The Children of the King
Gr 5–8—This book takes place in England during World War II, when the possibility of air raids was ever-present. Siblings Cecily and Jeremy, along with their mother Heloise, are sent to the northern countryside to live with Heloise's brother, Peregrine Lockwood, in mysterious Heron Hall. Cecily notices many children evacuees being taken in by local townspeople and asks her mother if they can adopt a child. The family winds up taking in May Bright, a 10-year-old refugee from London. The two girls become fast friends and begin exploring Heron Hall and the surrounding areas. On one of their daily adventures, the girls come across two boys in the ruins of a nearby castle. Cecily finds the boys creepy and annoying, but there is more to them than meets the eye. Though slow-moving, this story could work as a complementary text for students learning about World War II history, as it gives a glimpse into what everyday life was like and the conflicting feelings that people had about war.—Jesten Ray, Seattle Public Library, WA