This book's illustrations were fantastic. It seemed as if the picture I had in my head of the characters had been projected onto paper and been put in the story. It also showed you a more in-depth look at what the characters were feelings by their expression on their faces or the way their body was positioned. February 2018 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: an evacuee story as imagined by the one and only Jacqueline Wilson I found this book really realistic, and it helps if you are learning about evacuees and the second world war. I recommend this book to 8, 9, 10, and 11 year olds.

I enjoyed this book and I would recommend this book to other children my age. The history in this book was very realistic; it made me feel like I was the one being evacuated, and I now know more about World War Two evacuees than I did before reading this book. After reading this book I would like to find out more about the war. This book has also made me want to read more books written by Jacqueline Wilson. Her 48-year-old daughter Emma is a professor of French literature and film at Cambridge University. The author is incredibly disciplined.I have always loved Jacqueline Wilson since I was a child. She's always been very good at setting up and demonstrating the values within different types of families. I loved this story because I have learnt much about World War 2, so it was really interesting hearing a story of some kids that were actually there. This book inspired me to learn some more about the war and other people’s experiences. I also really like Jacqueline's books because of how they mostly focus on one person and how they are feeling about the world around them. Wilson has a gift for striking truths . . . a worthy addition to [her] ever-growing body of work -- Rebecca Butler Books for Keeps However the reality of being billeted in a country village hits home when the residents are asked to select the kids they are willing to take in. Of course there are more kids than available beds and it all gets quite dramatic as Shirley and the two remaining – and unprepossessing – boys are virtually forced on to an unwilling ( and reclusive) hostess. Upon arriving in the countryside, Jessica and Shirley have to split up as they aren't going to stay at the same places, it unsettled them but they promise to stay friends. Shirley winds up left with a few other children and so they're forced into villagers with rooms. Shirley ends up also placed with Kevin a boy who's also ten but very tall and Archie a young bald boy. They stay with the mysterious Chubby, a bossy housekeeper and her friend Lady Waverley.

With [creating] characters I find it quite easy because I made up so many imaginary friends when I was a little girl because I didn’t have any siblings,” says the divorced mother of one. Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million! She soon finds herself lodged deep in the countryside, with two boys from the East End of London, Kevin. But here, living in the strange, half-empty Red House with the mysterious and reclusive Mrs Waverley, the children's lives will be changed for ever. As well as winning many awards for her books, including the Children's Book of the Year, Jacqueline is a former Children's Laureate, and in 2008 she was appointed a Dame.The book was a very detailed and accurate first-person account of the Second World War, all the way down to the clothes the characters wore. It sounded like a 100% match to what life was like for evacuees in the country. This is not the first book I have read by Jaqueline Wilson and it shall not be my last. This book has lived up to the standards and quality as all Jacqueline Wilson books and I recommend it to all 8-12 year olds. The stories of people that were evacuated are so extraordinary because some children were desperately unhappy; some sort of jogged along somehow and some kids had the time of their life and didn’t even want to go home.” Jacqueline Wilson wrote her first novel when she was nine years old, and she has been writing ever since. She is now one of Britain’s bestselling and most beloved children’s authors. She has written over 100 books and is the creator of characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. More than forty million copies of her books have been sold. This book was both worrying to read and exciting. I would like to read more Jacqueline Wilson books. I have already bought/read over 6 books of this author and more being released every year. I would like to know how many evacuees ran away from their selected homes and how many didn't go home.

There was also a really cunning secret when her mum explained about the little trip but didn't explain about being evacuated.This book made me think about history and want to learn more. My mum's friend races pigeons and and they used to help bring messages in war time we are going to see them and see how they used to do this and how they were trained.