Carrie's War

Nina Bawden

ISBN 10: 0140867279 ISBN 13: 9780140867275

Publisher: Puffin, 1998

Synopsis

As the bombs are falling, Carrie and her little brother are evacuated to Wales and billeted at the home of the bullying Mr Evans and his timid sister Lou. At first very unhappy, they discover great warmth when they visit Albert at Druid's Bottom, where they meet Hepzibah Green, who knows magical stories, and Mister Johnny, who speaks a language all his own. When things go wrong, Carrie takes things into her own hands, without guessing the awful consequences.

About this title

Review:

A poignant and realistic picture of what the second world war was like for a child . . . Carrie's War captures the true reality of war for a child, and it doesn't sentimentalise war (Shirley Hughes Guardian)

A very touching, utterly convincing book about three wartime evacuees billeted to Wales. It's very much a children's story, with a mystery to be solved, but Nina Bawden is very subtle with her characterisation - even hateful Mr Evans with his cruel bullying is seen as sadly pathetic too. Carrie and her little brother Nick are a delight, but my favourite character is their friend Albert Sandwich. He might sport steel spectacles and have a few spots on his chin, but he's one of the most charming boys in all children's fiction (Jacqueline Wilson)

Delicately done, full of accurate and unsentimental understanding (Sunday Telegraph)

Perhaps the best of Nina Bawden's excellent novels (Sunday Times)

About the Author:

Nina Bawden grew up in London, Norfolk, Shropshire and South Wales, where she was evacuated during the war. She worked on farms and as a country postwoman and began to write after graduating from Somerville College, Oxford. She has written 17 novelsfor children and 21 for adults.

About this edition

• Publisher: Puffin
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0140867279
• ISBN 13: 9780140867275
• Binding: Audio Cassette