location within this book is so visually strong in my mind. I’m not consciously aware of this book being particularly visually descriptive, but this story came to life. Perhaps it is Sandy Taylor’s writing style. Nothing ever seems forced. Her writing is so easy to read and flows so naturally. Mind you, on the topic of descriptive writing, I do have to share one of my favourite scenes that Nell describes:

I loved watching the women coming out of the custard factory covered in yellow dust. I loved watching them take off their headscarves and shake out their hair, a tiny haze of yellow around each of their faces, and their smell of vanilla and sugar.

Damn that gluten/yeast intolerance of mine though, because this book had me craving bread and drippin’ so much, it was making my mouth water!

If you haven’t read any books by this author, you really are missing out. I can’t recommend them enough. Please give this author a go if you enjoy stories with wonderful characters you want to take home with you. I truly believe you won’t be disappointed.

This is a very fine book about a family living in an East End London tenement building during the Second World War. As the book begins, the eldest daughter Nell is outside on the cold stoop attending to her precocious five year old sister Olive and middle brother Tony. She is trying to occupy them while their mother is upstairs giving birth. Their father is serving in the War and is missing. For the modest living conditions and the bleak situation, there are loving and supportive neighbors in the building that always pitch in when needed. This element lends such a heartwarming cast to the story and is a continuing theme throughout the book in different locales.

Because of the bombing raids that were concentrated in the City of London, children were being transported to the country to safe houses. This is what happened with teenage Nell and her little sister Olive. Following the birth of their Mom's baby, arrangements were made to send Nell, Olive and Tony to a country location. Tony leapt off the train at the last minute, deciding to remain with his mother and the baby in the East End. This left Nell in charge of Olive as they journeyed to an uncertain future.

At first, Nell and Olive are placed in what is a fairytale situation in a charming picture perfect village in Wales. They are chosen by the young parish vicar and his wife to stay with them in a home that looked as if it belonged on a Christmas card. Quite quickly the anguish of separation from their family is dimmed by the warm beds, good food, loving "Auntie and Uncle" and new friends that they make in this quaint village. However, all good things come to an end and the sisters' idyllic living situation is again disrupted.

The book covers a four-year period where Nell and Olive face the challenge of various living situations while separated from their parents. Their journey is richly and beautifully written. From the kindness and charity of people they meet on the run, to the frightening and unpleasant characters they encounter, this is a high standard of writing that I hope to experience even more from author Sandy Taylor. Well done!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this advance reader copy in return for my honest review.

This is my first book by this author and I enjoy her style of storytelling immensely. This story takes place during WWII in the United Kingdom, both England and Wales. It is the story of two sisters that join many children in the countryside, outside of the bigger cities where the Germans are bombing. Thirteen year old Nell and her younger sister Olive are sent away by their mother who has just had a baby and is also hoping to hear from their father who is off at war, so she has decided to stay in London, hoping to hear from her husband, her other son who was supposed to have evacuated with the sisters, jumped of the train at the last moment, to help his Mom.
The sisters end up in a quaint little town in Wales, and end up loving it there, assigned to a great couple that takes them in, and treat them like family, they meet some special friends, and know most people in the town. All changes when that couple is reassigned to a different area and the girls end up on a long journey to get back home. The people they meet and the experiences they have, make you just want to keep reading. This was a wonderful story, and a journey worth taking.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book.

Having finished this book earlier in the week I am still having a hard time figuring out the way to word my review.
This is not normally my style of book but is one that I am interested in. I am a huge fan of War style books.
In this case it's more a coming of age story for Nell and her sister Olive. The story deals with them being sent from home for their own protection.
Nell is shown to be a caring and very adult younger teenager. She takes care of her baby sister who is 5 years old. She in fact almost becomes her mother and tries to protect her from the horrors of what they will face in a daily basis.
This book is full of emotion. Part of the time you feel sorry for the two girls as they struggle to accept the life they now have. The other part you are laughing so hard at Olive who is almost comedic relief and the tender age of 5.
The book was not am easy read but had a feel good quality to it as it deals with a family and how you strive to do what is best for them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't recommend it enough. Wonderful job by the author and publisher.

Starting in London’s East End in the Bermonsea district, we meet Nell, Tony and Olive as they wait for their mother to give birth to a new sibling. It’s 1942 and bombs are ravaging the city and countryside, and as of this moment, the children have avoided being part of Operation Pied Piper – the evacuation of London’s children to the countryside to live in a more secure area with plans to return home after the war. With a father away fighting and air raids and poverty ever-present, it is decided that the three children shall evacuate and their mother will stay back with the newest addition to the family. Promises made to reunite as soon as feasible, Nell, Olive and Tony head off to places unknown until Tony, unwilling to leave the city or his mother, jumps off the train as it leaves the station. Seemingly endless hours later, Nell and Olive arrive in a completely new and totally foreign environment: Wales. With unfamiliar language in the air, trees, green and sheep unlike the ‘fluffy white balls of wool that they know from storybooks, the girls are unsettled. Taken in by the Methodist vicar and his wife – the girls are treated to al’ sorts of new experiences: a large bed, plenty of food, no air-raid sirens, and above all, kindness. They are thriving and growing strong – but Nell’s worry for her mother and brothers won’t lessen.

Just as they are both settled in and after a wonderful Christmas unlike any other, the Vicar has been relocated to Cardiff where the church feel his services are needed – the frequent bombings of the docks and city mean the girls can’t go along – and the rehousing official finds them a place on a farm some 20 miles from the little town they have come to love and view as home. Far from an ideal situation, when Nell’s protection of Olive leads to a confrontation, the girls run away for London – expecting to be joined by their new friend at the farm, Jimmy. When Jimmy doesn’t appear – the long walk to London is full of peril as Nell, determined to keep young Olive (now 7) safe , has her moving forward to the point of exhaustion. With help (and care) from an elderly widower, the girls are sheltered and cared for until a train ride back to London leads them home again.

Of course, the ensuing year has ravaged London even further, and the East End and docks are heaviest hit. While no one knows of her mother, brothers or father – there are neighbors who take the girls in, and plan to relocate to the coast, leaving word for her mother with a neighbor who is determined to stay settled in Bermonsea.
Throughout the story, Nell’s own determination keeps her and Olive safe, yet their final landing point at a guesthouse becomes the place where both can shine and grow. Each new place of acceptance allows Nell and Olive to grow and find friends, opportunities and new ways of looking at the world. As Nell realizes that her East End upbringing didn’t let her see the possible options for her life, she’s grown and learned about love, life, family and the possibility of hope even in the darkest times.

Perfectly charming – the story has moments of tension, humor (Olive is a total hoot), tears and joy as the seemingly impossible in the midst of war, loss and trial, become possible as Nell’s voice, determination and hope carry her journey forward for herself and Olive. A lovely book from Taylor and a perfect introduction to her writing.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

In fairness, when a book cover reads "a feel-good holiday book" or "a heartwarming read" my antennae usually go up - you can't tell me what to think!!

In this case, the tagline "Gripping and heartwarming historical fiction" reads true, as The Runaway Children was all that and more.

The book started out a bit slowly for me but once the siblings reached the Welsh countryside where they would stay, away from the bombing hitting the East End, the story quickly picked up. Fourteen year old Nell is level-headed and mature for her age. Little sister Olive? She's just a hoot - a sweary little bit of a spunky thing with "blooming" and "bloody" liberally sprinkled in her vocabulary, much to Nell's dismay. She provides a good bit of levity to a difficult situation.

Too soon, the luck of the girls wears thin and that's when the story truly kicks into gear and the "gripping" sets in.

This is a story about bravery, about doing what needs to be done to protect family, of the bond between sisters, and of the power of your first love. Sandy Taylor has captured the feel of the times in her settings and her language, and has written a book with a plot that moves steadily onward.

Fans of Pam Jenoff will love this book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions herein are mine alone.

Sandy Taylor's When We Danced at the End of the Pier absolutely blew my mind and I still talk about it and recommend it often. I've still been holding off on reading the other books in that particular series because I've felt that there was no way that they could measure up. How could an author possibly pen multiple books that would both tear at my heart and make me laugh until I cried? Of course, then The Runaway Children was announced, and a spot on the blog tour opened up for my birthday, and I knew it was somehow fated. Somehow I knew that Sandy Taylor was once again going to keep me up at night, and her characters would become treasured loved ones.

I wasn't wrong at all.

The Runaway Children focuses on Nell Patterson and her little sister, Olive. They're evacuated from their home in the East end of London with their brother Tony -- leaving behind their mother, newborn brother, and everyone and everything they know and love. Like so many other children they were sent to the countryside in Wales. Watching the two girls adjust to their changing circumstances was as much of a roller coaster for me as it was for the characters. I grew attached to Taylor's villages and inhabitants -- most of them, anyway. Most of all, though, I grew attached to Nell and Olive and their amazing relationship. The age difference is significantly different here than it was between the sisters in When We Danced, but here it worked in making the relationship even more special.

I don't want to say too much because I fear that if I truly start gushing about how perfect this book was, I won't be able to stop until I've given it all away. This is one that needs to be read rather than told.

London and the home she’d known all her life was a frightening place to thirteen-year-old Nell – it was 1942 and the Germans bombed London constantly. Many children were being evacuated to the country for safety. When the time came for Nell and her five-year-old sister Olive to leave, the sadness at leaving their Mum, baby brother Freddie and brother Tony was heartbreaking.

Nell and Olive’s arrival in Wales found them staying with a couple in the vicarage – they found happiness, contentment and friendship. But when the Father had to go with his wife to Cardiff, Nell and Olive had to be billeted elsewhere. Their new home was nothing like the vicarage – they worked hard from dawn till dusk; but it was Nell’s friendship with Jimmy, another evacuee, that made things a little easier to bear. Until Olive was suddenly in danger…

Nell’s plan to make their way across the country, back to their home in London, was one born of desperation. But that’s what the sisters did. Walked and ran, always doing what they could to survive. Would they make it? It was a long way… And what would be waiting for them if they did make it back to their flat in Rannly Court in Bermondsey?

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor is a wonderful, heartfelt historical fiction novel which I adored! Olive is an absolute delight! The “old head on young shoulders” fits perfectly for this little sweetheart. The war and the struggles of the children - the innocent victims – are told in Nell’s voice with Olive right there by her side. The Runaway Children is a novel that will stay with me for a long time – and it’s one I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

What a wonderful read! It takes place during WWII, in the outskirts of London. As children start to be evacuated to safer areas, Nell and her sister Olive soon join. The story takes us through their adventures, some good and some terrifying as we watch the two sisters grow and blossom.

The writing is absolutely beautiful. It’s a story of hope, and the true importance of family. I grew to love Nell and Olive as I traveled across the lands with them. Each place they stayed created unforgivable memories as they both met delightful and long-lasting friends. This was back in the day when letters were written, and times were much simpler (despite the war). They were innocent times, as Nell struggles to keep her sister safe, but also with herself growing into the woman she will become. I loved Nell. Her innocence was enduring and I enjoyed being with her as she discovered feelings of love, and guilt all the while making Olive her number one priority.

This is a book that I will read over and over again. The simple, yet complex story is one I won’t forget anytime soon!

This book is filled with humor, sadness, triumph and love. It's a wonderful story. The author's writing style was inviting and easy to read. Character development was so realistic I felt like I knew some of the people in the book.

An entrancing story set against the backdrop of World War II. Due to the frequent bombings in London, 13-year-old Nell and 5-year-old Olive are evacuated to the countryside where they are taken in by a vicar and his wife. The mother and her two sons remained in London in hopes the father, who is missing in the war, comes home. The plan is to join Nell and Olive at a later time.

I really like stories told from a child's point of view - they seem to capture some of the naivete and wonder that only children can impart. Nell was faced with a huge amount of responsibility taking care of Olive and facing all new circumstances. No matter what happened she faced it with courage and a serenity that was admirable. Olive was a real treat, she kept me laughing throughout the story.

My thanks to Sandy Taylor and Bookouture through Netgalley for an advance copy.

The Runaway Children is a simply written, heartwarming story which illustrates the strength of character that even the very young can display under harsh conditions. It is heart wrenching in parts, but at the same time renews the reader's faith in the kindness and trustworthiness of most people. I found some of the plot lines a little superficial, but overall, I enjoyed the story. This book would provide some insight for today's youngsters, into the lives of many children in wartime Britain. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely adored this book. The author is clearly a wonderful storyteller and I found myself turning the pages quickly, speeding up as I went along.

Nell and Olive were fantastic characters; Nell, an old head on young shoulders, and Olive, wise beyond her years, and the two of them as tightly bound as any sisters could be. The journey that the two of them went on, was incredible. I got completely caught up in the story and I found myself laughing, crying and sighing in various parts. My mother and her sister were evacuated as young children during the war as well, and I got a sense of what that might have been like, when I read this book.

Such a beautifully poignant book, I loved every page of it. The ending was just gorgeous as well.

A heartfelt 5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

War -1942 - Sirens and bombs make for volatile times in London, and the Patterson children have just been evacuated by train to the country.

Scared and distressed over being forced to leave home to live with strangers, 13 year old Nell steps up and takes charge of 5 year old Olive knowing she must protect and keep her safe at all costs. The girls experience numerous unexpected kindnesses, but all is not easy as they encounter scary, dangerous types as well.

A funny little Olive (and Auntie Missus) steal the show with a story of innocence, bravery and a "wise beyond years" vocabulary as she tells it like it is....at the most inopportune times.

THE RUNAWAY CHILDREN combines historical fiction with a coming of age story that is entertaining and filled with love of family, hope, and friendships.

This deeply touching story gives us a glimpse of the perspective of Olive and Nell as they adapt to life as evacuees during the devastation of the Second World War.

In among the hardships, ration books, bombings, plane crashes and unspeakable acts, I learn I have things in common with these sisters.

We share the love of the same books.

I also saw the beauty they saw as well as recognized their horror. Horror in what they overcame and beauty in their expression of love in a prayer over men they did not know, and a shared hope that others would return home safely to their loved ones.

It's a tale of sibling remembrances with lots of intense action written into its short chapters. It would make an excellent book club selection.

Reviewed for Net Galley

Starting in London’s East End in the Bermonsea district, we meet Nell, Tony and Olive as they wait for their mother to give birth to a new sibling. It’s 1942 and bombs are ravaging the city and countryside, and as of this moment, the children have avoided being part of Operation Pied Piper – the evacuation of London’s children to the countryside to live in a more secure area with plans to return home after the war. With a father away fighting and air raids and poverty ever-present, it is decided that the three children shall evacuate and their mother will stay back with the newest addition to the family. Promises made to reunite as soon as feasible, Nell, Olive and Tony head off to places unknown until Tony, unwilling to leave the city or his mother, jumps off the train as it leaves the station. Seemingly endless hours later, Nell and Olive arrive in a completely new and totally foreign environment: Wales. With unfamiliar language in the air, trees, green and sheep unlike the ‘fluffy white balls of wool that they know from storybooks, the girls are unsettled. Taken in by the Methodist vicar and his wife – the girls are treated to al’ sorts of new experiences: a large bed, plenty of food, no air-raid sirens, and above all, kindness. They are thriving and growing strong – but Nell’s worry for her mother and brothers won’t lessen.

Just as they are both settled in and after a wonderful Christmas unlike any other, the Vicar has been relocated to Cardiff where the church feel his services are needed – the frequent bombings of the docks and city mean the girls can’t go along – and the rehousing official finds them a place on a farm some 20 miles from the little town they have come to love and view as home. Far from an ideal situation, when Nell’s protection of Olive leads to a confrontation, the girls run away for London – expecting to be joined by their new friend at the farm, Jimmy. When Jimmy doesn’t appear – the long walk to London is full of peril as Nell, determined to keep young Olive (now 7) safe , has her moving forward to the point of exhaustion. With help (and care) from an elderly widower, the girls are sheltered and cared for until a train ride back to London leads them home again.

Of course, the ensuing year has ravaged London even further, and the East End and docks are heaviest hit. While no one knows of her mother, brothers or father – there are neighbors who take the girls in, and plan to relocate to the coast, leaving word for her mother with a neighbor who is determined to stay settled in Bermonsea.
Throughout the story, Nell’s own determination keeps her and Olive safe, yet their final landing point at a guesthouse becomes the place where both can shine and grow. Each new place of acceptance allows Nell and Olive to grow and find friends, opportunities and new ways of looking at the world. As Nell realizes that her East End upbringing didn’t let her see the possible options for her life, she’s grown and learned about love, life, family and the possibility of hope even in the darkest times.

Perfectly charming – the story has moments of tension, humor (Olive is a total hoot), tears and joy as the seemingly impossible in the midst of war, loss and trial, become possible as Nell’s voice, determination and hope carry her journey forward for herself and Olive. A lovely book from Taylor and a perfect introduction to her writing.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

In fairness, when a book cover reads "a feel-good holiday book" or "a heartwarming read" my antennae usually go up - you can't tell me what to think!!

In this case, the tagline "Gripping and heartwarming historical fiction" reads true, as The Runaway Children was all that and more.

The book started out a bit slowly for me but once the siblings reached the Welsh countryside where they would stay, away from the bombing hitting the East End, the story quickly picked up. Fourteen year old Nell is level-headed and mature for her age. Little sister Olive? She's just a hoot - a sweary little bit of a spunky thing with "blooming" and "bloody" liberally sprinkled in her vocabulary, much to Nell's dismay. She provides a good bit of levity to a difficult situation.

Too soon, the luck of the girls wears thin and that's when the story truly kicks into gear and the "gripping" sets in.

This is a story about bravery, about doing what needs to be done to protect family, of the bond between sisters, and of the power of your first love. Sandy Taylor has captured the feel of the times in her settings and her language, and has written a book with a plot that moves steadily onward.

Fans of Pam Jenoff will love this book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions herein are mine alone.

This is a story of two young sisters, Nell and Olive, during WWII in 1942, their mother sends them to the country to protect them from the bombs and dangers of war in London as evacuees. Their father has gone off to war, their mother just recently gave birth to their fourth sibling and wants her children safe. The book covers several years and was enlightening on how the children would be evacuated and families in the country or remote villages would take them in, care for them, feed them, raise them as their own, knowing when the war was over they would go back with their families.
I have read many WWII books and this one was very interesting on several aspects, it covers how the people were affected by the bombing that took place for months, how they spent many nights staying in the bomb shelters, it also covers the gas masks and how they carried them every time they went outside.
It is a coming of age story of both girls, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author did quite a bit of research and I felt the writing portrayed the timeframe well.
I thank Net Galley and Bookouture for allowing me to receive a free copy for my honest review. This one gets 5*****’s.

Sandy Taylor's When We Danced at the End of the Pier absolutely blew my mind and I still talk about it and recommend it often. I've still been holding off on reading the other books in that particular series because I've felt that there was no way that they could measure up. How could an author possibly pen multiple books that would both tear at my heart and make me laugh until I cried? Of course, then The Runaway Children was announced, and a spot on the blog tour opened up for my birthday, and I knew it was somehow fated. Somehow I knew that Sandy Taylor was once again going to keep me up at night, and her characters would become treasured loved ones.

I wasn't wrong at all.

The Runaway Children focuses on Nell Patterson and her little sister, Olive. They're evacuated from their home in the East end of London with their brother Tony -- leaving behind their mother, newborn brother, and everyone and everything they know and love. Like so many other children they were sent to the countryside in Wales. Watching the two girls adjust to their changing circumstances was as much of a roller coaster for me as it was for the characters. I grew attached to Taylor's villages and inhabitants -- most of them, anyway. Most of all, though, I grew attached to Nell and Olive and their amazing relationship. The age difference is significantly different here than it was between the sisters in When We Danced, but here it worked in making the relationship even more special.

I don't want to say too much because I fear that if I truly start gushing about how perfect this book was, I won't be able to stop until I've given it all away. This is one that needs to be read rather than told.

London and the home she’d known all her life was a frightening place to thirteen-year-old Nell – it was 1942 and the Germans bombed London constantly. Many children were being evacuated to the country for safety. When the time came for Nell and her five-year-old sister Olive to leave, the sadness at leaving their Mum, baby brother Freddie and brother Tony was heartbreaking.

Nell and Olive’s arrival in Wales found them staying with a couple in the vicarage – they found happiness, contentment and friendship. But when the Father had to go with his wife to Cardiff, Nell and Olive had to be billeted elsewhere. Their new home was nothing like the vicarage – they worked hard from dawn till dusk; but it was Nell’s friendship with Jimmy, another evacuee, that made things a little easier to bear. Until Olive was suddenly in danger…

Nell’s plan to make their way across the country, back to their home in London, was one born of desperation. But that’s what the sisters did. Walked and ran, always doing what they could to survive. Would they make it? It was a long way… And what would be waiting for them if they did make it back to their flat in Rannly Court in Bermondsey?

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor is a wonderful, heartfelt historical fiction novel which I adored! Olive is an absolute delight! The “old head on young shoulders” fits perfectly for this little sweetheart. The war and the struggles of the children - the innocent victims – are told in Nell’s voice with Olive right there by her side. The Runaway Children is a novel that will stay with me for a long time – and it’s one I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

What an absolutely fabulous book this is.

I have to start with Olive from the book. What an adorable and wonderful character. There is such a lovely innocence about her and she brings a certain amount of humour into the story. I absolutely loved the relationship between her and Nell, it truly was so lovely to read and my heart just melts even now just thinking about it.

Nell is yet another fabulous character. Having to grow up quickly whilst being a mother as well as a sister to Olive. I couldn’t imagine being sent away from home and having to live with strangers, even though it is for their own safety. I wanted to reach out and give a big hug so many times with what she has to carry on her shoulders.

There are a few unsavoury characters but mainly the characters in this story are just scrumptious. I loved each and every one of them. Each one stands out in their own right and I so wished I could vanish into those pages to meet them all in person as I wanted to have the relationship that Nell did with them.

The Runaway Children is a book that readers will treasure. It’s one of those reads that is timeless and will be enjoyed for many years to come. Mesmerizing, beautiful, sweet, funny, I just adored The Runaway Children and feel bereft at having now finished it. Without a doubt this is one book I could read again and again and I know I will love it even more than the last time I read it. Simply wonderful!

My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

What a wonderful read! It takes place during WWII, in the outskirts of London. As children start to be evacuated to safer areas, Nell and her sister Olive soon join. The story takes us through their adventures, some good and some terrifying as we watch the two sisters grow and blossom.

The writing is absolutely beautiful. It’s a story of hope, and the true importance of family. I grew to love Nell and Olive as I traveled across the lands with them. Each place they stayed created unforgivable memories as they both met delightful and long-lasting friends. This was back in the day when letters were written, and times were much simpler (despite the war). They were innocent times, as Nell struggles to keep her sister safe, but also with herself growing into the woman she will become. I loved Nell. Her innocence was enduring and I enjoyed being with her as she discovered feelings of love, and guilt all the while making Olive her number one priority.

This is a book that I will read over and over again. The simple, yet complex story is one I won’t forget anytime soon!

This book is filled with humor, sadness, triumph and love. It's a wonderful story. The author's writing style was inviting and easy to read. Character development was so realistic I felt like I knew some of the people in the book.

An entrancing story set against the backdrop of World War II. Due to the frequent bombings in London, 13-year-old Nell and 5-year-old Olive are evacuated to the countryside where they are taken in by a vicar and his wife. The mother and her two sons remained in London in hopes the father, who is missing in the war, comes home. The plan is to join Nell and Olive at a later time.

I really like stories told from a child's point of view - they seem to capture some of the naivete and wonder that only children can impart. Nell was faced with a huge amount of responsibility taking care of Olive and facing all new circumstances. No matter what happened she faced it with courage and a serenity that was admirable. Olive was a real treat, she kept me laughing throughout the story.

My thanks to Sandy Taylor and Bookouture through Netgalley for an advance copy.

The Runaway Children is a simply written, heartwarming story which illustrates the strength of character that even the very young can display under harsh conditions. It is heart wrenching in parts, but at the same time renews the reader's faith in the kindness and trustworthiness of most people. I found some of the plot lines a little superficial, but overall, I enjoyed the story. This book would provide some insight for today's youngsters, into the lives of many children in wartime Britain. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely adored this book. The author is clearly a wonderful storyteller and I found myself turning the pages quickly, speeding up as I went along.

Nell and Olive were fantastic characters; Nell, an old head on young shoulders, and Olive, wise beyond her years, and the two of them as tightly bound as any sisters could be. The journey that the two of them went on, was incredible. I got completely caught up in the story and I found myself laughing, crying and sighing in various parts. My mother and her sister were evacuated as young children during the war as well, and I got a sense of what that might have been like, when I read this book.

Such a beautifully poignant book, I loved every page of it. The ending was just gorgeous as well.

A heartfelt 5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The time is 1942, in London and all around are air-raid sirens and bombs blasting, causing destruction of lives and homes as the war is in full scale.
Nell is a young girl whose father is off in the war and her Mom worries for the safety of Nell, her sister, Olive.
Food is scarce. She sends them to a safer area in England with the promise of "Hope ,Safety,and one day all being reunited".
Nell and Olive set off on the train to a safer location.
The girls find a wonderful family who love and care for them., but for how long?
This is a heart-felt novel that made me cry, hold my breath as the girls struggle to survive, and find their sense of belonging in war time where there is only pain and hurt.
"Sometimes it's the kindness of strangers that surprises you most" is the theme for this beautifully written book.
This is a novel of hope and faith. Beautiful!

War -1942 - Sirens and bombs make for volatile times in London, and the Patterson children have just been evacuated by train to the country.

Scared and distressed over being forced to leave home to live with strangers, 13 year old Nell steps up and takes charge of 5 year old Olive knowing she must protect and keep her safe at all costs. The girls experience numerous unexpected kindnesses, but all is not easy as they encounter scary, dangerous types as well.

A funny little Olive (and Auntie Missus) steal the show with a story of innocence, bravery and a "wise beyond years" vocabulary as she tells it like it is....at the most inopportune times.

THE RUNAWAY CHILDREN combines historical fiction with a coming of age story that is entertaining and filled with love of family, hope, and friendships.

This deeply touching story gives us a glimpse of the perspective of Olive and Nell as they adapt to life as evacuees during the devastation of the Second World War.

In among the hardships, ration books, bombings, plane crashes and unspeakable acts, I learn I have things in common with these sisters.

We share the love of the same books.

I also saw the beauty they saw as well as recognized their horror. Horror in what they overcame and beauty in their expression of love in a prayer over men they did not know, and a shared hope that others would return home safely to their loved ones.

It's a tale of sibling remembrances with lots of intense action written into its short chapters. It would make an excellent book club selection.

Reviewed for Net Galley

Prepare yourself for the characters of Nell and Olive to worm their way into your heart and stay there forever! They miss their families enormously but Nell stays strong for her sister and takes her responsibilities very seriously for a girl so young. Olive is an absolute treasure. An incredibly witty and brave child who made me chuckle more than once and gives her sister strength without even realising it.

I absolutely adored The Runaway Children from the very first moment. It’s an incredibly heartwarming, though sometimes also sad, story about family, love, hope and survival. I loved every minute I got to spend with Nell and Olive and the various other characters they meet on their journey. It left me feeling all warm, fuzzy and hopeful. If you like beautifully written stories set in the WWII era, then you should definitely give this one a go!

Oh my goodness what an absolutely fantastic story this was . I absolutely loved it . 13 year old Nell and her 5 year old sister are evacuated from East End London in 1942 and sent to Wales . They leave behind their mother and two brother . This book tells the story of the two girls and how after a bad experience they make the decision to return to their family in London making their way in their own from Wales. This is an absolutely wonderful story that had me laughing in places and next thing I had tears rolling down my face . Sandy Taylor has an absolutely fabulous way of telling a story . If you’ve already read her Brighton Girls trilogy you will already know what a superb author she is and how she has this superb knack of bringing her characters to life. I would give this book more than five stars if I could.

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.” ― Mark Twain

WOW!!!!!

There are books that leave a mark in the heart of a reader. A book that is so beautifully written that you are sure it will become an instant classic. I believe this is one of them. It reads like a classic. If you love Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre and Before We Were Yours you will fall in love with this one.

The story takes place in 1942 London during The Blitz bombings of WWII. Thirteen year old Nell, her eleven year old brother Tony, and five year old sister, Olive are asked to evacuate the city they live in as a means of surviving the threat of daily bomb raids. Nell is forced to take on the role of protector and be her siblings’ only guide.

Sandy Taylor takes us on an unforgettable journey of hope, love, heartbreak and resilience. The book had me hoping and praying for a good ending because I fell in love with the characters right away. I wanted them to be okay, to fight and survive and be loved and cared for.

I am a huge fan of WWII historical fiction and this book is now one of my favorite. It’s Right up there with the Book Thief, The Nightingale and very few others. One of the character in particular, stole my heart; made me laugh and cry and hope and cheer right along.

I always look for subtle ways in which the author develops their characters. I enjoy seeing them grow and I don’t mean in a physical-grown-up sense. Nell was developed in a way that left me feeling proud of her. From a lost girl in East End to becoming her sibling’s only hope.

This story had me in tears throughout. Tears of joy and sorrow. I cheered and cringed. Each one of the characters is special to me as most showed how wonderful it is to be able to help those less fortunate. It left me feeling hopeful and wanting more! Only few books can have that effect on me. I am ready to read it again!

I am currently reading a lot of historical fiction books so I was delighted when this book arrived on my Kindle!

I have really enjoyed this authors previous books and was delighted that this one was written with the same high standards and excellent attention to details.  You really do feel as though you are with them in the period as you read their story.  The characters were well rounded and I really enjoyed learning more about them and watching them develop as the story went on.  

Five stars from me, it is a heart-warming story that really touched me and left me thinking about the book long after I'd finished it.

I absolutely adore this author. She has a way of transporting you to the world of her stories and the lives of her characters - books like hers are why I read. This was a beautiful book - the author's prose is to die for. And this tale - wow! Original and stunning. I was invested in the lives of the characters, I lived out their dramas and came away changed in some small, meaningful way. This is a stunningly written masterpiece of a book that I will be thinking of for a long time. Loved it. Highly recommend it to everyone.

EXCERPT: I wished for the millionth time that I hadn't killed him. I still couldn't believe that I had actually ended the life of another human being. Did I have to kill him? I could have just threatened to tell his mother, but when I saw what he was about to do to innocent little Olive, I saw red. I was angry, angrier than I had ever been in my whole life and, yes, in that moment, in that barn, I wanted him dead. I wanted him splattered on the ground. I wanted to bash his brains out, that's what I'd wanted to do. We think we know ourselves, don't we? But we don't. We judge the murderers and thieves and the beggars without knowing their stories. We judge them because we think we're better than they are, that we're the goodies in the white hats and they're the baddies in the black ones. But now I knew that underneath my hat I was as capable of killing and thieving as the worst thugs in Rannly Court. So much had happened since we left Bermondsey, it felt like another life. I was just an ordinary kid when I 'd said goodbye to Mum in the flat but now I was a murderer and I was on the run from the law. How the bloody hell had that happened?

THE BLURB: London, 1942: Thirteen-year-old Nell and five-year-old Olive are being sent away from the devastation of the East End. They are leaving the terror of the Blitz and nights spent shivering in air raid shelters behind them, but will the strangers they are billeted with be kind and loving, or are there different hardships ahead?

As the sisters struggle to adjust to life as evacuees, they soon discover that living in the countryside isn’t always idyllic. Nell misses her mother and brothers more than anything but she has to stay strong for Olive. Then, when little Olive’s safety is threatened by a boy on a farm, Nell has to make a decision that will change their lives forever…

They must run from danger and try to find their way home.

Together the two girls hold each other’s hands as they begin their perilous journey across bombed-out Britain. But when Nell falls ill, can she still protect her little sister from the war raging around them? And will they ever be reunited from the family they’ve been torn from?

An unputdownable novel of unconditional love, friendship and the fight for survival during a time of unimaginable change. The Runaway Children is guaranteed to find a place in your heart.

MY THOUGHTS: I didn't find The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor unputdownable, but it was a book that I greatly enjoyed, and one that didn't always take me where I thought it was headed.

I think that Sandy Taylor has written a slightly sanitized portrayal of life as a refugee in WWII Britain. And I don't mean that as a criticism because, after all, the story is basically a 'feel good' experience. There is no great emotional depth, but that really doesn't seem to matter.

The story is told from the perspective of thirteen year old Nell. Not only is she responsible for her much younger sister Olive, she is in that difficult phase of her life where she is becoming aware of the opposite sex, her own effect on them and attraction to them.

Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I was unable to stop reading this book, it's gripping,mesmerizing and will leave you feeling many emotions throughout it! It was heartbreaking and heartwarming and when all sense of hope was lost it was found. Portrays streetwise children in London who must be evacuated for their safety during the early 1940's. This is a keeper!
Pub Date 08 Dec 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a beautifully written story of 2 sisters, 13 year old Nell and 5 year old Olive, who leave their Mom and 2 brothers to find safety from the bombings in London. The story is set during WW2. Nell is so very strong and Olive is just adorable. Reading their story through their eyes is heartbreaking. They are both so brave and face all the challenges that come their way. I received and ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture. All opinions are my own.

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor is the story of Nell and Olive, two sisters evacuated to Wales from London during the war. After a promising start, the girls' fortunes change and they are forced to run away and make their way back home.

There are so many adjectives I could use to describe this book, the story and the characters - charming, heart-warming, captivating, endearing, a story of love, friendship, hope, resilience .....I could go on and on. I loved it. The Runaway Children had me both laughing out loud and crying on the bus to work. I did not want my journey to end until I had completed Olive and Nell's journey.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's 1942 and life in Bermondsey in London is becoming more and more dangerous. That is why thirteen-year-old Nell and her five-year-old sister Olive are being evacuated. They end up in Wales. Living in the countryside is a new experience, something they have to get used to. Being taken in by kind people isn't a given, will Nell and Olive be lucky enough to find loving people to look after them while they are far away from their family?

Initially things seem to be going well for Olive and Nell, but something changes and this makes their lives a lot more unstable. Nell tries to protect Olive as well as she can, but it isn't easy to keep her little sister safe. When something bad is about to happen to Olive it's up to Nell to save her sister. However, her decision will have huge consequences and it's the beginning of a long and dangerous journey. Will they survive the difficult road ahead?

The Runaway Children is a beautiful emotional story about war, family, friendship and love. I immediately liked Nell. She's strong, kindhearted and caring. She has to look out for her little sister and Olive is quite something. She's wise for her age, she's incredibly beautiful and she says the strangest things. Reading about her often made me smile and it brought some wonderful lightness to a story set in heavy times. I liked that combination of hard and soft and brightness and dark very much. Sandy Taylor skillfully alternates between hope and sadness, which is something that suits the time frame incredibly well.

What I liked the most about The Runaway Children is the close bond between Nell and Olive. It's indestructible, they're always there for each other and it's clear they love each other very much and would do anything for one another. I'm a big fan of stories about sisters and this is definitely a good one. I was impressed by the warmth of their relationship and the easy way they talk to each other. The age gap makes their bond even more interesting and the dialogue is fantastic.

Sandy Taylor has written a brilliant gripping story. I was captivated by Nell and Olive from the start. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out if they'd survive the war and read The Runaway Children in one sitting. The people Nell and Olive meet on their journey are intriguing and some of them immediately found a way to my heart. The Runaway Children is filled with unexpected twists and turns and has a gorgeous ending that moved me to tears. I love it when I feel so much when I'm reading a story. I highly recommend this absolute gem of a story.

This book is a family saga set during World War 2. It's well written and very interesting. Nell and Olive are two young sisters. They have been evacuated from London to the countryside. There is plenty of drama in the story as Nell and Olive grow up away from their parents.

I hadn't realised this was by the same author as 'When We Danced at the End of the Pier' but I can see a lot of what made me love that book in The Runaway Children'.

Nell is evacuated from London with her little sister Olive. They end up in a village in Wales being cared for by the local vicar and his wife. Although Nell misses her mother and brothers she soon makes friends and enjoys the rural life. That ends when the church decides that the vicar would be better utilised in Cardiff, which is scarcely the place for evacuees! Their next placement is completely different. Nell struggles to protect her sister but this results in an action she could never have imagined.

The characters in this book are so believable and you really find yourself wishing for a happy ending for Nell. I loved it!

This was a heartwarming story about young sisters evacuated from London during the second world war.
I appreciated that it was a different story about the war, told from a different perspective. The sisters relationship was so sweet but very believable.
I really enjoyed this book and would be happy to read other novels by this author.