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The Blitz Sisters
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 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 . . .
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 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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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 7, 2026
Three sisters, three stories spanning the Second World War.
At 12 years old, Lydia Linden has the weight of her family on her shoulders. Looking after their mother, watching after her sisters and hearing on the wireless the loom of war, Lydia feels only too lonely at her age. When evacuated from London, she feels only too responsible to still be looking after their grieving mother, surely her sisters and aunt won’t miss her when she decides to runaway back home…
At the height of the Second World War, Peggy Linden seems to be making more trouble on the home front than the bombs dropping. With a flair for art but a pinching for trouble, it isn’t too long before she’s expelled from school and close to costing Lydia her job.
VE Day is here, and Teddy Linden would love to be as joyous as everyone else, but settling back into London life is not what she expected. She has her books, and Brian the cat, of course but something is missing. Could a school trip to Paris help fix this feeling inside her? Or might it be just what breaks her…
With food descriptions to rival Enid Blyton, and a sisterly relationship that resembles the Fossil sisters in Ballet Shoes. The Blitz Sisters by Judith Eagle is a classic for the modern age!
Accurate descriptions of wartime London, pop culture references and rationed food, only ground the reader to the text. Few wartime children’s titles give you so much rich, and accurate, details of the period. History lovers will be unable to find fault with The Blitz Sisters.
These near 500 pages, spanning seven years, only cements your love and attachment to each character. This is a book for each generation to love and enjoy, and will be a story I’ll continue returning to as I grow older.
Also would like to say that I adore the cover illustration by Chantal Horeis, captured the characters perfectly in my opinion and the colours complement the authors writing style.
Now to eagerly await what my nan thinks as she starts The Blitz Sisters.
At 12 years old, Lydia Linden has the weight of her family on her shoulders. Looking after their mother, watching after her sisters and hearing on the wireless the loom of war, Lydia feels only too lonely at her age. When evacuated from London, she feels only too responsible to still be looking after their grieving mother, surely her sisters and aunt won’t miss her when she decides to runaway back home…
At the height of the Second World War, Peggy Linden seems to be making more trouble on the home front than the bombs dropping. With a flair for art but a pinching for trouble, it isn’t too long before she’s expelled from school and close to costing Lydia her job.
VE Day is here, and Teddy Linden would love to be as joyous as everyone else, but settling back into London life is not what she expected. She has her books, and Brian the cat, of course but something is missing. Could a school trip to Paris help fix this feeling inside her? Or might it be just what breaks her…
With food descriptions to rival Enid Blyton, and a sisterly relationship that resembles the Fossil sisters in Ballet Shoes. The Blitz Sisters by Judith Eagle is a classic for the modern age!
Accurate descriptions of wartime London, pop culture references and rationed food, only ground the reader to the text. Few wartime children’s titles give you so much rich, and accurate, details of the period. History lovers will be unable to find fault with The Blitz Sisters.
These near 500 pages, spanning seven years, only cements your love and attachment to each character. This is a book for each generation to love and enjoy, and will be a story I’ll continue returning to as I grow older.
Also would like to say that I adore the cover illustration by Chantal Horeis, captured the characters perfectly in my opinion and the colours complement the authors writing style.
Now to eagerly await what my nan thinks as she starts The Blitz Sisters.
March 15, 2026
really enjoyed this. WWII home front with a lot to say about family and sisterhood
December 27, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Faber for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Okay so I know Judith's books tend to be aimed at readers younger than me but I still enjoy them and this was a late entry into my 'best books of 2025' list because it was perfect.
I love that Judith hasn't hidden anything from her readers. We have a tendency to talk down to children, but we don't need to. Sure it needs to be age appropriate but it is important that children know about what happened in the war, and I think she's pitched that perfectly.
I don't know Judith's background but her expert knowledge on the war is impressive. I can't imagine the amount of research she would have had to do.
It can be hard as an adult to relate to young characters or understand them. But Judith has got it right. Sure, I don't know how a 12 year-old (Lydia) felt during the Blitz, but she is such a powerful character that I instantly loved her. The three main girls are all very well written and we see them at a variety of ages, and we see how they've changed from before the war, during, and after. Lydia's sisters Peggy and Teddy were equally as wonderful, particularly in their own sections. There is a reasonably large cast of other characters that again are well written and work well in their own stories a well as alongside our protagonists.
I loved how beautiful the interactions were with the children. Adults tend to see things in black and white whereas children have more colour. For instance, why shouldn't' an English child be friends with a German child, just because their countries are at war? Adults might be stricter but children just love, and that was wonderful to read.
It's not the happiest of books - I mean, it's following three children during the war, so it's not surprising - but you never feel to morose. It is filled with the truth and horror that war brings, but there is an undercurrent of hope running through it which makes it a pleasure to read.
It's so full of heart and love, it's about friendship and family, sisterhood, loss and grief, the sense of community and the sense of belonging somewhere.
For a book that is almost 500 pages long, it really zooms by. It's fast paced and exciting but not overwhelming and it still manages to give enough time to detail.
I could see this being a wartime classic, like Michael Morpurgo's War Horse, or Michelle Magorian's Goodnight Mister Tom. Both adults and children will absolutely love it. I know I did. One of my favourite books of 2025 for sure.
Okay so I know Judith's books tend to be aimed at readers younger than me but I still enjoy them and this was a late entry into my 'best books of 2025' list because it was perfect.
I love that Judith hasn't hidden anything from her readers. We have a tendency to talk down to children, but we don't need to. Sure it needs to be age appropriate but it is important that children know about what happened in the war, and I think she's pitched that perfectly.
I don't know Judith's background but her expert knowledge on the war is impressive. I can't imagine the amount of research she would have had to do.
It can be hard as an adult to relate to young characters or understand them. But Judith has got it right. Sure, I don't know how a 12 year-old (Lydia) felt during the Blitz, but she is such a powerful character that I instantly loved her. The three main girls are all very well written and we see them at a variety of ages, and we see how they've changed from before the war, during, and after. Lydia's sisters Peggy and Teddy were equally as wonderful, particularly in their own sections. There is a reasonably large cast of other characters that again are well written and work well in their own stories a well as alongside our protagonists.
I loved how beautiful the interactions were with the children. Adults tend to see things in black and white whereas children have more colour. For instance, why shouldn't' an English child be friends with a German child, just because their countries are at war? Adults might be stricter but children just love, and that was wonderful to read.
It's not the happiest of books - I mean, it's following three children during the war, so it's not surprising - but you never feel to morose. It is filled with the truth and horror that war brings, but there is an undercurrent of hope running through it which makes it a pleasure to read.
It's so full of heart and love, it's about friendship and family, sisterhood, loss and grief, the sense of community and the sense of belonging somewhere.
For a book that is almost 500 pages long, it really zooms by. It's fast paced and exciting but not overwhelming and it still manages to give enough time to detail.
I could see this being a wartime classic, like Michael Morpurgo's War Horse, or Michelle Magorian's Goodnight Mister Tom. Both adults and children will absolutely love it. I know I did. One of my favourite books of 2025 for sure.
April 17, 2026
THE BLITZ SISTERS is a tale of a family and their ups and downs during the Second World War and beyond.
The book is split into three parts - 1939-1940, 1943-1944, and 1945-1947. Each section is narrated by a different sister, which meant the narrator was always firmly in the middle grade age range rather than aging into a teenager. It did however make the book feel like three short books in one omnibus edition (which also felt more appropriate to the size - it's long for a single MG novel!) Each section is its own contained tale. There is a challenge for the girl to face (usually about herself) and new friends to make. It took me a bit of time to get used to, but once I did, I was invested in each of their tales.
It is very unusual for a book to go into the post-WW2 years, but the final section is based then. I really liked that we explored the work of rebuilding and finding a new normal after six years of war. It was a different perspective than you usually get in a WW2 novel, which was nice and explored how the effects of the war (like rationing) lingered.
This is ultimately a book about family - blood and found - and friendship. The Linden sisters and their mum don't always get on bit they do love each other. They also build a network of friends around them during the book, the girls tackling feelings of loneliness and trepidation at the new locations they have to move to thanks to the war.
Lydia is very much the older sister who has taken a lot upon herself. Peggy is impulsive and her section was like watching a disaster in slow motion (but a lot of fun). She also seemed to have dyslexia, and it was so nice to see that represented in a children's historical - learning difficulties like dyslexia are not a new phenomenon, it's just that wide spread education and a better understanding of these conditions means we can diagnose them now. Teddy is a fact lover and in her sisters' shadows, and I liked her story of stepping out (and then realising that there are good ways and bad ways to do that!)
The acknowledgements say that the librarian from my old school was helpful in the post-war research (my school had one of the first exchange programs with Germany after the war). While the school Teddy attends in this section is given a different name, there were several subtle nods to my school, which were quite fun to spot.
The book is split into three parts - 1939-1940, 1943-1944, and 1945-1947. Each section is narrated by a different sister, which meant the narrator was always firmly in the middle grade age range rather than aging into a teenager. It did however make the book feel like three short books in one omnibus edition (which also felt more appropriate to the size - it's long for a single MG novel!) Each section is its own contained tale. There is a challenge for the girl to face (usually about herself) and new friends to make. It took me a bit of time to get used to, but once I did, I was invested in each of their tales.
It is very unusual for a book to go into the post-WW2 years, but the final section is based then. I really liked that we explored the work of rebuilding and finding a new normal after six years of war. It was a different perspective than you usually get in a WW2 novel, which was nice and explored how the effects of the war (like rationing) lingered.
This is ultimately a book about family - blood and found - and friendship. The Linden sisters and their mum don't always get on bit they do love each other. They also build a network of friends around them during the book, the girls tackling feelings of loneliness and trepidation at the new locations they have to move to thanks to the war.
Lydia is very much the older sister who has taken a lot upon herself. Peggy is impulsive and her section was like watching a disaster in slow motion (but a lot of fun). She also seemed to have dyslexia, and it was so nice to see that represented in a children's historical - learning difficulties like dyslexia are not a new phenomenon, it's just that wide spread education and a better understanding of these conditions means we can diagnose them now. Teddy is a fact lover and in her sisters' shadows, and I liked her story of stepping out (and then realising that there are good ways and bad ways to do that!)
The acknowledgements say that the librarian from my old school was helpful in the post-war research (my school had one of the first exchange programs with Germany after the war). While the school Teddy attends in this section is given a different name, there were several subtle nods to my school, which were quite fun to spot.
April 27, 2026
The Blitz Sisters by Judith Eagle is a powerful historical children’s novel that absolutely captivated me. It is suitable for ten years and over.
As the title suggests, the book is set during World War II as we follow three sisters from 1939-1947. The tale is divided into three sections as we follow the action from each sister’s point of view. Lydia’s view point covers the start of the war; Peggy is the middle years; and Teddy is the war’s end and peacetime. The sisters are similar but different and what shines through is their love for each other.
There are various scrapes throughout the years as each sister is reckless in a different way. Each sister is motivated by love, as modelled by their mother. “Warm, forgiving arms. Mum.”
Each sister has a personal battle to fight. I felt very sorry for Peggy whose dyslexia wasn’t understood. “Couldn’t endure another lesson with endless numbers and letters and words jumping up and down… in a horrid unintelligible jumble. She couldn’t bear the fear she felt… She had to make herself invisible in case she was asked to read out loud.” Her frustration is easy to empathise with. “School didn’t understand her. Home didn’t understand her.” But Peggy has a gift – she is very artistic.
All three girls are gifted in different ways. Lydia is creative with food. The youngest, Teddy, absorbs knowledge like a sponge. “The facts were soothing. They didn’t change.”
After six years of war, peacetime takes some getting used to. “It was… all being together, that she missed. Now the war was over, they’d scattered.” Teddy was just six-years-old when war began. She misses her friends, family and neighbours all living together.
With war, the family lived through the Blitz and evacuation; met a young boy who had been rescued from Nazi Germany; lost houses; found a cat; and much more.
The Blitz Sisters is evocative of life in war-torn Britain. We ‘experience’ the highs and lows; the loves and losses. This book will give children a glimpse into what life was like during the war. It will educate them as they read.
Whatever your age, The Blitz Sisters is a captivating read.
As the title suggests, the book is set during World War II as we follow three sisters from 1939-1947. The tale is divided into three sections as we follow the action from each sister’s point of view. Lydia’s view point covers the start of the war; Peggy is the middle years; and Teddy is the war’s end and peacetime. The sisters are similar but different and what shines through is their love for each other.
There are various scrapes throughout the years as each sister is reckless in a different way. Each sister is motivated by love, as modelled by their mother. “Warm, forgiving arms. Mum.”
Each sister has a personal battle to fight. I felt very sorry for Peggy whose dyslexia wasn’t understood. “Couldn’t endure another lesson with endless numbers and letters and words jumping up and down… in a horrid unintelligible jumble. She couldn’t bear the fear she felt… She had to make herself invisible in case she was asked to read out loud.” Her frustration is easy to empathise with. “School didn’t understand her. Home didn’t understand her.” But Peggy has a gift – she is very artistic.
All three girls are gifted in different ways. Lydia is creative with food. The youngest, Teddy, absorbs knowledge like a sponge. “The facts were soothing. They didn’t change.”
After six years of war, peacetime takes some getting used to. “It was… all being together, that she missed. Now the war was over, they’d scattered.” Teddy was just six-years-old when war began. She misses her friends, family and neighbours all living together.
With war, the family lived through the Blitz and evacuation; met a young boy who had been rescued from Nazi Germany; lost houses; found a cat; and much more.
The Blitz Sisters is evocative of life in war-torn Britain. We ‘experience’ the highs and lows; the loves and losses. This book will give children a glimpse into what life was like during the war. It will educate them as they read.
Whatever your age, The Blitz Sisters is a captivating read.
December 24, 2025
This is a wonderful and engaging story about three sisters set in the World War 2 period. Lydia, Peggy and Teddy are still recovering from the loss of their father when they are separated from the mother and sent to stay with their late father's sister Phoebe, a writer, for safety during The Blitz.
Adjusting to life with their unfamiliar aunt in the countryside is hard enough, but the girls face other challenges too - Lydia feels burdened with too much responsibility as the eldest, Peggy struggles with an impetuous temperament and learning issues, and Teddy is not always pleased to be characterised as the family boffin.
The author brings the three main characters, as well as a whole host of individuals who make up a vibrant supporting cast, vividly to life on the page. Very enjoyable indeed and decidedly reminiscent of Little Women!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Adjusting to life with their unfamiliar aunt in the countryside is hard enough, but the girls face other challenges too - Lydia feels burdened with too much responsibility as the eldest, Peggy struggles with an impetuous temperament and learning issues, and Teddy is not always pleased to be characterised as the family boffin.
The author brings the three main characters, as well as a whole host of individuals who make up a vibrant supporting cast, vividly to life on the page. Very enjoyable indeed and decidedly reminiscent of Little Women!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
May 8, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, especially the beautiful simplicity of how it was written, which is probably due to the fact it’s written for 9-12 year olds! 🤣
This book covers the time period of the blitz and is told from the perspective of 3 sisters and how their life and relationship with each other, their friends and family, developed and changed over the years of bombs dropping in London and rationing. You see them grow up and mature into fascinating and unique young ladies dealing with not only the war going on around them, but the loss of their father, having to be evacuated from London leaving their mum behind, friendships new and old and lost connections and challenges that faced women at this time in history. The resilience and determination they all showed in their own personal way was inspiring and I even had tears at the end! 🥹
Highly recommend for all as I really enjoyed reading something that was written simply but equally with so much detail and emotion that I felt like I was there with them.
This book covers the time period of the blitz and is told from the perspective of 3 sisters and how their life and relationship with each other, their friends and family, developed and changed over the years of bombs dropping in London and rationing. You see them grow up and mature into fascinating and unique young ladies dealing with not only the war going on around them, but the loss of their father, having to be evacuated from London leaving their mum behind, friendships new and old and lost connections and challenges that faced women at this time in history. The resilience and determination they all showed in their own personal way was inspiring and I even had tears at the end! 🥹
Highly recommend for all as I really enjoyed reading something that was written simply but equally with so much detail and emotion that I felt like I was there with them.
February 24, 2026
A charming WW2 middle grade, focused on daily life of three sisters during and after the Blitz.
We follow Lydia, Peggy, and Teddy, with each sister getting her own story - Lydia's story starts in the early days, with the sisters being evacuated to the countryside. Peggy's story is several years later, once the bombing has (mostly) stopped, they're back in London, putting their lives back together. Teddy's story comes after the war is over, and looks at what 'normal' looked like after so much damage and loss.
Each sister has their own personality, so I'm sure that everyone will relate to at one of them - I personally related strongly to Teddy, the quiet and independent bookworm, expected to be the sensible one despite being a real worrier. I also loved that each sister's story was at a different point in the war, giving a real insight into what daily life looked like throughout the period. A great book for anyone who wants to know more about real life during WW2, especially since the book was clearly very well researched!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!
We follow Lydia, Peggy, and Teddy, with each sister getting her own story - Lydia's story starts in the early days, with the sisters being evacuated to the countryside. Peggy's story is several years later, once the bombing has (mostly) stopped, they're back in London, putting their lives back together. Teddy's story comes after the war is over, and looks at what 'normal' looked like after so much damage and loss.
Each sister has their own personality, so I'm sure that everyone will relate to at one of them - I personally related strongly to Teddy, the quiet and independent bookworm, expected to be the sensible one despite being a real worrier. I also loved that each sister's story was at a different point in the war, giving a real insight into what daily life looked like throughout the period. A great book for anyone who wants to know more about real life during WW2, especially since the book was clearly very well researched!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!
April 2, 2026
great WW2 blitz story told from 3 sisters' perspectives. you see the war and the consequences of everything in varying ways from the sisters pov, and how they try to 'sort' things out the best they think. love this author and always recommend to my students
April 16, 2026
A story in 3 parts, each told by a sister during and after WW11. Three sisters, their feelings as they navigated this terrible time. Love, loss, friendship, learning who they are. A saga for older middle grade, reflecting so much detail of life at the time.
April 7, 2026
A really excellent children’s book!
January 6, 2026
The Blitz Sisters is an epic family saga set across three sisters during (and after) World War Two. Three separate personalities, each with their own timeline with their own challenges and triumphs. Utterly adored this!
April 29, 2026
A charming story about three sisters growing up against the backdrop of WW2. I liked that they each had a different ~journey~ and I genuinely felt anxious whenever they messed up, haha. This was well-researched, and the little details (especially about food!) made the story come alive:
For pudding Barbara gave Teddy a shilling and she ran down to Russell Square to the ice cream cart and bought a small brick for 9 pennies. Back in the flat, Barbara cut the brick into thick wedges, and they made ice cream sandwiches with Mrs Jessop's biscuits.
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