Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll

Letters from the Lighthouse follows the story of Olive and Cliff, who after almost being killed in an air raid, are evacuated from London to Devon. Their sister, Sukie, disappeared during the air raid and a strange note in the coat she was wearing seems to tie her to someone in Devon, a mystery Olive is more than willing to unravel.

Being put into the care of Mr Ephiram, the local lighthouse keeper, Olive and Cliff are drawn into a war that has been hundreds of miles away. A village unites to help those fleeing the Nazis and Olive gets to see into a world of secret messages, boats in the night and a sister that is risking her life to help.

Letters from the Lighthouse is a celebration of women in the war and the power that they found when the men in their lives were at war.

I really enjoyed this story, as did my class. The way that Emma Carroll weaves such a heartfelt tale of friendship, grief and persecution has you reading on and on to find out what is behind the next corner. The way that Olive grows from being this frightened girl in a new place to a fearless young women who is willing to put the needs of other first is such an amazing journey for the reader to have.