Of Love, Hope & Family

The Secret Of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange is a powerful children’s historical debut novel that is perfect for ages ten years and over.

The novel is set in 1919. World War I is over but its effects are far reaching. A generation of sons never came home.

This is a book about grief, loss and hope. There are two mothers who are drowning in grief. One mother has removed herself from society. The other is being treated by quacks masquerading as concerned doctors. We see that women have little rights in a male dominated society.

Fear of the asylum was very real. Patients were treated as guinea pigs. “You see only the symptoms. You do not see people, and you do not see the damage you do to them.”

A sister, only twelve -years-old, but remarkably mature for her years, never gives up on her family, even though she is grieving her brother. “I feel like half a double act.”

There are kind souls who operate in love. Where there is love, the people flourish. Hope keeps people going.

This is a beautiful story showing the importance of having hope. I love an acronym of hope – Hold On, Pain Ends. This is a beautiful definition of grief. “Grief is just amputated love.” It speaks right to the heart.

The Secret Of Nightingale Wood is a powerful read whatever your age.

JULIA WILSON