When the War Came Home – Lesley Parr

I can’t help but smile. But what I can’t see is Natty‘s bed. And no room to fit one in either.

Then I notice a lump at the bottom end of Nery’s. I left the quilt. Another pillow. So we are topping and tailing then – oh great! Her feet in my face all night. I go over to the window. There she is, feeding the pigs, talking to them, looking sad. I suppose it’s because of her brother. First the soldier at the bus stop and now Huw. The war ended ages ago, but it feels like it hasn’t really gone away.

WW1 has ended but yet it hasn’t gone. When Natty is forced to move with her mum to a new village (Ynsfach), she meets 2 soldiers affected by the Great War: Huw (who can’t forget what he witnessed) and Johnny (who has amnesia and can’t even remember who he is). As Natty tries to help them, she also learns what it means to fight for what you believe in…

Lesley’s debut novel, The Valley of Lost Secrets, is one of my favourite reads of 2021 so my hopes were high hearing about this second story, this time set just after WW1. And wow – what a beautiful, charming story of friendship, hope and secrets! Lesley really is up there with Emma Carroll and Michael Morpurgo as her historical fiction is exquisite. In this story, we get to learn more about how everyone has been affected by WW1 through Natty’s eyes, especially the soldiers who were able to return but suffered mentally with shell shock rather than physically. It made me reflect on mental health and that stiff upper lip mentality.

I just wanted to give everyone a big cwtch (my new favourite word) – there is so much heart in this story from so many areas: Natty and Nerys’ cousin/sister-like relationship, the support both girls want to give Owen as well as the time Natty gives to both Huw and Johnny to name a few. Natty and her mum’s relationship was also a really interesting story – seeing that resentment initially from Natty as the pair must move again to Natty understanding how and why her mum is the proactive individual she is. I really enjoyed that social context with the suffragette movement and I had no clue about the free school meals policy at that time. It’s very interesting this subject is so important in When the War Came Home at a time when Marcus Rashford is leading the charge against the government today.

This is a must-have book for your shelf in 2022! Overfilling with heart, social issues (still relevant today) and powerful relationships, When the War Comes Home keeps you guessing until that last twist. Lesley retains the crown for the newest, powerful voice of historical fiction.

Suggested reading age: 8+

When the War Came Home is written by Lesley Parr and will be published by Bloomsbury on 6th January 2022. If you want to support an indie bookshop, go and preorder your copy now.