In 1940 London, Millie and Reginald Thompson decide to send their only daughter, Beatrix - age eleven - to the United States, to insure her safety from the bombings/shootings of World War II. An American family, Mr. and Mrs. Gregory, and their sons William and Gerald, welcome Beatrix and absorb her into their family as if she's always been with them. She lives with them for approximately five years, enjoying many summers on their Maine island. The story plot follows her five years there, her relationships and life with her adopted family, and then her return to London - postwar, to her mother (father now deceased), and to the life she develops beyond that time. She somewhat moves on from her American life, but never forgets them, until they eventually re-connect in a more major way.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story - from beginning to end. All of the characters are believable and relatable. I felt for Bea, being displaced in a new country with a new family, and all the adjustments she had to make; I also had compassion for her parents living in a country during a period of war - the continual threat of bombs and having to live without their only child for so many years. On the flip side, the Gregorys became very attached to Bea and had to suffer her sudden withdraw from their lives, another difficult situation, for both parents and siblings. This story touched on some many issues besides the war-time shift of a young girl to another country, that I was totally vested in all of the characters. The author did a great job of developing all of their personalities and following through on their lives throughout the entire story plot. I would highly recommend this book to many type of readers - historical fiction, drama, family, romance, fiction - anyone who enjoys reading about the human spirit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story - from beginning to end. All of the characters are believable and relatable. I felt for Bea, being displaced in a new country with a new family, and all the adjustments she had to make; I also had compassion for her parents living in a country during a period of war - the continual threat of bombs and having to live without their only child for so many years. On the flip side, the Gregorys became very attached to Bea and had to suffer her sudden withdraw from their lives, another difficult situation, for both parents and siblings. This story touched on some many issues besides the war-time shift of a young girl to another country, that I was totally vested in all of the characters. The author did a great job of developing all of their personalities and following through on their lives throughout the entire story plot. I would highly recommend this book to many type of readers - historical fiction, drama, family, romance, fiction - anyone who enjoys reading about the human spirit.