THIS BOOK. I have read countless World War II novels at this point. Almost all (or all) following women, often part of the resistance or holding down the homestead back home. There are so many and every single one has taught me something and made that war, that happened decades before I was born but that both of my Grandpa's, and both of Matt's, served in. There are countless books on that time period and they can get a bit much, nobody can read them all, but I can't think of any I've read that I haven't appreciated in some way.
So, if I tell you this is a World War II novel you might immediately brush it off. If I tell you it's a middle-grade World War II novel, you really might not be interested. HOWEVER. This was the sweetest and loveliest book I've read this year, or maybe ever.
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus is about a sibling trio from London. Their parents died years ago and they have been living with their grandmother who was not at all the cuddly type. She's recently died and the siblings have nobody. Nobody. There is a lawyer who wants to do his best to get them in a good home but at their ages: William age 12, Edmund age 11, and Anna age 9; getting a family or couple who wants 3 extra kids at those ages would be tough. They have some money they've inherited but they can't just BUY a new family.
There is a kindly housekeeper who is the most maternal figure in their lives. However, she's getting up in age and is moving to the countryside to live with her sister. She loves these kids but is not in a position to care for them herself.
The attorney and housekeeper come up with a bit of a plan. Kids are being taken out of London constantly, and being sent to live in the countryside to keep them safe from the Blitz. Literally trains full of kids are headed out of the city. So, what if the siblings just got in with one of these groups, got assigned a family, hopefully said family would fall in love with them, and then, surprise!, they would be available to adopt.
Nobody said it was a great plan but it was a plan and better than anything else the kids had going. So they did that.
William is very much the leader of their group. He has done so much to keep his siblings' spirits up and keep them cared for, as well as a 12 year old can. Edmund is a bit of trouble and sometimes can't stop what comes out of his mouth. (I'm not saying I know young boys like that...but I'm not not saying that). And Anna just desperately wants parents who love her and that she can love. (I think she read a little young for 9, considering I have a 9 year old, but, also, this is 90 years ago and boy vs. girl so maybe it's accurate.)
They get placed with a family where they aren't treated well. This family has always wanted a daughter so Anna is treated well in a real bed but the boys are given a leaky room with cots on the floor. Part of the deal of this arrangement is that all the London kids are sent to extra school all summer so their host families aren't burdened with having them around all the time. So at least the kids get out of this house, and away from the terrible sons (who remind me of Dudley Dursley, just without the video games), for the morning.
In the afternoons they find an escape in the library where the kindly librarian takes a real fondness to the kids. She's a bit of a pariah in the town, she married a German before the war and when he went home to check on his family as things were getting bad...he stopped corresponding. And nobody knows if he's dead or fighting with the Nazi's or just left his wife. But his actions are enough to make the librarian "unsuitable" to many in the town.
Things happen. The war is horrible, summer school isn't how any kid wants to spend their summer, and their living conditions aren't good. These do NOT seem like people who will want to adopt them and/or they want to be adopted by. Things are not looking good.
These kids were the sweetest, I wished I could adopt all three. They aren't perfect, but they are just desperate for someone to love them like a parent would. They lost their real parents so young and their grandmother never gave them the affection they craved. Plus there is the war and not wanting anyone to find out their plan. It was heart-warming and sweet and just incredibly GOOD.
It is middle-grade, like I said, so it was a breeze to fly through on my own. I finished this the afternoon I got out of the ER and finally starting to feel human again. It was perfect for reading when I felt so horrible in the days prior but would be charming at anytime. It is fantastic and well worth just the few hours it would take to read. You'll fall in love with these kids.
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