I have always loved historical fiction
I have always had a special place in my heart for war stories
I have always loved first person narratives
I knew from the moment I first saw the proof cover
For Lesley Parr’s When The War Came Home
That I would love it
It reminds me of all the stories I have loved over the years
The Silver Sword
Carrie’s War
Private Peaceful
The Skylarks’ War
The Swallows’ Flight
Reading When The War Came Home
Felt like coming home for me
This wonderful story is set in the Welsh valleys
After The First World War had ended
Through the eyes of a young girl
We see how hard life was for those left behind
And those who came home from the fighting
Though the war had ended
The personal struggles and battles had not
This poignant, clever book weaves together the effects of war on soldiers, shell shock, amnesia and physical injuries with childhood poverty and using your voice to fight for what you believe in.
The story begins with Natty and her mum
They are struggling to hold things together
After the death of Natty’s dad
They have to leave their village to stay with family
After Natty’s mum loses her job
For standing up for workers’ rights
They have to move away from their Welsh village
To live with family
Who wrap them in love and kindness
And show them a very different way of life
One that Natty has no interest in living
At first
In the new village Natty meets two young soldiers
Both had lied about their age and fought in Belgium
While they were still young teens
One is battling shell shock and the grief of losing his best friend
The other has amnesia, he has no idea who he is or where he is from
One cannot forget, the other cannot remember
Natty wants to help them both
I love Natty, the incredibly likeable and believable protagonist
I love how much she wants to help others
I love her empathy for others
I love the relationships between Natty and Johnny, and Natty and Hugh
From the beginning of the book I was rooting for Natty
Firmly on her side and wanting good things to happen for her
She is such a strong character with a huge heart and i just adore her
I also love the friendship between Natty and Nerys
Two cousins who struggle to see eye to eye
Who are both passionate and caring
But take a while to settle together and understand one another
There are so many layers to this story
That are woven together beautifully
With such warmth and sensitivity
You are immediately drawn into the lives of the characters
When The War Came Home shows readers
That war affects more than just the soldiers on the battlefield
And that the effects of war last far longer than the fighting
When The War Came Home reminds readers of the importance
Of family and community
Of standing together
Of fighting for what you believe in
I loved the family and friendships at the centre of this story
How people came together and supported one another
The way that no matter what was going on
The jobs on the farm always needed doing
And that was their anchor that kept them steady
This is such an emotive story of life after The Great War
Of love and kindness, friendship, family and community
I urge you to read this book
It will move you and remind you why stories like this matter
Stories that though fictional
Reflect the reality for so many people
Who tried to piece their lives back together
When The War Came Home
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for sending a copy of this book for review