Jenny's War

by Margaret Dickinson

Is it possible for a ten-year-old girl to fall in love? Jenny Mercer thought so. Evacuated to Lincolnshire from the East End of London at the outbreak of war, she is frightened of the wide open spaces and the huge skies. At first, she is treated badly by the two spinsters with whom she is billeted. But the kindly Thornton family soon makes her feel welcome. And no one more so than Georgie, the handsome RAF fighter pilot, who is caught up in the battle for Britain's survival. When Georgie is posted missing, presumed killed, Jenny is devastated and there is more heartbreak when her mother demands that she return home to the dangerous city streets now under almost daily attack from enemy bombers.

400 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2012

About the author

Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Margaret Dickinson moved to the coast at the age of seven and so began her love for the sea and the Lincolnshire landscape. Her ambition to be a writer began early and she had her first novel published at the age of twenty-five. This was followed by many further titles including Plough the Furrow, Sow the Seed and Reap the Harvest, which make up her Lincolnshire Fleethaven Trilogy. She is also the author of Fairfield Hall, Jenny's War and The Clippie Girls. Margaret is a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Edser · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointingly predictable. This is the only one of Margaret Dickinson's books that I have found disappointing. Right from the start you knew where it was going to end up and although the characters were interesting there was not enough to grab my interest. I got to the end thinking "I knew that was going to turn out like that"

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main characters with hyper agreeable situations and characteristics. I did like Jenny. Hate her mum, I'm so glad there wasn't any thing bad. The end was strange, cripple to get rid of and to steer onto the main character. Brisket and pork chops 🤣 He carried a lamb, what a determined man...ends all tied.

[Anne Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

We first meet Jenny as a truculent 10-year-old from East London, evacuated to rural Lincolnshire. Taken in by local squire Miles and his wife Charlotte, refuses to co-operate with them. The only one who can win her round is youngest son, Georgie, an RAF pilot. After eventually settling and coming to love the Thorntons and the area where they live, Jenny is forced to go back to London by her single Mum Dot and ‘fancy man’ Arthur. From there, she is forced to aid Arthur in his black market activities. How Jenny eventually makes her way back to Lincolnshire – and Georgie – makes a delightful ‘rites of passage’ novel. As always, with Margaret Dickinson’s novels, the setting – whether it’s Lincolnshire or a near-deserted village in Derbyshire – makes it seem very real.

[Adele Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review – Jenny’s War by Margaret Dickinson
Published by Panmacmillan
ISBN 978-0-330-54430-6

This is a very good easy-read novel, the sort of book you like to curl up on the sofa with, coffee in hand, to escape from your own world for a little while.
The plot is well-crafted, following the life of Jenny Mercer with all its ups and downs. It takes you from when Jenny is just 10 years old right through until she is a full-grown, beautiful young woman with the future at her finger-tips. Jenny’s life does not get off to a good start, living in the East End of London with her mother, who never wanted her, and her mother’s succession of boyfriends, all occurring during the thick of world war II.
Jenny is evacuated to Lincolnshire and life improves but is this the end of the tale? I will leave it to you to find out.
The characters are beautifully drawn picture images in your mind and I challenge you not to fall in love with the young Jenny.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anybody who fancies a little escapism, there are no deep controversial issues to face and no hard-work to do as you read.
It is a heart-warming story which brings the realities of living Britain during World War II to life. It will give insight to any younger readers who never experienced this time and nostalgic moments for those who are old enough to remember living through it themselves.
Personal read 4/5
Group read 2/5 as there wouldn’t be an awful lot to discuss unless your reading group is made up of older members who remember the war.

[purple highlighter · Rating 3 out of 5]

After almost 4 months i finally finished! lol mainly read it cos I wanted to read more of the Thorton family from Sons and Daughters written by the same author that book was such a wholesome read. So as this one though the events esp the middle chapters were so dragging for me and the ending was absolutely predictable but I’m glad it wasnt too pushy when Georgie finally realized he loved Jenny like them kissing or something cos their setup was a bit weird for me. But overall I was satisfied to read the extended story of what happened to the Thornton family esp bits of Louisa

[Gita · Rating 4 out of 5]

...Dženija sagrozījās uz nodriskātā dīvāna, lai mēģinātu izvairīties no atsperes, kas caur izvalkāto mēbeļdrānu sāpīgi dūrās miesā. Viņas skatiens kavējās pie mātes, kura patlaban vēroja savu atspulgu virs pavarda piekārtā plankumainā spogulī.....
Emocionāla grāmata vai grāmata romantiķiem. Lasot šo grāmatu, izjutu cīņas sparu, nekad nepadotos un vienmēr ticēt...
Kaut kas līdzīgs grāmatai" Anna no zaļajiem jumtiem"

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't just as you would expect of a typical wartime story. I thoroughly enjoyed it following the trials of Jenny and how she overcame them. The schemes of 'uncles' and the mental cruelty of her supposed mother can still be compared to what goes on in communities today in 21st century. Good read.

[Jody Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well developed characters that you'll love/hate/somewhere in between. Easy to read. Was a little disappointed that it turned into a love story as that's just not my normal cup of tea, but it was good all the same.

[June Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, the story flowed, the poor girl Jenny, during the 2nd world war, and her terrible mother, would recommend.

[Alison Lingard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I have enjoyed reading this book . As always a great story love Margaret Dickinson . . . . .

[Janet Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant

Her another great book from this author. I have red a lot of her books and also enjoy listening to her novel
She. I am doing my craft work.

[Cyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely WWII story.

[Mrs Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!

Another lovely story by Marharwt Dickinson. I was so glad to see ot was a follow on story about Jenny's life. XX

[Sammi Heslop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, a lot of twists and turns but a great page turner

[Janet Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book with all its twists and turns and it kept me reading til the last page. Of course it helps that these books are set in a part of the UK that is familiar to me, but even so, its a good, light read

[Terena · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Would have given a 3.5/5 if I had been able)

The story centres around Jenny Mercer who is 10 years old when the book starts. She is a Londoner born to a single feckless mother who does not stick with any man for too long. At the start of WW2, Jenny is evacuated, ultimately to a well to do family (featured in Ms Dickinson's book "Sons and Daughters" which is told from Charlotte's - the lady of the house - point of view ) the Thorntons, and she loves it there. Unfortunately, her mother requests her to return to London, however before long they are forced to do a "flit" due to the spiv activities of her mother's boyfriend Arthur. They move around in Derbyshire and Sheffield, and then due to circumstances move again a couple more times. I found this part interesting due to being a Sheffielder with links to Derbyshire, and also the part when the family lived in the old village Derwent which was (along with Ashopton) later cleared and flooded out to make the Ladybower Reservoir.

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny Mercer is 10 years old her Mum Elsie is a single mum, with many boyfriends or "uncles" as Jenny calls them. The children are evacuated and Jenny goes to Linclolnshire and lives with the Thornton family they live in a huge house abd look after Jenny. Jenny likes there son Georgie he's very handsome, however Jenny is heartbroken when Georgie has to go back to the RAF and even more when Georgie has gone missing possibly killed. Her mother wants her home again Jenny refuses at first but has to return home, even although deep down she knows her mother has never wanted her. But what kind of a future does Jenny have? and will she ever see Georgie again? I really enjoyed this book, I felt sorry for Jenny, this book was very easy to read and follow definetely recommend.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As you can see I read this book really quickly simply because it was so easy to read. It transported me to a completely different world . One of war time England and the troubles and hardships faced by teenage Jenny Mercer who's own mother never really loved her. In this book we learn about love loyalty hardships and endurance and the sense of all going right in the end despite everything pointing the opposite way. We read about the hardships Jenny faces and the injustices forced upon her and also the redeeming love she finds in the end. Yes I would recommend this book .

[Emma McElreavey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've owned my copy of Jenny's War for 13 years now and I've read it over 100 times and still counting to this day! This book has a special place in my heart as the story never fails to make me feel all the loss, loneliness, fear, and love that Jenny Mercer the MC feels throughout the story. Margaret Dickinson has portrayed each character amazingly that you can envision them all in your mind so clearly including their personalities which makes the story even better.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it's about a ten year old girl called Jenny who lives in London with her mum dot. But then Jenny has to go and live in the countryside. Coz of the war and she ends up going to a really nice family who looks after her until mum decided she wants her back I'm glad Jenny gets her happy ending don't really like dot that much

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. First book I have read by this author but it won't be the last. Yes, it was predictable as mentioned in another review but I like a happy ending, Jenny was a great character and I wanted her to be happy!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this an interesting book, I wasn't quite sure what to think when I picked it up from the library, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. There are some satisfying twists and turns in the story that made this an enjoyable read.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read 'sons and daughters' which was from Charlottes point of view I thought that I'd give this a try. I really enjoyed hearing Jenny's story. it was a predictable outcome but I liked it. a nice easy read.

[gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reading

As a great fan of Margaret Dickinson, this story was every bit as good as I expected it to be, I loved it, it was made even more special as I live in the area on which it was based, can't wait to get stuck in to another of her books

[Linzi Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down! I'd definitely recommend!

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read, Margaret Dickinson never disappoints.

[Bryony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book my dad bought it for me on my birthday and I couldn't put it down I would definitely recommend this to everyone .

[Adam Kosterka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good and easy read.

[Laureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a different side of WWII. A small girl evacuated to the North, but with a big ip unusual twist in the story. I enjoyed it.

[Linda Badcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly different look at the life of a child evacuee during WWII. A pleasant read, if not overly memorable.