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Het geheim van de vallei
1939. De Londense broertjes Jimmy (12) en Ronnie (6) worden voor hun veiligheid ondergebracht in het dorpje Llabryn in Wales. Ronnie vindt snel zijn draai, maar Jimmy voelt zich eenzaam. Tot hij op een dag een schedel vindt in een holle boom. Welk geheim verbergt Llabryn?
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
46 people are currently reading
1857 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Parr
7 books55 followersLesley Parr grew up in South Wales and now lives in England with her husband and their rescue cat, Angharad. She shares her time between writing stories, teaching at a primary school and tutoring adults. Apart from books, rugby union is her favourite thing in the world, especially if Wales is winning. Lesley graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University's MA in Writing for Young People. The Valley of Lost Secrets is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
September 16, 2023
✰ 4 stars ✰
“We’re in another country that feels like another world, there’s a big scary war on that no one seems to be talking about, and an hour ago I was standing under a tree holding a dead person’s head.
Nothing about being here is normal.”
Light on the Welsh accent, but heavy with the heart, Lesley Parr's Middle Grade debut The Valley of Lost Secrets is no less enriching and poignant as her next few books, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the tender heartfelt story of the bond between two brothers and the mysteries and painful secrets that they uncover when they're sent in a group of evacuees to the South Wales' countryside of Llanbryn, during World War II.
And the brilliance of the story is that as it navigates into a poignant coming-of-age story of courage and resilience and friendship, it shifts into this heart-breaking history of tragedy that settles an ache in my heart over the loss of a loved one. It is with that deep-seeded sadness that Jimmy sees the pain of others and realizes that the special bond he shares with his own brother cannot be taken for granted - no matter what. 🤍🤍
“Ronnie’s gripping my hand so tight it’s starting to hurt but I don’t care. All that matters is that someone wants us.”
Lesley Parr is slowly climbing the list of Middle Grade authors that I have grown to love. Along with the beautiful colorful covers that grace her wonderful stories, she writes with such skill that she weaves you into the story and allows you to be a part of the moment that is happening to her young protagonists. Jimmy's loneliness at being isolated in a new place resonated with me, that 'I already feel like a parcel, wrapped up, labelled and sent far away,' - as someone who doesn't know how to fit in and belong - yet, still wants to. His feelings of nurture and care for his younger brother, Ronnie were as expressive as his sudden bursts of indignation of outburst at Ronnie's zealous spirit and brash, forgiving behavior. 😔
Jimmy was such a real and believable protagonist - his honesty, his determination, his protectiveness for Ronnie, an his developing feelings of friendship for Florence, just flowed so naturally. Within a short period, it felt like I really knew him and his heart. I loved that subtle change of letting go his homesickness and that moment when he accepted Mr. and Mrs. Thomas' kindness and called them Aunt and Uncle - those slight instances when he recognized his brashness and curtness as inappropriate and wanted to be better - that he regretted his choice of words. 🥺
“I don’t understand this place, these people. Everyone knows everyone else, but there are huge secrets too. Secrets they don’t want outsiders like us to know.”
And still with a kindhearted touch, Jimmy also learns the errors of his thoughts and his ways, as his eyes open up to the abrupt change of his classmate, who he once feared and jeered, only for her to become his best friend here, and the one friend from London, he considered a friend, turns the tables on him to become his aggressor and tormentor. ❤️🩹🫂 And amidst all these perfectly moving pieces of Jimmy's growth, is this heart-wrenching tale of a mysterious skull that he stumbles across and his deep-rooted desire to find the one it belongs to. It is a credit to Ms. Parr that she is able to skillfully combine all these moments and relay them with such an honest and frank voice of Jimmy's that you relate and feel to his emotions beautifully to depict a truly tender and heart-felt coming-of-age story. 🥹
“Don’t you know it’s wicked to want a war to keep happening just so you can see a flaming baby fox?’
‘I’m not wicked!’ He’s properly sobbing now, and the voice is telling me to give him a cuddle and say I’m sorry, but I can’t make my arms move.
Florence steps right up to me. ‘I’ll tell you what’s wicked.”
All the side characters were so expressive and wholesome - I felt like I really knew them in such a short time, and even within a short story their dynamic was alive with energy. Ronnie may be a child, but he understood things better than most grown-ups; I loved how brave he was and the lovely acceptance he had for his new place that he called home with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas - their caregivers, who brought enough emotional depth to their lives that really enriched the story for me, too. And yes, Florence - with a right hook like hers and a mouth just as relentless and fearless, I loved her fighting spirit and drive to be different than the harsh cruel life she left behind. 🥰
And still, I admired how the author is able to incorporate all the little details that highlight the time being depicted, the months from Sept '39 to May '40, where the world was still tethering on the uncertainty of an impending potential war. The gas mask boxes the children had to carry around at all times - the jeers of the disdainful villagers express at the evacuees appearance in their town - these little mentions were so well-balanced against the actual setting of the quaint little town and the coal mines where most of the men work and the difficulty of their line of work that came with it. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
It never once was a contrived inclusion or unnecessary - it was a part of Jimmy's story and each significant moment added the right amount of weight to his character development that warmed my heart so. And for someone who loves a good mystery, the bittersweet reveal to the mystery behind the skull was so softly done, it was with an ache in my heart that I read it and how it tied in so significantly into Jimmy's own life. 💔 When I read ‘it’s the not knowing that gets you, Jimmy. I just want to know he’s at peace,’ I teared up, because not only is the memory of the person put at ease, but the remains can also be at peace. And it was with that solemn ending, the valley of lost secrets could finally be laid to rest. 😢
Another lovely book by Lesley Parr that settles over you like a comforting blanket - one that already makes me very much looking forward to her next work. 👍🏻👍🏻
“We’re in another country that feels like another world, there’s a big scary war on that no one seems to be talking about, and an hour ago I was standing under a tree holding a dead person’s head.
Nothing about being here is normal.”
Light on the Welsh accent, but heavy with the heart, Lesley Parr's Middle Grade debut The Valley of Lost Secrets is no less enriching and poignant as her next few books, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the tender heartfelt story of the bond between two brothers and the mysteries and painful secrets that they uncover when they're sent in a group of evacuees to the South Wales' countryside of Llanbryn, during World War II.
And the brilliance of the story is that as it navigates into a poignant coming-of-age story of courage and resilience and friendship, it shifts into this heart-breaking history of tragedy that settles an ache in my heart over the loss of a loved one. It is with that deep-seeded sadness that Jimmy sees the pain of others and realizes that the special bond he shares with his own brother cannot be taken for granted - no matter what. 🤍🤍
“Ronnie’s gripping my hand so tight it’s starting to hurt but I don’t care. All that matters is that someone wants us.”
Lesley Parr is slowly climbing the list of Middle Grade authors that I have grown to love. Along with the beautiful colorful covers that grace her wonderful stories, she writes with such skill that she weaves you into the story and allows you to be a part of the moment that is happening to her young protagonists. Jimmy's loneliness at being isolated in a new place resonated with me, that 'I already feel like a parcel, wrapped up, labelled and sent far away,' - as someone who doesn't know how to fit in and belong - yet, still wants to. His feelings of nurture and care for his younger brother, Ronnie were as expressive as his sudden bursts of indignation of outburst at Ronnie's zealous spirit and brash, forgiving behavior. 😔
Jimmy was such a real and believable protagonist - his honesty, his determination, his protectiveness for Ronnie, an his developing feelings of friendship for Florence, just flowed so naturally. Within a short period, it felt like I really knew him and his heart. I loved that subtle change of letting go his homesickness and that moment when he accepted Mr. and Mrs. Thomas' kindness and called them Aunt and Uncle - those slight instances when he recognized his brashness and curtness as inappropriate and wanted to be better - that he regretted his choice of words. 🥺
“I don’t understand this place, these people. Everyone knows everyone else, but there are huge secrets too. Secrets they don’t want outsiders like us to know.”
And still with a kindhearted touch, Jimmy also learns the errors of his thoughts and his ways, as his eyes open up to the abrupt change of his classmate, who he once feared and jeered, only for her to become his best friend here, and the one friend from London, he considered a friend, turns the tables on him to become his aggressor and tormentor. ❤️🩹🫂 And amidst all these perfectly moving pieces of Jimmy's growth, is this heart-wrenching tale of a mysterious skull that he stumbles across and his deep-rooted desire to find the one it belongs to. It is a credit to Ms. Parr that she is able to skillfully combine all these moments and relay them with such an honest and frank voice of Jimmy's that you relate and feel to his emotions beautifully to depict a truly tender and heart-felt coming-of-age story. 🥹
“Don’t you know it’s wicked to want a war to keep happening just so you can see a flaming baby fox?’
‘I’m not wicked!’ He’s properly sobbing now, and the voice is telling me to give him a cuddle and say I’m sorry, but I can’t make my arms move.
Florence steps right up to me. ‘I’ll tell you what’s wicked.”
All the side characters were so expressive and wholesome - I felt like I really knew them in such a short time, and even within a short story their dynamic was alive with energy. Ronnie may be a child, but he understood things better than most grown-ups; I loved how brave he was and the lovely acceptance he had for his new place that he called home with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas - their caregivers, who brought enough emotional depth to their lives that really enriched the story for me, too. And yes, Florence - with a right hook like hers and a mouth just as relentless and fearless, I loved her fighting spirit and drive to be different than the harsh cruel life she left behind. 🥰
And still, I admired how the author is able to incorporate all the little details that highlight the time being depicted, the months from Sept '39 to May '40, where the world was still tethering on the uncertainty of an impending potential war. The gas mask boxes the children had to carry around at all times - the jeers of the disdainful villagers express at the evacuees appearance in their town - these little mentions were so well-balanced against the actual setting of the quaint little town and the coal mines where most of the men work and the difficulty of their line of work that came with it. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
It never once was a contrived inclusion or unnecessary - it was a part of Jimmy's story and each significant moment added the right amount of weight to his character development that warmed my heart so. And for someone who loves a good mystery, the bittersweet reveal to the mystery behind the skull was so softly done, it was with an ache in my heart that I read it and how it tied in so significantly into Jimmy's own life. 💔 When I read ‘it’s the not knowing that gets you, Jimmy. I just want to know he’s at peace,’ I teared up, because not only is the memory of the person put at ease, but the remains can also be at peace. And it was with that solemn ending, the valley of lost secrets could finally be laid to rest. 😢
Another lovely book by Lesley Parr that settles over you like a comforting blanket - one that already makes me very much looking forward to her next work. 👍🏻👍🏻
March 27, 2021
Wow! This was even better than I was expecting it to be! I think this was my 1st read about children evacuees from WWII. It was a nice change to see the time from their perspective. The author even says in the back she read real life accounts, & even spoke to someone who’s was evacuated to South Wales w/his brother-just like the brothers in the book were! This is set in Fall 1939. Jimmy & his little brother Ronnie are evacuated to a small village in Wales. It’s VERY different from London, & he feels very out of place. Then he finds a skull in a tree, & the valley seems more dangerous than the war. Who can he trust? His best friend has become a stranger, & his brother is too little. He finds an ally in someone he never expected to, & they set off to find out the secrets that lie w/the skull. What they find will change Jimmy, & the village, forever. When they 1st get there, Mrs Thomas picks them & takes them home. Her & Mr Thomas are such amazing people. Their whole backstory was great. The whole town & its citizens, all made it such a believable/relatable atmosphere. Small town life seems the same everywhere, & at any point in history lol You have the welcoming kind hearted people, & you have the judging gossiping people(always the ones looking out their windows 24/7). The horrible people were truly horrible-even more so b/c I’m sure there were really people like that then. The names they called these kids who came to their village for safety..& what they accused them of..I was seeing red & wanted to fight some of these women in a book!😆 The characters in this book just steal the show. Terrifically written. They steal your heart, & make you feel everything they’re feeling. Ronnie has my heart. Jimmy & his anger reminds me a lot of myself at that age. Florence reminds me of myself at that age too, for different sad reasons. I really felt for her, & loved seeing her blossom in this environment that gave her what she deserved. The kid bully(s) were evil little things! Ugh! The mystery of the skull was so engrossing too. When it all came together I was blown away. A twist I never saw coming, & I loved it. The ending was perfect & just beautiful. I can’t wait for more books from this author. Also, another author who gave evil the name he had. Hitler was an evil man, & his hate affected many lives in many places in many different ways. This book shows just 1 of those ways, & I think it did a brilliant job. Highly recommend! Beautiful cover & inside chapter page illustrations by David Dean too!💜
October 7, 2021
Добрата детска литература редовно доказва на читатели от всички възрасти как дори най-тежките и страшни теми могат да бъдат разгледани едновременно със задълбоченост, честност и финес. По този начин въпросите и посланията от тези произведения могат да достигнат до младите читатели, а фабулата може да ангажира и плени и възрастните такива. Именно такъв роман е „Долината на изгубените тайни“ на британската писателка Лесли Пар, който се появи на български с логото на изд. „Дъбови листа“ съвсем скоро след световната си премиера в началото на тази година. Главните герои са деца, принудени да бягат от бомбардировките и да напуснат Лондон в началото на Втората световна война. В провинцията обаче ги очакват приключения, тайни и опасности, които може би по нищо не отстъпват на тези в столицата. Но както добре знаем, трудностите и изпитанията са способни да каляват характери и да създават неразрушими приятелства. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
December 17, 2021
@Rebecca, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS GEM, i loved it!!
August 29, 2025
„Долината на изгубените тайни“ е дебютният роман на Лесли Пар, който ни пренася в Уелс по време на Втората световна война. Сюжетът проследява двамата братя – Джими и по-малкия Рони – едни от многото деца, евакуирани от Лондон и изпратени в малко сплотено уелско градче, незасегнато от бомбардировките. Там, далеч от познатото, те трябва да се приспособят към новия живот, пълен с тайни, предизвикателства и неподозирани приятелства. https://knigojiva.blogspot.com/2025/0...
Тази история звучи тихо, като ехо от миналото, което отеква в сърцето и оставя трайна следа.
Една от силните страни на романа е начинът, по който авторката изгражда атмосферата – читателят наистина усеща напрежението на войната, несигурността на децата и едновременно с това красотата и мистерията на уелската природа. В основата на конфликта стои загадка, която постепенно се разплита. Една необикновена и случайна находка се превръща в катализатор на поредица от събития, които разкриват не само тайните на миналото, но и силата на приятелството и смелостта.
Действието се разгръща пред нас през погледа на Джими. По този начин Пар успява да проникне дълбоко в детската душа, за да изобличи отражението на войната върху нея. Сблъскваме се със страха, объркването, отрицанието, самотата и с онзи познат на всеки копнеж по дома не просто като място, а най-вече като усещане.
Героите са представени с топлина и реализъм, а сложните отношения с местните жители правят историята автентична и достъпна за млади и възрастни читатели. Макар романът да е насочен към детска и юношеска аудитория, посланията за надежда, грижа, отговорност, смелост и принадлежност звучат универсално.
Към момента само първите два романа на авторката са издадени на български език, но силно се надявам скоро да видим и останалите. Интересно е, че вторият роман – „Когато войната се прибере у дома“ – се развива след Първата световна война в Уелс и отново историята е пречупена през погледа на дете. Това създава своеобразен диалог между книгите – две епохи, две войни, две различни отражения върху децата и обществото.
Един от най-любопитните елементи в книгите на Лесли Пар е мистериозната номерация на левите страници – вместо цифри, там се появяват букви. Естествено, не е случайно. Това е скрито послание, таен код, оставен, за да ни напомни, че всяка история има пластове, които не виждаме от пръв поглед.
Тази история звучи тихо, като ехо от миналото, което отеква в сърцето и оставя трайна следа.
Една от силните страни на романа е начинът, по който авторката изгражда атмосферата – читателят наистина усеща напрежението на войната, несигурността на децата и едновременно с това красотата и мистерията на уелската природа. В основата на конфликта стои загадка, която постепенно се разплита. Една необикновена и случайна находка се превръща в катализатор на поредица от събития, които разкриват не само тайните на миналото, но и силата на приятелството и смелостта.
Действието се разгръща пред нас през погледа на Джими. По този начин Пар успява да проникне дълбоко в детската душа, за да изобличи отражението на войната върху нея. Сблъскваме се със страха, объркването, отрицанието, самотата и с онзи познат на всеки копнеж по дома не просто като място, а най-вече като усещане.
Героите са представени с топлина и реализъм, а сложните отношения с местните жители правят историята автентична и достъпна за млади и възрастни читатели. Макар романът да е насочен към детска и юношеска аудитория, посланията за надежда, грижа, отговорност, смелост и принадлежност звучат универсално.
Към момента само първите два романа на авторката са издадени на български език, но силно се надявам скоро да видим и останалите. Интересно е, че вторият роман – „Когато войната се прибере у дома“ – се развива след Първата световна война в Уелс и отново историята е пречупена през погледа на дете. Това създава своеобразен диалог между книгите – две епохи, две войни, две различни отражения върху децата и обществото.
Един от най-любопитните елементи в книгите на Лесли Пар е мистериозната номерация на левите страници – вместо цифри, там се появяват букви. Естествено, не е случайно. Това е скрито послание, таен код, оставен, за да ни напомни, че всяка история има пластове, които не виждаме от пръв поглед.
January 3, 2021
When you read with tears in your eyes, you know it's a good one. Absolutely loved this book!
May 10, 2021
Took me a while to get into it but I went from page 90 to end in a flash lovely book
April 16, 2021
4.5 ⭐
okay wow i read this book in one week which is extremely fast for me so that tells a lot, to begin with!
this was such a beautifully written book... i loved the simplicity of the language and the smooth incorporation of welsh words and phrases in the text. also, the landscapes described were sooo breath-taking that now i wanna visit wales so bad ;-;
the characters were very nicely written, too. even though jimmy gave me a hard time in getting to like him and empathize with him at first, i ultimately grew to love him and embrace all the aspects of his character.
but the MYSTERY !! THE! MYSTERY! was my favorite element of this book. the plot escalated smoothly, introducing us to clues slowly but steadily, leading up to a heart-breaking finale. whatta finale it was, when all the pieces were put together...
lastly, i loved the aesthetic and creative part of the book SO much. there was a tree at the beginning of every chapter and as the plot escalated, items were added on the tree which were clues for the solution of the mystery. in addition, there were letters on the left-hand side of each page instead of page numbers and if you put them together, you're introduced with a special clue after you have finished reading the book!
gosh that was a looong review... anyways, READ THE BOOK NOW!
okay wow i read this book in one week which is extremely fast for me so that tells a lot, to begin with!
this was such a beautifully written book... i loved the simplicity of the language and the smooth incorporation of welsh words and phrases in the text. also, the landscapes described were sooo breath-taking that now i wanna visit wales so bad ;-;
the characters were very nicely written, too. even though jimmy gave me a hard time in getting to like him and empathize with him at first, i ultimately grew to love him and embrace all the aspects of his character.
but the MYSTERY !! THE! MYSTERY! was my favorite element of this book. the plot escalated smoothly, introducing us to clues slowly but steadily, leading up to a heart-breaking finale. whatta finale it was, when all the pieces were put together...
lastly, i loved the aesthetic and creative part of the book SO much. there was a tree at the beginning of every chapter and as the plot escalated, items were added on the tree which were clues for the solution of the mystery. in addition, there were letters on the left-hand side of each page instead of page numbers and if you put them together, you're introduced with a special clue after you have finished reading the book!
gosh that was a looong review... anyways, READ THE BOOK NOW!
December 27, 2021
Its a very good book I definitely recommend it :)
dnf
February 9, 2021DNF at 33%. The cover is beautiful but I'm just not invested in the MC or this wartime story.
August 29, 2021
Beautifully written war story, with well-crafted characters. Great read.
June 12, 2022
Тези дъждовни дни посветих на "Долината на изгубените тайни" от Лесли Пар! Книга с изключително красива корица и оформление на страниците ☺️
Историята ни запознава с две братчета, които са евакуирани от Лондон още в началото на Втората световна война и са изпратени в уелската провинция.
И там започват техните приключения и търсенето на истината - на кого принадлежи случайно намерения череп!?
Историята ни запознава с две братчета, които са евакуирани от Лондон още в началото на Втората световна война и са изпратени в уелската провинция.
И там започват техните приключения и търсенето на истината - на кого принадлежи случайно намерения череп!?
January 30, 2023
what a masterpiece 😌❤️
July 6, 2024
Full heart,secrets ,bravery, loyalty and adventure The Valley Of Lost Secrets is an absolutely stunning historical fiction debut which celebrates friendships and family during the most testing of times in the most gorgeous way.
🏴
The Valley Of Lost Secrets tells the story of two brothers Jimmy and Ronnie. Evacuated from London to Wales during the war, 1939. This small village is very different from home and whilst Ronnie settles in Jimmy feels out of place. But then he finds a skull hidden in a tree and in a bid to uncover the truth Jimmy has to work out who to trust and learn the valleys secrets which will change this little village forever.
🏴
The Valley Of Lost Secrets is as uplifting as it is heartbreaking. It made me smile, it made me laugh, it made me cry but most of all it made me have all the feels. Like a warm and comfy blanket that envelopes you and makes you feel all snug and cozy. You can feel how much love and care has gone into every word, every description, every historical fact and every character. When you finish a book with tears in your eyes you know you’ve been fully invested and the book has captured your heart.
🏴
Whilst I loved all the main characters I can’t move on without speaking about lovely Ronnie... if you know you know, but oh my gosh my heart! I would quite happily read a Ronnie sequel *hint cough hint* ... bless him he was the sweetest!
🏴
Shout out to the gorgeous illustrations and cover art (Jet Purdie and David Dean) the amount of little details threaded throughout the book was just delightful and just added to the whole reading experience for me.
🏴
A beautiful setting, real people, real stories and an author who brings it all to life.... I simply cannot wait to read what Lesley Parr writes next.... I have no doubt it will be another classic!
🏴
The Valley Of Lost Secrets tells the story of two brothers Jimmy and Ronnie. Evacuated from London to Wales during the war, 1939. This small village is very different from home and whilst Ronnie settles in Jimmy feels out of place. But then he finds a skull hidden in a tree and in a bid to uncover the truth Jimmy has to work out who to trust and learn the valleys secrets which will change this little village forever.
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The Valley Of Lost Secrets is as uplifting as it is heartbreaking. It made me smile, it made me laugh, it made me cry but most of all it made me have all the feels. Like a warm and comfy blanket that envelopes you and makes you feel all snug and cozy. You can feel how much love and care has gone into every word, every description, every historical fact and every character. When you finish a book with tears in your eyes you know you’ve been fully invested and the book has captured your heart.
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Whilst I loved all the main characters I can’t move on without speaking about lovely Ronnie... if you know you know, but oh my gosh my heart! I would quite happily read a Ronnie sequel *hint cough hint* ... bless him he was the sweetest!
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Shout out to the gorgeous illustrations and cover art (Jet Purdie and David Dean) the amount of little details threaded throughout the book was just delightful and just added to the whole reading experience for me.
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A beautiful setting, real people, real stories and an author who brings it all to life.... I simply cannot wait to read what Lesley Parr writes next.... I have no doubt it will be another classic!
December 28, 2020
Described as a future classic full of adventure, mystery and heart, The Valley of Lost Secrets tells the story of two young brothers Jimmy and Ronnie, who in Sept 1939 are evacuated from London to a small village in Wales. In surroundings completely different from home, Jimmy unlike his younger brother Ronnie, instantly feels out of place. But Jimmy soon finds something that distracts him, something that makes the Valley much more frightening than the war, for hidden in a tree he finds a skull and the secrets he's determined to uncover will change Jimmy and the village forever..
After reading the blurb of Parr's book, I was instantly curious, you see my Grandad was evacuated to Wales during the war as a young boy and I've heard countless tales about his time there. The ways in which Parr described her characters adapting to this huge change, of finding a home away from home, rung familiar and with its themes of friendship and brotherhood it really had its heartfelt moments.
But the story has a slightly darker feeling to it too, with themes of bullying, grief and of course the discovery of a skull - the mystery of which keeps you engaged and once revealed will have you sobbing! 😭 It was a delightful read that I had finished within a day. Similarly to Goodnight Mister Tom it will leave you with all the feels. Being as I'm not the intended age group I didn't expect to enjoy quite as much as I did!
After reading the blurb of Parr's book, I was instantly curious, you see my Grandad was evacuated to Wales during the war as a young boy and I've heard countless tales about his time there. The ways in which Parr described her characters adapting to this huge change, of finding a home away from home, rung familiar and with its themes of friendship and brotherhood it really had its heartfelt moments.
But the story has a slightly darker feeling to it too, with themes of bullying, grief and of course the discovery of a skull - the mystery of which keeps you engaged and once revealed will have you sobbing! 😭 It was a delightful read that I had finished within a day. Similarly to Goodnight Mister Tom it will leave you with all the feels. Being as I'm not the intended age group I didn't expect to enjoy quite as much as I did!
April 29, 2021
The narration in this was absolutely fab and I felt immersed into this book as soon as it started! The range of voices and accents were executed brilliantly by the narrator and really added to a great overall listening experience. He’s a really great actor and it really reflects in the narration.
It had such a lovely feel and I absolutely adored this book. It was written so well and it was one of those books that you didn’t want to end. It was such a beautiful read!
Immediately you start rooting for the evacuees, Ronnie and Jimmy. I can only imagine how hard it would have been for some evacuees to acclimatise to such a change - it was represented very well in the writing.
I love reading books in this era, as they have the potential to feel so heartwarming and immersive and this was definitely one of those books.
Would definitely recommend this one, it’s perfect for younger audiences (and older ones like me!) and I enjoyed it just the same. It was brilliant! I would like to give this one 6 stars out of 5 please!!
Thank you to the author and publishers for a copy of this in return for my honest thoughts and review.
It had such a lovely feel and I absolutely adored this book. It was written so well and it was one of those books that you didn’t want to end. It was such a beautiful read!
Immediately you start rooting for the evacuees, Ronnie and Jimmy. I can only imagine how hard it would have been for some evacuees to acclimatise to such a change - it was represented very well in the writing.
I love reading books in this era, as they have the potential to feel so heartwarming and immersive and this was definitely one of those books.
Would definitely recommend this one, it’s perfect for younger audiences (and older ones like me!) and I enjoyed it just the same. It was brilliant! I would like to give this one 6 stars out of 5 please!!
Thank you to the author and publishers for a copy of this in return for my honest thoughts and review.
April 26, 2021
Класическа детска история за двама братя, евакуирани в Уелс през Втората световна война, за да бъдат предпазени от надвисналата над родния им Лондон опасност. Докато малкият чаровник Рони бързо се приспособява и заобичва необичайната уелска провинция и чудатите ѝ обитатели, Джими е враждебно настроен към всичко и всички и иска само да се прибере вкъщи при семейството си. Единственото, което го крепи, е обичта и грижата към братчето му. Неочакваните приятелства и неразгаданите мистерии, с които го посреща миньорското селце Ланбрин, обаче му помагат да преодолее гнева си и да намери утеха далеч от дома.
Лесли Пар разказва с много топлота, нежност и състрадание и нямам търпение този прекрасен роман да излезе на български!
Лесли Пар разказва с много топлота, нежност и състрадание и нямам търпение този прекрасен роман да излезе на български!
August 23, 2021
Лесли Пар създава трогателна и много топла история за братска любов, която трябва да се справи с ужаса на Втората световна война. Заедно с това създава и история за приятелство, което може да се появи на най-неочакваното място и може да се окаже невероятно ценно.
Джими и Рони Травърс са евакуирани от Лондон заради вероятността от бомбардировки. Изпратени са в малкото китно ��радче Ланбрин, в Уелс, където хората приемат евакуирани деца. Двамата братя се оказват нови членове в дома на Гуен и Алин Томас. Докато малкия Рони започва да свиква бързо и обиква новите си родители, Джими упорито отказва за свикне с новото място и е вечно сам. Дори старият му приятел Дъф очевидно си е намерил ново семейство и нови приятели. Джими се изправя и пред обвиненията, че е откраднал кутията с дарени пари, което допълнително го кара да не харесва Уелс. До момента, в който не попада на човешки череп в хралупата на дърво.
Джими няма на кого да се довери. Брат му Рони е прекалено малък, а единственият човек от миньорското градче, на който може да има доверие е Флорънс Кембъл - момиче, което в Лондон е било мразено и подигравано от всички. А Флорънс се оказва много по-умна и специална, отколкото Джими може да предполага. А приятелството, което се заражда между тях успява да им помогне да разберат чий е човешкият череп, както и да разкрият тайните на малкото китно миньорско градче.
Историята за Джими, Рони и Флорънс е много стопляща и трогателна. Темите, които авторката засяга с историята са много важни за децата - важността на отношенията между родителите, как човек не трябва да преценява някого само заради външния му вид, отражението, което войната оставя върху децата. Но най-вече за важността на приятелството във време на опасност.
Книгата е страхотна за всеки, който иска да се докосне до една малко по-различна история за Втората световна война. Предадена през погледна на няколко деца, които са отведени далеч от дома и трябва да създадат нов дом на непознато място, но въпреки това откриват своето неочаквано приключение, дори във военно време.
Джими и Рони Травърс са евакуирани от Лондон заради вероятността от бомбардировки. Изпратени са в малкото китно ��радче Ланбрин, в Уелс, където хората приемат евакуирани деца. Двамата братя се оказват нови членове в дома на Гуен и Алин Томас. Докато малкия Рони започва да свиква бързо и обиква новите си родители, Джими упорито отказва за свикне с новото място и е вечно сам. Дори старият му приятел Дъф очевидно си е намерил ново семейство и нови приятели. Джими се изправя и пред обвиненията, че е откраднал кутията с дарени пари, което допълнително го кара да не харесва Уелс. До момента, в който не попада на човешки череп в хралупата на дърво.
Джими няма на кого да се довери. Брат му Рони е прекалено малък, а единственият човек от миньорското градче, на който може да има доверие е Флорънс Кембъл - момиче, което в Лондон е било мразено и подигравано от всички. А Флорънс се оказва много по-умна и специална, отколкото Джими може да предполага. А приятелството, което се заражда между тях успява да им помогне да разберат чий е човешкият череп, както и да разкрият тайните на малкото китно миньорско градче.
Историята за Джими, Рони и Флорънс е много стопляща и трогателна. Темите, които авторката засяга с историята са много важни за децата - важността на отношенията между родителите, как човек не трябва да преценява някого само заради външния му вид, отражението, което войната оставя върху децата. Но най-вече за важността на приятелството във време на опасност.
Книгата е страхотна за всеки, който иска да се докосне до една малко по-различна история за Втората световна война. Предадена през погледна на няколко деца, които са отведени далеч от дома и трябва да създадат нов дом на непознато място, но въпреки това откриват своето неочаквано приключение, дори във военно време.
March 21, 2021
There’s a hint of old famous five type charm about this book. It’s a great adventure/mystery for year 5 plus, maybe mature year 4s. Two brothers evacuated to Wales along with the rest of their classmates, everyone undergoes changes as an effect of their new surroundings, and not all good. There’s a skull and bones found in a tree, there is theft and prejudices around the new arrivals, there is snide whispering amongst the villagers, there is physical bullying and talk of abuse. I certainly cried a little at this! The kindness and warmth from the majority of adults welcoming these children into their homes is the key to the optimism that is this book.
January 27, 2021
Full of heart and humour, this is an exquisite story about two brothers who are evacuated to Wales at the start of WWII. Complex, layered characters and a vivid sense of place. Perfect for fans of David Almond and Katherine Rundell.
August 16, 2023
Omg! First book I've read in so little time in ages! So gripping, it kept me stuck to every page! Very easy read, great story and fantastic writing style!
December 24, 2020
3 stars
This is a story about 2 brother who had to evaluate from London to Wales. During their journey, they stumbled across some problems like homesickness and environmental changes as they were pretty decent with where they use to live. Travelling as a child to a different environment can be tough for children to adapt. They had to help one another in order for their survival. They met many different people and adventures on their journey.
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I loved how the character Jimmy evolved in the book from a harsh mean brother to an understand kid. Looking after the younger ones can be tough.
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It was a bit slow for me but i enjoyed the book's illustrations whereby the tree grew from a small plant to a huge tree 🌳.
This book is good for those who enjoy reading historical, friendship, family relationship topics.
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Thank you so much for the advance reader's copy. This will be available at all good bookstores in from the month of January.@definitelybooks #pansing .
This is a story about 2 brother who had to evaluate from London to Wales. During their journey, they stumbled across some problems like homesickness and environmental changes as they were pretty decent with where they use to live. Travelling as a child to a different environment can be tough for children to adapt. They had to help one another in order for their survival. They met many different people and adventures on their journey.
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I loved how the character Jimmy evolved in the book from a harsh mean brother to an understand kid. Looking after the younger ones can be tough.
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It was a bit slow for me but i enjoyed the book's illustrations whereby the tree grew from a small plant to a huge tree 🌳.
This book is good for those who enjoy reading historical, friendship, family relationship topics.
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Thank you so much for the advance reader's copy. This will be available at all good bookstores in from the month of January.@definitelybooks #pansing .
January 31, 2021
Justifiably praised book that portrayed the evacuee experience well, mystery, adventure & family issues - excellent!
April 9, 2021
Lesley Parr's stunning debut takes us to Wales at the start of WWII with a group of young evacuees, They find (and lose) friendships but also stumble across a long lost secret.
It is the wonderful characters and irresistible storytelling that gives this adventure more depth than any Welsh valley. Loved it!
It is the wonderful characters and irresistible storytelling that gives this adventure more depth than any Welsh valley. Loved it!
January 16, 2026
Absolute classic of a children’s book. Not a word out of place. Such brilliant characters which just walk off the page. And a wonderful story too. Simple, but with a lot going on. It’s books like this that make children into lifelong readers. Bravo Lesley Parr.
March 23, 2022
A surprise hit! I really didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. Great characters, beautiful setting descriptions, a good pace throughout with an interesting but not overly complicated plot. The ending was emotional and well written and there was even a mystery code to crack.
This is also being enjoyed very much by the Y5 book club and is the last book we have to review for The Awesome Book Awards - could it end up defying expectations and being our overall winner? 💀🌳
Very much recommended!
This is also being enjoyed very much by the Y5 book club and is the last book we have to review for The Awesome Book Awards - could it end up defying expectations and being our overall winner? 💀🌳
Very much recommended!
January 7, 2021
What a delightful children’s book.
I didn’t know much about this before starting this but I know that I love books about evacuees. Jimmy and Ronnie were both such lovely characters and I loved seeing them settling in to the Welsh village where they have been evacuated to.
Mr and mrs Thomas were so kind and welcoming to the two boys, despite the town often being against them. The story was warm, wholesome, moving and fun. I highly recommend this book!
(Thank you to Bloomsbury publishing and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review).
I didn’t know much about this before starting this but I know that I love books about evacuees. Jimmy and Ronnie were both such lovely characters and I loved seeing them settling in to the Welsh village where they have been evacuated to.
Mr and mrs Thomas were so kind and welcoming to the two boys, despite the town often being against them. The story was warm, wholesome, moving and fun. I highly recommend this book!
(Thank you to Bloomsbury publishing and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review).
June 1, 2024
This is a well written book, a quick read and probably very enjoyable for children. As an adult reader, I was a little disappointed with how simple the story is. There are a few obstacles for the main character to overcome, his own bitterness at being separated from his family, the prejudice of some locals towards evacuees and bullying among the other children. There are also two mysteries, who stole some money and how a dead body ended up inside a tree, as well as the drama of a mine cave-in. However all of these are dealt with so quickly, easily and with unbelievable coincidence, that I didn't find them to be satisfying. Also pretty sure they should have reported the body to the police.
July 5, 2021
It's 1939 and England is at war with Germany. For Jimmy Travers, 12, and his younger brother Ronnie, 6, that means evacuation, leaving their dad and Nan behind in London for a village called Llanbryn in South Wales along with the rest of their school to be taken in by strangers. Jimmy's best mate Duff and his sister are chosen right away, and even Florence Campbell, a girl no one wants to have anything to do with because she and her clothing are always so dirty, is chosen before Jimmy and Ronnie.
Jimmy has been worried that he and Ronnie will be separated, chosen by different families, but luckily, a woman named Gwen Thomas decides she will take the brothers in even though she only wanted on child. Gwen and her husband, Alun, who works long hours in the Llanbryn coal mine, have no children of their own but are very kind to the boys, even though Jimmy refuses to accept them as Aunty Gwen and Uncle Alun, believing he will be home by Christmas. On the other hand, Ronnie adapts easily to valley life and seems to adore Aunty Gwen right off the bat.
One day, feeling sorry for himself, Jimmy takes off and finds a good climbing tree in the middle of a field. And that's when he discovers a skull in a large gap in the tree. Scared, Jimmy takes off, but runs into the Vicar who seems to have a real dislike for Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. And that's when he discovers that Duff is living with the Vicar.
It's a while before Jimmy sees his friend Duff, and much to his dismay, Duff has changed. Hanging around with the Vicar's son Jack and three other boys, the five of them go around bullying other kids. But to his real amazement, the next time Jimmy sees Florence, her hair, body and clothing are clean, she's happy and helping out in a shop, where the owner, Mrs. Hughes, is teaching her how to make Welsh Cakes.
Jimmy returns to the tree, and to his surprise, is discovered by Ronnie, who has followed him. When he shows Ronnie the skull, it scares him and he wets himself. Naturally, that's when they run into Duff and his new gang, but it's Florence who punches Jack in the face defending Ronnie and leading to a new friendship between her and Jimmy.
When money goes missing from the Vicar's church, St. Michael's, people suspect it was stolen by the evacuees. It's clear they are welcomed by some people in Llanbryn, but not others and that there is a deep division between the people who go the St. Michael's and those who go to chapel, like the Thomas and the Hughes families.
But it's the skull in the tree that holds Jimmy's attention, a secret he shares with Ronnie and Florence. When Jack's gang finds Ronnie at the tree by himself, they decide to kidnap him. Making a slip about the skull, they try to get that information out of him. Luckily, Jimmy and Florence find Ronnie before they hurt him too badly. Later, when Duff tries to pal up to him again, Jimmy knows he's being played and gives his former friend incorrect information about the skull.
But Jimmy is still determined to find out who the skull belongs to and why is it in the tree? And perhaps, of all people, Alun Thomas has the answer.
This is one of those stories that drew me in immediately. First, I love a story set in South Wales, and second, I love a good evacuee story and this is certainly that. I was happy that Gwen and Alun turned out to be kind and caring, even if there was some resentment in the village about the London evacuees. And Jimmy is an interesting character, unhappy about leaving his dad and Nan, resistant to letting himself settle in too comfortably with the Thomases, and very affectionate and protective of his younger brother.
The Valley of Lost Secrets is a debut novel for Lesley Parr and clearly she knows her setting. Llanbryn is a fictional village, but it could easily have been Pontycymmer, where my dad grew up. My dad was raised chapel like the Thomases and Hughes families, and I'm not sure American readers will understand the difference between church and chapel that is talked about but that is a small part of the story and probably won't cause any lost of interest in Jimmy's story.
Though this is a really great middle grade adventure/mystery with plenty of humor, Parr has explored some important themes in this novel, such as what makes a family and a community, forgiveness and acceptance, loss and guilt, courage and cowardice. The Valley of Lost Secrets is perfect for fans of Nina Bawden's Carrie's War, Michelle Magorian's Good Night, Mr. Tom, Emma Carroll's Letters from the Lighthouse, Kate Albus's A Place to Hang the Moon, and Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's The War That Saved My Life - all evacuation stories, all unique.
This book was purchased for my personal library.
Jimmy has been worried that he and Ronnie will be separated, chosen by different families, but luckily, a woman named Gwen Thomas decides she will take the brothers in even though she only wanted on child. Gwen and her husband, Alun, who works long hours in the Llanbryn coal mine, have no children of their own but are very kind to the boys, even though Jimmy refuses to accept them as Aunty Gwen and Uncle Alun, believing he will be home by Christmas. On the other hand, Ronnie adapts easily to valley life and seems to adore Aunty Gwen right off the bat.
One day, feeling sorry for himself, Jimmy takes off and finds a good climbing tree in the middle of a field. And that's when he discovers a skull in a large gap in the tree. Scared, Jimmy takes off, but runs into the Vicar who seems to have a real dislike for Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. And that's when he discovers that Duff is living with the Vicar.
It's a while before Jimmy sees his friend Duff, and much to his dismay, Duff has changed. Hanging around with the Vicar's son Jack and three other boys, the five of them go around bullying other kids. But to his real amazement, the next time Jimmy sees Florence, her hair, body and clothing are clean, she's happy and helping out in a shop, where the owner, Mrs. Hughes, is teaching her how to make Welsh Cakes.
Jimmy returns to the tree, and to his surprise, is discovered by Ronnie, who has followed him. When he shows Ronnie the skull, it scares him and he wets himself. Naturally, that's when they run into Duff and his new gang, but it's Florence who punches Jack in the face defending Ronnie and leading to a new friendship between her and Jimmy.
When money goes missing from the Vicar's church, St. Michael's, people suspect it was stolen by the evacuees. It's clear they are welcomed by some people in Llanbryn, but not others and that there is a deep division between the people who go the St. Michael's and those who go to chapel, like the Thomas and the Hughes families.
But it's the skull in the tree that holds Jimmy's attention, a secret he shares with Ronnie and Florence. When Jack's gang finds Ronnie at the tree by himself, they decide to kidnap him. Making a slip about the skull, they try to get that information out of him. Luckily, Jimmy and Florence find Ronnie before they hurt him too badly. Later, when Duff tries to pal up to him again, Jimmy knows he's being played and gives his former friend incorrect information about the skull.
But Jimmy is still determined to find out who the skull belongs to and why is it in the tree? And perhaps, of all people, Alun Thomas has the answer.
This is one of those stories that drew me in immediately. First, I love a story set in South Wales, and second, I love a good evacuee story and this is certainly that. I was happy that Gwen and Alun turned out to be kind and caring, even if there was some resentment in the village about the London evacuees. And Jimmy is an interesting character, unhappy about leaving his dad and Nan, resistant to letting himself settle in too comfortably with the Thomases, and very affectionate and protective of his younger brother.
The Valley of Lost Secrets is a debut novel for Lesley Parr and clearly she knows her setting. Llanbryn is a fictional village, but it could easily have been Pontycymmer, where my dad grew up. My dad was raised chapel like the Thomases and Hughes families, and I'm not sure American readers will understand the difference between church and chapel that is talked about but that is a small part of the story and probably won't cause any lost of interest in Jimmy's story.
Though this is a really great middle grade adventure/mystery with plenty of humor, Parr has explored some important themes in this novel, such as what makes a family and a community, forgiveness and acceptance, loss and guilt, courage and cowardice. The Valley of Lost Secrets is perfect for fans of Nina Bawden's Carrie's War, Michelle Magorian's Good Night, Mr. Tom, Emma Carroll's Letters from the Lighthouse, Kate Albus's A Place to Hang the Moon, and Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's The War That Saved My Life - all evacuation stories, all unique.
This book was purchased for my personal library.
January 7, 2021
What's not to love? Historical fiction for 8-12 year olds, set in Wales during the war, dealing with themes of uncertainty and getting used to a new normal. This is a perfect book for right now!
I read The Valley of Lost Secrets in about two hours because the characters stole my heart and I had to know what happened! It’s so beautiful, written with so much warmth, heart and tenderness that the whole story just leaps from the page and into your chest. Jimmy and his younger brother Ronnie are evacuated from Islington to Wales in September 1939. Jimmy’s classmates and his younger brother seem to adjust quickly but Jimmy has a harder time accepting his new normal. He misses his Dad, Nan, his friend who has suddenly found new friends and he doesn’t want any fussing from Mrs Thomas - she’s not family and he’s not staying long enough to get comfy.
There’s just so much to love about this story. The mystery at the heart of it; the bones in the tree. The setting, the characters and how the relationship dynamics shift and the characters grow as they learn more about each other and themselves. The sibling relationship, the friendships and interactions with adults are so spot on and real. I especially loved Jimmy and Florence’s friendship. Jimmy realises that he has judged her unfairly their whole lives and it is only when she is given a fresh start in Wales he gets to know her properly. Florence is such a brilliant character. She’s so gentle and caring towards Ronnie and becomes quite protective. She’s not afraid to stand up for herself and others either. Similarly, I loved how the Thomases slowly earned Jimmy’s trust and gave Ronnie all the attention he needed! They were patient, forgiving and kind. My favourite thing was that they never dismissed the boys feelings or pushed too hard. I’d love to see more of these positive relationships as adults in other books for the same age group; adults are often portrayed as dismissive or not really understanding children which gives out the wrong message to young children.
I very nearly shed a few tears at the end of this book which rarely happens! I will definitely be recommending this book. Lesley Parr you did a beautiful job.
I read The Valley of Lost Secrets in about two hours because the characters stole my heart and I had to know what happened! It’s so beautiful, written with so much warmth, heart and tenderness that the whole story just leaps from the page and into your chest. Jimmy and his younger brother Ronnie are evacuated from Islington to Wales in September 1939. Jimmy’s classmates and his younger brother seem to adjust quickly but Jimmy has a harder time accepting his new normal. He misses his Dad, Nan, his friend who has suddenly found new friends and he doesn’t want any fussing from Mrs Thomas - she’s not family and he’s not staying long enough to get comfy.
There’s just so much to love about this story. The mystery at the heart of it; the bones in the tree. The setting, the characters and how the relationship dynamics shift and the characters grow as they learn more about each other and themselves. The sibling relationship, the friendships and interactions with adults are so spot on and real. I especially loved Jimmy and Florence’s friendship. Jimmy realises that he has judged her unfairly their whole lives and it is only when she is given a fresh start in Wales he gets to know her properly. Florence is such a brilliant character. She’s so gentle and caring towards Ronnie and becomes quite protective. She’s not afraid to stand up for herself and others either. Similarly, I loved how the Thomases slowly earned Jimmy’s trust and gave Ronnie all the attention he needed! They were patient, forgiving and kind. My favourite thing was that they never dismissed the boys feelings or pushed too hard. I’d love to see more of these positive relationships as adults in other books for the same age group; adults are often portrayed as dismissive or not really understanding children which gives out the wrong message to young children.
I very nearly shed a few tears at the end of this book which rarely happens! I will definitely be recommending this book. Lesley Parr you did a beautiful job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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