Letters from the Lighthouse: ‘THE QUEEN OF HISTORICAL FICTION’ Guardian: 1

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By shining a spotlight on supplementary characters’ preconceptions and showing their progression towards change and acceptance, my class were able to connect with the injustices faced by refugees, both in the past and the present, on a far deeper level. From the queen of historical fiction, Letters From the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll is a stunningly evocative wartime drama, and sure to keep you breathlessly reading to its very last page.

I particularly liked the character Sukie and I like the part where the bomb goes off while they are at the cinema. Along with her younger brother, Cliff, Olive is evacuated to the Devonshire town of Budmouth Point with no answer as to what happened to her older sister. I read through the book beforehand and then timed my teaching to coincide with the book so that my children were able to better visualise what I was teaching them. I'm not sure if the history in the book was realistic as I think that Britain did allow refugees to come into the country in the second world war. Emma Carroll has a wonderful takent for bringing historic events to life for today’s young readers and with Letters from the Lighthouse continues to create an enthralling, thrilling read, whilst introducing situations and characters that are still relevant in our world today.Mystery and suspense have been cleverly woven throughout the book and never feel forced, instead giving children a hook to keep wanting to come back to the story.

When the pages ran out, I felt bereft, desperate to follow up the mystery of Sukie’s disappearance from the air raid that interrupted the screening of ‘The Mark of Zorro’. I get impatient waiting for my daughter to finish the books so I can read them, and she gets impatient waiting for me to finish so she can talk about them. Bronnie is so lovely with the boys and we also felt that having a man enthusing about the books set a great example. This was an easy read set in World War II, with the book being for young adults, but it is beautifully written.

Although it is fiction, the book contains a lot of historical contexts and this could be a powerful teaching tool to use across the curriculum. Olive is a likeable heroine who copes remarkably well with her situation showing a maturity and kindness that readers can learn much from. When I had read this book, it made me want to read lots more like it because it made you feel as if you were one of the characters. Yourself and Bob are much cherished in our booky world and I personally really appreciate everything that you do. It is wonderful how Emma Carrol makes her book about a girl and her brother who've been evacuated to the countryside to escape the Nazis.

Bombs are dropping from the sky like pennies from a jar when Olive and her little brother, Cliff, are evacuated to Devon. Tocmai de aceea, părinții își trimit copiii singuri, în zonele rurale, pentru a îi salva un pic de la toată trauma pe care o provoacă un război de o asemenea amploare. From the very first few pages, this story is full of gripping adventure, mystery and is at times, breathtaking. This is one of the books that at the start it was quiet upsetting but through out the book it got really interesting- especially the quick sand which really got me on my toes. It’s a fantastic independent book seller that will actually be responsive and select appropriate books for you.

Romanul acesta, atât de potrivit pentru copii și adolescenți pentru a afla ce a însemnat cel de Al Doilea Război Mondial și ce suferințe a provocat, este unul plin de aventură, de mister întreținut prin intermediul unor coduri secrete, dar și unul despre a fi om chiar și în timpuri grele, despre umanitate, comunitate, acceptare, toleranță, iubire de aproape, prietenie, compasiune, creare de legături născute din suferințe mari și bunătate arătată tuturor, indiferent dacă sunt prieteni sau dușmani. My main critique is that the pace of the book seems to soar at some points meaning particular sections feel rushed. There, Olive will learn some of the most important lessons of her life, including just how much she is capable of.