Reviewed by Emma Crowley
When Clara Newton’s fiancé died during World War Two, she thought her life was over. But now she looks after orphans who, like her, lost everything during the war. Children like sweet little Peg who won’t speak, and Joyce whose body was scarred by polio. Clara loves them all dearly, even though life as a housemother can be lonely – especially now that Ivor, a D-Day war hero with dark brown eyes who once helped with the children, has disappeared…
But then Clara receives some terrible news. The orphanage is going to be sold and the children sent far away. Joyce and Peg will be taken to a notorious home for disabled children. The others will be sent to Australia, where Clara fears they will be mistreated by unknown families. Any day now, the children could lose everything she worked so hard to provide…
With wealthy buyers lined up to purchase Shilling Grange and a ship already docked waiting to carry the children away, Clara is desperate. She must find loving new homes for them quickly, but time is running out… Can she save the orphans before they lose everything all over again? And even if Ivor returns when she needs him the most, will it be too late?
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of A Place to Call Home to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
A Place to Call Home is the second in the Shillings Grange series by Lizzie Page. Again, as with book one, I found it to be a good read but one that only really picked up towards the last quarter or so as things started to come together and other events occurred which set us up nicely for book three. Don’t worry if you are new to this series as it is easily read as a standalone story. There is plenty of information provided as to the backstory to all the various characters and how they find themselves currently dealing with a wide range of problems. There is a big cast of characters to get to know and admittedly it is slightly confusing at first but once you settle into the story you realise that each person has their own distinct and unique voice which shines through from the pages.
The loudest voice is that of Clara Newton, mistress of the Shillings Grange, the orphanage which houses an eclectic mix of children. Clara really has matured since we first encountered her in book one. Gone is the young woman who is struggling to acclimatise to her new job and who seemed at some points to have the children running circles around her. This time around I found her to be more settled and confident and much more willing to fight for the orphanage to stay open and for the children to have some form of safety, security and love. That’s not to say that Clara is perfect and gets everything right. In fact, far from it. She knows what she wants to achieve and faces a daily uphill battle to do so. There are many trials and tribulations that are sent her way and she faces stiff opposition to keep the orphanage open and prevent the children she has come to love so dearly from being separated. What really stood out in this book perhaps more so than the first is the Clara and the children have become like one big family unit. They may be unconventional and have come from various troubled and distressing backgrounds but they are solidifying a new group where they always try to look out for one another and make the best of any bad situation that comes their way.
Clara really wants her charges, both old and new, to blossom. I think now she feels more secure in herself and the death of her fiancée during the war although traumatic and devastating she is now finally beginning to put this loss behind her. She knows that she can’t go back to the past but must move forward into the future. The love she has for the children felt really strong in this story. Before, I felt she was very much like a fish out of water frantically swimming against the tide each day not knowing what direction she would take to reach her final comforting destination. I don’t think she has reached that end point yet but she is doing her best to get there and to navigate the bumps in the road along the way.
Maureen, the eldest of the children at the Grange, is being secretive and has dumped her boyfriend Joe much to Clara’s dismay. There were subtle hints as to what was going on with Maureen which I quickly guessed and was fervently hoping Clara would too. Peter, Rita, Alex, Peg, the twins Billy and Barry, all feature again. I have to say the twins really stand out in the way they are written, they are two peas in a pod who provide so many comedic moments and I could visualise them so clearly with all their antics and the exasperation Clara feels towards them sometimes. Two new residents arrive, Evelyn and Joyce, who both come with their own issues and troubles. Clara has to try and break down their barriers just like she has done with every child. I think now she is more wary in that she doesn’t rush straight into things headfirst, she has learned a lot from her time at the Grange. She knows children need time to settle in as they all come from such different backgrounds that have been troublesome and which have lasting effects.
I loved the way Clara interacted with all the children. She seemed more settled and wiser but still she questions herself and desperately hopes that her ally and support system Ivor will return. Clara wants to keep the home happy and safe for everyone but when rumours begin to spread that the home is to be sold, fear and doubt sets in. She knows she must do everything in her power to prevent the closure as she has done so well in helping the children become more confident and to deal with all the struggles that they face. When she hears even more devastating news that those who cannot find homes are to be shipped away to Australia, Clara knows she must do everything in her power to prevent this from happening. She has come so far to go down without a fight and now she can stand on her own two feet she is determined to show everyone and the powers that be that Shillings Grange is worthwhile and needs to be open as she does such good work. The children are happy and content and their care and wellbeing is always her utmost priority.
The story really developed as Clara champions the underdog and goes above and beyond to keep the Grange open. An unexpected source makes an appearance but will it be too little too late? I did enjoy how everything was panning out in the last quarter or so. I will say the romance side regarding Clara and Ivor remains as frustrating as ever. They are so destined to be together, but they really need their heads banging together as they are more separated and apart than ever before. Communication and being honest is the key but that doesn’t seem to be happening here. In her end notes Lizzie Page eluded to the fact that readers may find the Clara/Ivor situation frustrating but she assures us that she knows exactly in which direction this part of the story is heading. I trust we are in safe hands and I am keen to figure out what will happen for the pair and in fact for all the residents of the Grange.
A Place to Call Home is a good addition to the series overall. It’s a nice saga that really grows on you and Clara and the children do find a place in your heart. The issues of children’s safeguarding, the English class system and how the decisions made by bureaucrats do affect so many were well developed, and I hope will continue to be so in the next book. I’m looking forward to An Orphan's Song already as there are lots of unanswered questions making the reader want more.
No comments:
Post a Comment