If you’re looking for a new read to settle down with, look no further than Judith Eagle’s wonderful new piece of historical fiction.

“War has been declared and the lives of three sisters, Lydia, Peggy and Teddy, are about to be turned upside down.

As bombs rain down on London, the girls will lose their homes, their things, their loved ones . . . But they will find lost kittens, friendships with fellow rebels, the need for art, the strength and love to carry on, and a greater sense of family than ever. And with each other’s help and with the radical changes to society that war brings, the three sisters will discover the essence of who they truly are.

Lydia’s story: it’s 1939 and war has been declared. The girls have been evacuated to the countryside. Lydia, the oldest and always the sensible one, is finding a way to make everyone feel safe – with her cooking! But the weight of responsibility begins to feel unbearably heavy and Lydia decides to take drastic, dangerous action . . .

Peggy’s story: it’s 1943 and the girls are back in London, crammed into a house in Peckham Rye with numerous friends and relatives. Peggy, the arty one, is at school and hating it. Inspired by her new friend Arno, a refugee from Germany, Peggy is determined to go to art school, whatever the cost . . .

Teddy’s story: it’s 1946 and the girls are living through the war’s aftermath. Teddy, the clever one, is excelling at school. So when a school trip to Paris is on the cards, the family are keen to find the money for Teddy to go. Little do they know that, instead of learning French, Teddy plans to try and find one of the family’s very dearest lost loved ones . . .”

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I absolutely loved this book! It cleverly tells one family’s story as they navigate the ups and downs of life of London in the Blitz through the eyes of the three Linden sisters. With the eldest sister Lydia starting, each sister then takes the mantle, leading the reader through a different section of the war.

Although each part is told from the perspective of a different sister, there is the common theme of love and sisterhood running through them all. Reading this book is like being embraced into the bosom of their home – I could imagine myself sat in their kitchen as Lydia baked or in the girls’ bedroom as they argue over the kittens.

Told with great historical accuracy, ‘The Blitz Sisters’ gives readers a safe way of exploring the reality of life in a Blitz-worn Britain. Carefully researched and constructed, I would recommend this for readers aged 10+

Jo.

*Many thanks to Faber & Faber for sending this title to review*