The Heart Of The Community

 The Library Girls Of The East End by Patricia McBride is the start of a fabulous new historical series set during World War II.

Everyone does their bit for the war effort. The library has a new female boss to join the other two female workers. It is a new era with fresh ideas. The library becomes the heart of the community. No longer a dusty space, it is light and bright, serving the locals with books, health and a safe space during air raids.

All three women have lives that can be challenging. We see a wayward brother, a victim of a vicious attack and rape from years ago and a poison-tongued grandmother. Each women tries to leave their troubles at home until they feel comfortable sharing about their lives.

We see how the tongue can wound. “Her mother’s harsh voice was always whispering in her ear that she was useless, ugly, unlovable.” The tongue-lashing came to a mother when she was young, and is now being directed towards her daughter until enough is enough.