Blitz Kid

Rachel Pearse #1

by Eliza Graham

London 1940. Rachel is alone and adrift in a stricken city as the Blitz reaches its most deadly stage and thousands die in nightly air raids. Her father is under arrest as a suspected spy, her mother seriously ill in hospital. Can she survive in the murky blackout alongside London’s criminals and unearth the real traitors? Age 13-plus.

Genres: Historical Fiction, War

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2013

About the author

Eliza Graham is an Oxfordshire-based UK author whose adult novels reflect her fascination with how historical events affect families..

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent depiction of what life was like for civilians in London during the Blitz of WWII. Geared toward Y.A. readers, it has amazing details, a mystery, and a touch of romance.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Just for YA Readers

This is a YA book for adults to read too. Seeing the Blitz through the eyes of exceptionally bright Rachel puts the reader smack in the middle of each terrifying night. The adult situations of a cancer diagnosis, espionage, and Jewish refugees brings this story to another level. There's so much going on just below the surface, just like life. I highly recommend it for anyone who remembers what it was like to be a teenager even if you didn't live through the Blitz.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read the sample. Written for young adults.

[Nancy]

This is a story about a young teen aged girl, whose parents were sending her to a boarding school, to get her away from the bombings in London in 1940. Rachel decides not to go to the school, and jumps off the train. She learns her mother has cancer, and will be having surgery soon. At first she finds the air raids exciting, and she loves the dangerous things she ends up doing. She changes her mind, when injuries and death come close to her. Rachel befriends Paul, who steals things from vacated houses, and from people, who have been killed. People close to Rachel warn her to stay away from Paul because he is a bad person. Rachel has a good effect on Paul, and helps to bring about changes in him. There are rumors that her father is a traitor, and is held in a detention camp. She has a hard time believing the rumors are true, but at the same time questions what her father might have done.

[Deborah Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Adult Read - 13+
I have to confess I'm not a teen reader,(several decades too old!!) but bought this because I'm interested in the subject matter. However, I soon got into the story and was eager to find out what would happen next. It seems to me that this has everything - spies, spivs, burgeoning love, parents with problems, all wrapped up seamlessly in one story. Rachel Pearse is an unusual and memorable character with her passion for numbers,as is Paul Gabriel - 'the good boy turned bad'. The period flavour is also very nicely done. I think this would make a good discussion book in schools or for a Teen book club as it raises various moral questions in a way that isn't heavy-handed or preachy.

[Dee Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic picture of the terrors of young people in wartime

Graham clearly the increased vulnerability of a young woman who lacks the maturity and insight to fully comprehend her own fragility. Or, if she does, to care in the way others wish she would. It's that drama that keeps readers rapidly turning pages in the hopes for a positive outcome for Rachel, as well as everyone else she cares about so deeply.

[lzette mattis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

It was a great read about a young girl and young man growing up in these conditions and experiencing what they did and still managing to come out at the end with beautiful hearts is amazing.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Needed a lot more fleshing out. I also didn't feel like the character and the setting meshed. The main character seemed much more modern than 1940s London.

[Sue Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good read. An interesting take on a topic which is often written about.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Blitz Kid" was a unique historical fiction perspective on the London Blitz in WWII through the eyes of the young female protagonist.

[Ronnale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Good read, well written account through a young girls eyes and heart. Enjoyed reading it immensely. This period of time is very interesting.

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book characters to love complex and real during a horrific time in our history