The pacing of the story is good. The author cleverly dropped clues along the way. She also gave a very good insight into what it was like to be evacuated to a new place during that era. What a wonderful book. A brilliant debut - warm and tender, simple in the best way, historical fiction with a light touch. - Ross Montgomery, author of The Midnight Guardians

Teaching Resources Made Easy Literacy Shed Plus - Teaching Resources Made Easy

Author Luke Palmer introduces his new book, Play (Firefly Press) about four boys growing up together, the challenges, the friendships, and what hap... Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments The winners of The Farshore Reading for Pleasure Teacher Awards 2023, highlighting the work schools are doing to encourage a love of reading, have... Here we are, a wriggling, squiggling line of schoolchildren. Duff’s at the front with his little sister. She’s even younger than Ronnie; too young to understand any of this. I can’t see many faces; most are looking at our teacher, Miss Goodhew. Some of us seem excited, some curious, but I bet everyone’s nervous. Even the ones pretending not to be. Maybe even Duff.Whilst I loved all the main characters I can’t move on without speaking about lovely Ronnie... if you know you know, but oh my gosh my heart! I would quite happily read a Ronnie sequel *hint cough hint* ... bless him he was the sweetest! This lovely book is one of the best debut novels I have been privileged to read in a long time. Mysterious, exciting and moving, it really does have everything!

The Valley of Lost Secrets | Book reviews | RGfE - Reading Groups The Valley of Lost Secrets | Book reviews | RGfE - Reading Groups

This is also being enjoyed very much by the Y5 book club and is the last book we have to review for The Awesome Book Awards - could it end up defying expectations and being our overall winner? 💀🌳 I would say the novel is suited for Year 6 and above based on the subject matter and some offensive language used throughout the novel. The description of the Welsh countryside made me feel as if I was there and the story gripped me, making me empathise with every hard situation evacuees had to face. It made me realise how hard it must be to be away from your parents for so long! This is one of those stories that drew me in immediately. First, I love a story set in South Wales, and second, I love a good evacuee story and this is certainly that. I was happy that Gwen and Alun turned out to be kind and caring, even if there was some resentment in the village about the London evacuees. And Jimmy is an interesting character, unhappy about leaving his dad and Nan, resistant to letting himself settle in too comfortably with the Thomases, and very affectionate and protective of his younger brother. Evocative and heartfelt, The Valley of Lost Secrets already reads like a classic. A celebration of kindness and friendship at a time of upheaval, it's gripping, heart-breaking and yet full of hope. I loved it with all my heart - Liz Hyder, author of Bearmouth But then he finds a skull hidden in a tree, and suddenly the valley is more frightening than the war. Who can Jimmy trust? His brother is too little; his best friend has changed. Author's BiographyWho can Jimmy trust? His brother is too little; his best friend has changed. Finding an ally in someone he never expects, they set out together to uncover the secrets that lie with the skull. What they discover will change Jimmy - and the village - forever. About This Edition ISBN: