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Henrietta, surnommée Henry, emménage dans une grande maison à la campagne avec sa famille, qui est sens dessus dessous après un événement dramatique. Henry, esseulée, entreprend d’explorer les environs comme les héros de ses livres Alice au Pays des Merveilles et Moogli. Dans le bois d’à côté, elle rencontre Moth, une vieille dame étrange, qui malgré son allure de sorcière va devenir son amie et l’aider à sauver sa famille…
348 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2016
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4602 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Strange
16 books414 followersLucy Strange worked as an actor, singer and storyteller before becoming a secondary school English teacher. She now lives and writes in the heart of the Kent countryside with her partner James, their baby boy and a tortoiseshell cat known as Moo.
Our Castle by the Sea is Lucy’s second novel for children, following her critically acclaimed debut, The Secret of Nightingale Wood.
Our Castle by the Sea is Lucy’s second novel for children, following her critically acclaimed debut, The Secret of Nightingale Wood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 890 reviews
May 7, 2024
While middle-grade The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange is a relatively recent release (2016 in the UK, 2017 in the US) the bittersweet story is set in 1919. The absolute resilience and fierce determination of 13-year-old Henrietta (Henry) exemplifies a young hero to applaud.
The Abbott family has suffered a tragedy at the same time that they receive a blessing. The shock and unimaginable pain combined with “hysteria” (a very common type of depression today) that Mrs. Abbott exhibits, call for complete rest. The forever-changed family, along with Nanny Jane, pack up and move to Hope House.
There, Dr. Hardy eagerly awaits his subject/patient. He’s partnered up with a “cutting edge” doctor and cannot wait to try his brilliant new techniques such as giving folks tropical diseases so that the fever “cures” the brain or soaking someone in a scalding-hot bath.
Henry not only dislikes Dr. Hardy, she does not trust that his best interests are in making her mother better. She thinks Nanny Jane may agree, but her hands are tied and Mr. Abbott has been sent away for work. Henry is truly alone.
Until a tendril of smoke catches her eye. Henry walks into the dark woods, as if she’s being led. The last thing she expected to find was a wild-haired woman living in a rusted caravan. Henry cannot be sure if the ghostly figure is real or a figment of her imagination. But she is going to find out.
In her quest to save her mother from the asylum and the greedy hands of Dr. Hardy, Henry attempts to confirm her own sanity. As she seeks answers, she inadvertently solves a three-year-old mystery and motivates a few adults to support her in doing the right thing.
Absolutely appropriate for pre-teen and younger teenagers, the authenticity of such an altruistic adolescent captured the heart of this Old Adult reader. I may have even sniffled and shed a few tears.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks for the Advance Review Copy to add to my favorite classroom library.
The Abbott family has suffered a tragedy at the same time that they receive a blessing. The shock and unimaginable pain combined with “hysteria” (a very common type of depression today) that Mrs. Abbott exhibits, call for complete rest. The forever-changed family, along with Nanny Jane, pack up and move to Hope House.
There, Dr. Hardy eagerly awaits his subject/patient. He’s partnered up with a “cutting edge” doctor and cannot wait to try his brilliant new techniques such as giving folks tropical diseases so that the fever “cures” the brain or soaking someone in a scalding-hot bath.
Henry not only dislikes Dr. Hardy, she does not trust that his best interests are in making her mother better. She thinks Nanny Jane may agree, but her hands are tied and Mr. Abbott has been sent away for work. Henry is truly alone.
Until a tendril of smoke catches her eye. Henry walks into the dark woods, as if she’s being led. The last thing she expected to find was a wild-haired woman living in a rusted caravan. Henry cannot be sure if the ghostly figure is real or a figment of her imagination. But she is going to find out.
In her quest to save her mother from the asylum and the greedy hands of Dr. Hardy, Henry attempts to confirm her own sanity. As she seeks answers, she inadvertently solves a three-year-old mystery and motivates a few adults to support her in doing the right thing.
Absolutely appropriate for pre-teen and younger teenagers, the authenticity of such an altruistic adolescent captured the heart of this Old Adult reader. I may have even sniffled and shed a few tears.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks for the Advance Review Copy to add to my favorite classroom library.
January 11, 2020
I wasn't expecting this recently written book to have captured the feel of a childrens classic of the last century so well. This book is beautifully written, it reminded me of The Railway Children and some other classics. Henrietta is 12yrs old and the year is 1919. Her family has moved out of London to try to rebuild their lives after the death of her brother. The family struggles, each isolated in their private grief.
Some of the middle part of the book involving the mother's treatment did seem to be a bit repetitive and we wanted the story to move on. The chapters were very short, sometimes just a page or two. I felt part of the storyline which was the treatment of depression or mental health issues might be confusing for young readers as they may not realise how treatment for depression was so different 100 yrs ago and by our modern values appears cruel and illegal. My daughter was confused whether doctor Hardy was a villain but had not been found out yet or whether he was being unintentionally unkind thinking he was doing the right thing, doing what most doctors of his era thought to be the correct way to treat this illness. Perhaps a factual section at the end about treatments of mental health issues and how they have changed aimed at the target audience might have helped.
Some of the middle part of the book involving the mother's treatment did seem to be a bit repetitive and we wanted the story to move on. The chapters were very short, sometimes just a page or two. I felt part of the storyline which was the treatment of depression or mental health issues might be confusing for young readers as they may not realise how treatment for depression was so different 100 yrs ago and by our modern values appears cruel and illegal. My daughter was confused whether doctor Hardy was a villain but had not been found out yet or whether he was being unintentionally unkind thinking he was doing the right thing, doing what most doctors of his era thought to be the correct way to treat this illness. Perhaps a factual section at the end about treatments of mental health issues and how they have changed aimed at the target audience might have helped.
November 13, 2016
Oh my goodness! What a tender, exquisite gem of a book. Such wonderful writing and characterisation, with deft, assured handling of complex emotional issues. This may well be my favourite MG book of 2016. Fabulous.
August 9, 2020
I read this one really quickly in a few hours. It is an easy read aimed at young people, but nicely written. It is based on the usual good versus evil. The narrator is a lonely child (Henrietta) who is dealing with friendship, sadness, illness, mysteries and family secrets, even death around 1919.
January 1, 2018
This is the first audiobook I was able to finish reading/listening. The author does such a great job narrating it, her voice and accent and the way she makes her characters alive with these, is just marvellous.
The story is about a little girl `Henry` whose family was torn apart by a tragedy. Although she is only 12 years old she has great courage and more wisdom then any adult around her. This is a grim mystery that proceeds like the sundown and night fall and the only light we see is our little star `Henry` for many chapters but has a very bright sunrise like ending.
The way the author describes grief, motherhood, and the way she hints how words can cage people in so many ways makes this book stand out. It has many subconscious motifs as hinted by the fairytales woven in the body of the story. I am so glad I found and read it. The after effects will linger with me for a good while.
The story is about a little girl `Henry` whose family was torn apart by a tragedy. Although she is only 12 years old she has great courage and more wisdom then any adult around her. This is a grim mystery that proceeds like the sundown and night fall and the only light we see is our little star `Henry` for many chapters but has a very bright sunrise like ending.
The way the author describes grief, motherhood, and the way she hints how words can cage people in so many ways makes this book stand out. It has many subconscious motifs as hinted by the fairytales woven in the body of the story. I am so glad I found and read it. The after effects will linger with me for a good while.
December 17, 2017
Such an impressive first novel. The Secret of Nightingale Wood is a tale of two halves for me. The first involves Henry moving into her new home in order for her family to cope with the mysterious loss of her older brother and the second half, much pacier and painfully tense, involves Henry having the save someone close to her. Wrapped within a quilted intertext based on rich children's literature around the dawn of the 20th century (as well as well before) Strange is so smart in her craft here. I don't want to give anything away but understands the power of place and character and literature to weave a clever and haunting tale that is still buzzing around in my thoughts several days after my reading.
February 5, 2022
My copy is so cute, the illustrations inside are fabulous! Each chapter has a tiny illustration, in any case now that I'm done with this book I feel it's not suitable for young children, it's beautifully written, it's a sad story about family, mental illness, loss, grief, war, hope, childhood, and books.
My main issue with the book comes in two parts: first, the author depended a LOT on other books to tell her story, I personally find that a bit weak. Secondly: I don't get foreigners/white people, the way they treat people and events always shocks me, as if human feelings such as grief must be a mental illness when in reality it's normal. It's how it should be.
Why did the husband/father insist that his wife/mother must be hospitalized is beyond me?! She isn't suicidal nor is Moth/Mrs. Long. It's okay to be sad, it's okay to be heartbroken, it's okay to blame yourself for an event that broke your heart. It's okay to miss someone so much you can't get out of bed. Why must people be labeled "crazy" for that? Fear, grief, sadness, anger, depression are normal, because when you are alive you live and you go through things. Why can't young children have imaginary friends and talk to themselves and their toys without them being labeled crazy and schizophrenic? What the fuck is wrong with you people?
As for the father, I wanted to get in the book and slap him to pull himself together for his daughters and wife, he's the sick one for leaving them under other people's mercy. I felt at the end, that this book is way too dark for children, I wouldn't want my own to read it any time soon.
As for the title, it's a metaphor for death and loss, do you know the fairy tale The Nightingale? By Hans Christian Andersen? About an emperor who prefers the tinkling of a bejeweled mechanical bird to the song of a real nightingale. When the Emperor is near death, the nightingale's song restores his health. The woods, sea and Hen play a huge part in the healing of both mothers.
My main issue with the book comes in two parts: first, the author depended a LOT on other books to tell her story, I personally find that a bit weak. Secondly: I don't get foreigners/white people, the way they treat people and events always shocks me, as if human feelings such as grief must be a mental illness when in reality it's normal. It's how it should be.
Why did the husband/father insist that his wife/mother must be hospitalized is beyond me?! She isn't suicidal nor is Moth/Mrs. Long. It's okay to be sad, it's okay to be heartbroken, it's okay to blame yourself for an event that broke your heart. It's okay to miss someone so much you can't get out of bed. Why must people be labeled "crazy" for that? Fear, grief, sadness, anger, depression are normal, because when you are alive you live and you go through things. Why can't young children have imaginary friends and talk to themselves and their toys without them being labeled crazy and schizophrenic? What the fuck is wrong with you people?
As for the father, I wanted to get in the book and slap him to pull himself together for his daughters and wife, he's the sick one for leaving them under other people's mercy. I felt at the end, that this book is way too dark for children, I wouldn't want my own to read it any time soon.
As for the title, it's a metaphor for death and loss, do you know the fairy tale The Nightingale? By Hans Christian Andersen? About an emperor who prefers the tinkling of a bejeweled mechanical bird to the song of a real nightingale. When the Emperor is near death, the nightingale's song restores his health. The woods, sea and Hen play a huge part in the healing of both mothers.
October 6, 2016
Heavens above, what a book!
This has been so beautifully crafted, it sings. Touching on such enormous subjects as grief, mental health, shell-shock, loneliness, and fear, it still manages to flow into your bloodstream in the most amazing way. The characters are intricately drawn: Henry with her day dreaming and books, and her power love for her family, that holds the story together; Piglet, the wonderfully perfect nick-name for her baby sister, who you just know is going to grow into a power-house of a woman; the doctor, the father the mother, the friends found in unexpected places...
In a unusual mixture of comparison, if comparisons must be made, it is like the Secret Garden mixed with a little Wide Sargasso Sea.
I cried, I smiled, and I have now welled-up numerous times talking about it with my customers at the bookshop.
This has been so beautifully crafted, it sings. Touching on such enormous subjects as grief, mental health, shell-shock, loneliness, and fear, it still manages to flow into your bloodstream in the most amazing way. The characters are intricately drawn: Henry with her day dreaming and books, and her power love for her family, that holds the story together; Piglet, the wonderfully perfect nick-name for her baby sister, who you just know is going to grow into a power-house of a woman; the doctor, the father the mother, the friends found in unexpected places...
In a unusual mixture of comparison, if comparisons must be made, it is like the Secret Garden mixed with a little Wide Sargasso Sea.
I cried, I smiled, and I have now welled-up numerous times talking about it with my customers at the bookshop.
June 5, 2018
Wow! I can't believe this is juvenile fiction. And a first book for Lucy Strange. Quite an accomplishment.
This one was creepy, magical and heartwarming, and more than a little disturbing in parts. It takes place in 1919 in rural England. Henrietta (12 yo) and her family have just moved to the country from London after the loss of her older brother and the birth of her baby sister. Her mom isn't dealing with his loss well.
The book is about Hen and her quest to bring her family back together and put them all on a healing path. The disturbing part focuses on her mom's depression and the resulting treatment by misguided physicians. Hen meets an old woman in the woods (Moth), who is a damaged soul too and she finds healing and wisdom as Moth and the ghost of her brother help guide her to help her family.
Lucy Strange certainly writes beautifully and evocatively and captures the magic and mystery of the nightingale wood wonderfully. At times, I didn't want to keep reading because I didn't want the book to ever end. I just loved Moth's story and I'd love it if the author turned this book into a series following the family members and Moth in their next chapter. Strange also narrates the audiobook, and even though authors aren't always good at this, she did a terrific job with it.
Highly recommended but depending on the age of the person reading this, could be quite a disturbing book in places. The magic and mystery and overall tone and writing saved it for me and makes this a solid four-star read.
This one was creepy, magical and heartwarming, and more than a little disturbing in parts. It takes place in 1919 in rural England. Henrietta (12 yo) and her family have just moved to the country from London after the loss of her older brother and the birth of her baby sister. Her mom isn't dealing with his loss well.
The book is about Hen and her quest to bring her family back together and put them all on a healing path. The disturbing part focuses on her mom's depression and the resulting treatment by misguided physicians. Hen meets an old woman in the woods (Moth), who is a damaged soul too and she finds healing and wisdom as Moth and the ghost of her brother help guide her to help her family.
Lucy Strange certainly writes beautifully and evocatively and captures the magic and mystery of the nightingale wood wonderfully. At times, I didn't want to keep reading because I didn't want the book to ever end. I just loved Moth's story and I'd love it if the author turned this book into a series following the family members and Moth in their next chapter. Strange also narrates the audiobook, and even though authors aren't always good at this, she did a terrific job with it.
Highly recommended but depending on the age of the person reading this, could be quite a disturbing book in places. The magic and mystery and overall tone and writing saved it for me and makes this a solid four-star read.
April 30, 2019
4.5/5 stars
Full review to come
Full review to come
December 20, 2016
This is a children's book suitable for all ages, but probably best appreciated by adults who are still love with their childhood favourites: The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, The Wind in the Willows, Alice in Wonderland and fairy tales of all descriptions. Author Lucy Strange deliberately borrows some of the tropes from the best-loved classics, but fashions them into something original. Set just after World War I, the story explores madness and loss - and the sometimes fine line between fantasy and reality. Mental health is very fashionable in children's and YA literature right now, but Strange (such an apt name) very much suits her themes to her era. The rather brutish and patriarchal attempts to deal with shell-shock and the depression brought on by profound grief are a powerful, dark spectre in this book. Sometimes what is lurking in the woods is ominous . . . and sometimes it is just sad and lonely. The influence of fairy tales is quite strong in this book. And as in all the best childhood classics, it takes a brave, resourceful child to heal the broken world. I did worry, at first, that there was something too perfect and paint-by-number about this book, but I was completely won over by the ending.
The protagonist of the book - Henrietta, called "Henry" - is having to cope with way too much trauma. Her older brother has died in a tragic accident; her mother has retreated into a drug-addled depression; her father is permanently away on business; and a creepy, ominous doctor is trying to make decisions for the family which Henry instinctively feels are wrong. Henry copes by turning to her beloved stories. They are her companions in loneliness, but they also offer safety, comfort and even guidance as she tries to navigate the difficulties of her life. The thing for Henry, though, is figuring out the difference between inspired by stories - and potentially being misled by them. The author has a very deft way of guiding Henry through her own imaginative thicket. This extremely accomplished first novel definitely has a touch of magic in it.
"Mama was quiet for a moment and then she said, 'What a wonderful place the world would be, Hen, if everyone had your imagination.'"
The protagonist of the book - Henrietta, called "Henry" - is having to cope with way too much trauma. Her older brother has died in a tragic accident; her mother has retreated into a drug-addled depression; her father is permanently away on business; and a creepy, ominous doctor is trying to make decisions for the family which Henry instinctively feels are wrong. Henry copes by turning to her beloved stories. They are her companions in loneliness, but they also offer safety, comfort and even guidance as she tries to navigate the difficulties of her life. The thing for Henry, though, is figuring out the difference between inspired by stories - and potentially being misled by them. The author has a very deft way of guiding Henry through her own imaginative thicket. This extremely accomplished first novel definitely has a touch of magic in it.
"Mama was quiet for a moment and then she said, 'What a wonderful place the world would be, Hen, if everyone had your imagination.'"
February 18, 2020
Originalni osvrt možete pročitati na blogu Knjige su moj svijet
“Morala sam saznati mogu li biti hrabra.”
Riječ je o dirljivom i toplom romanu o obitelji kojoj se dogodila tragedija i čiji članovi zajedničkim snagama moraju ponovno pronaći put jedni do drugih. Ipak, 1919. godine neke stvari nisu tako jednostavne. Naravno, tugovanje za izgubljenim članom obitelji nikad nije bilo jednostavno, a u ovoj priči dodatno ga otežava sistem koji vreba na onemoćale u svrhu medicinskog “napretka“.
Odmah na početku knjiga je postavila jednu vrlo gorku patrijarhalnu notu. Naime, od troje djece, umrlo je ono najstarije, ali jedini sin, a novorođena beba djevojčica dobiva ime Roberta, beba koja je došla na svijet tek nekoliko dana nakon što joj je tragično poginuo brat kojega nikada neće upoznati, sve to u očevom nespretnom pokušaju da zadrži makar i tračak sina Roberta kojega je neizmjerno volio.
Kroz priču odnosi se produbljuju, bojice prelaze patrijarhalne rubove, i autorica silno vješto opisuje duboke struje iskrene ljubavi i emotivnog kraha ama baš svakog člana obitelji.
Ipak, patrijarhat tog vremena ne nestaje iz priče. Naprotiv, postaje dublji i mnogo strašniji. Otac odlazi poslom, napušta obitelj, a mentalno bolesna majka uz sebe ima tek djevojčicu od desetak godina, bebu i dadilju te ni jednog muškarca koji će ju zaštiti od lokalnog liječnika koji na njezinoj “histeriji” želi napraviti karijeru.
Naravno, njezina histerija nije ništa drugo nego duboka, paralizirajuća tuga, no autoritet liječnika ne smije biti doveden u pitanju. Također, njemu nije dovoljna samo majka, u svoju bi paukovu mrežu rado uključio i kći.
“Ruši mi se cijeli svijet, pomislila sam. A ja ne mogu ništa promijeniti.“
Ta kći je Henrietta – Henry, naša glavna junakinja, žensko čeljade još nedovoljno odraslo da se u potpunosti pokori pravilima koja su nametnuta, i nedovoljno malo da se joj zaštitnički instinkti ostanu netaknuti.
Naoružana maštom, inteligencijom i bajkama, njezin um konstantno povlači perceptivne paralele između arhetipnih situacija iz priča i trenutačne opasne situacije u kojoj joj se mala obitelj pronašla, a neočekivanu i dobrodošlu pomoć pronaći će i u tajanstvenom liku koji nastanjuje obližnju šumu.
“Bila sam kao u nekom bunilu i bespomoćno zurila u prazan list pred sobom. Razmišljala sam o mećavama, snježnom sljepilu… Onda je ruka sama uzela nalivpero i počela pisati ispočetka. Ali ovaj put nisam pisala pismo, pisala sam priču – bajku o kraljici koju je zatočio zloduh po imenu Očaj. U mojoj je bajci bila i vještica, i noćna leptirica, i slavuj koji je pjevao s vrha Nedostupne planine… Gledala sam u to što sam napisala pa zarila glavu među ruke. Sjetila sam se očevih riječi koje mi je uputio noć prije odlaska: “Već si prestara za bajke, Henry.” Kakve li koristi od priče? Priče ne mogu ništa promijeniti.”
Zapanjena sam količinom slojeva koje je autorica odlučila uplesti u svoj debitantski roman. Još sam više zapanjena koliko su ti slojevi spretno jedni s drugim funkcionirali. Ovo nije lagana knjiga za prepričati i predstaviti, ali dovoljno je reći da je ultimativno riječ o romanu o važnosti obitelji.
Po Tolstojevskoj uputi, ova je obitelj nesretna na svoj način, posve usamljena u svom slomu i u svojoj tuzi. Izgubljeno dijete nezamjenjivo je, a gubitak ponekad odnese djeliće nas za koje nismo ni znali da su nam potrebni kako bismo funkcionirali.
“Tuga je zapravo amputirana ljubav.”
Nije lako pronaći štivo koje je pristupačno i manjima i velikima (mnogi su probali s kojekakvim rezultatima), osobito kroz ovako tešku centralnu temu, stoga me “Tajna Slavujeve šume” pomalo zatekla. Na trenutke sam se tresla zbog onoga što se događalo na stranicama knjige. Duboko sam osjećala Henriettinu nemoć. Njezina odvažnost bila mi je silno uvjerljiva, a prikaz pritiska društva tog vremena u kojem se neke psihijatrijske metode nisu olako puštale ježio mi je kičmu.
“Slavuj je još jedanput zapjevao, a šumu kao da je obasjala srebrna svjetlost. Izgledalo je kao da su se zvijezde prosule po šumi ili kao da se šuma popela do zvijezda. Sklupčala sam se u labuđe gnijezdo satkano od ponjava i osjetila kako mi strah i tuga u srcu nestaju.”
April 6, 2020
Engeland 1919. Na het overlijden van haar broer verhuist de twaalfjarige Henriëtta met haar familie naar een oud huis aan zee. Henry's moeder is zo verdrietig dat ze haar kamer niet meer uitkomt en haar vader werkt in het buitenland. Henry besluit om op eigen houtje de omgeving te verkennen en dwaalt af naar het enge bos. Hier ontmoet ze een 'heks', Mot, kan zij haar helpen om haar familie te redden?
Grote thema's als verlies, eenzaamheid en rouw worden afgewisseld met magische en sprookjesachtige elementen. Betoverend, fantasierijk, hartverwarmend en tegelijkertijd een prachtig relaas over de kracht van verbeelding in tijden van duisternis. Dit boek heeft echt mijn hart gestolen.
Grote thema's als verlies, eenzaamheid en rouw worden afgewisseld met magische en sprookjesachtige elementen. Betoverend, fantasierijk, hartverwarmend en tegelijkertijd een prachtig relaas over de kracht van verbeelding in tijden van duisternis. Dit boek heeft echt mijn hart gestolen.
February 24, 2022
Read this for Polarthon 2022! Check out my spoiler-free reading vlog if you want to see my thoughts on The Secret of Nightingale Wood: https://youtu.be/g4v0iV_ydUk
February 15, 2022
tl;dr pretty cover and nice writing but turns a 12-year-old girl into a miraculous social worker
I was really looking forward to The Secret of Nightingale Wood, but unfortunately I found the story's message totally inappropriate for middle-grade readers. Henrietta Abbott, the heroine who turns 13 over the course of the book, is made completely responsible for rescuing her mother from a cruel method of treatment for post-partum depression and the loss of a child (WWI-era). The father has absconded, the baby sister (whom the mother has never held) has been taken by the well-meaning but obtuse doctor, the nanny is powerless, and the mother is kept under near-constant sedation, so it's all up to a twelve-year-old child to return the world to normal. Oh, and a lady who has been pretending to be dead for three years and is by no means a responsible adult.
Many children can read and profit from this book as long as they do not internalize the message that they are responsible for their parents' mental health and their families' long-term stability. As a read-aloud, with lots of discussion, this could work, I suppose. There are some scary scenes when Henrietta is dreaming in a drugged sleep (because of! course! Henrietta is drugged in this freaking book) that might rub against the eldritch too much for some young readers. Some kids are into ghost stories and horror, but the pink-and-blue cover of The Secret of Nightingale Wood does not reflect the terrors contained within. There is no author's note at the end to soften the blow, either, and readers are left to wonder if psychiatry has moved on from infecting people with tropical diseases to cure brain illnesses.
Children who are about to welcome a younger sibling, who have suffered the loss of an older sibling, whose mothers have experienced PPD, or who have an absentee parent might want to stay away from this book. Instead of being a sympathetic read for those in such situations, The Secret of Nightingale Wood gives the message that all adults are either bumblingly cruel, impotent, or absent, with the consequence that children must step in to fix adult problems. Henrietta singlehandedly solves the many issues in her family. The adults pull through in the end, but not until Henrietta has opened their eyes to the true state of things. Not, mind you, by reasonable discussion with adults (because they foolishly do not converse with Henrietta), but by drastic action, such as bodily rescuing her mother from the asylum (called Helldon, of course), physically taking her sister back from the doctor's wife, spinning some smart-kid magic that helps her family confront the loss of her older brother, and telegraphing her father to come home for goodness' sake, why the HECK did you leave your family in this state?!?!?!?!?!
*breathes*
Perhaps I'm misinterpreting the book, or this is genuinely not the message Strange intended to communicate. Yet, the message was crystal-clear through the entire book for me: adults cannot be trusted to handle adult problems, so children must step in. The Abbott family had two major problems: grief at the loss of Robert, and the mother's deep depression. They tried to ignore the grief by not talking about it. Mr. Abbott decided to leave his wife at the time of her most profound need, and thus he leaves his children without a legal guardian in compos mentis, to go build bridges and stuff his feelings. The nanny is fine, she's not mean, but she's left to follow the only authoritative person in their circle, which is the bumblingly cruel doctor. When he starts coming for Henrietta because he interprets her "visions" (that come from highs induced by his drugs) as "inherited lunacy," she takes drastic action. There's no one to protect Henrietta, and she takes on full responsibility for herself (reasonable), infant sister (a stretch but normal within children's literature) and her mother (completely unreasonable and unhealthy). All while being drugged. I'm sorry, it's a hard no for me.
Because the wordsmithing of The Secret of Nightingale Wood was enjoyable, the references to children's classics were delightful, and the same cover designer has stuck with Strange, I will be giving her other books a try. I just did not enjoy the message of this one. If taken the way I read it (which not all readers will), it contains an extremely dangerous message that children are responsible for fixing their family problems that are adult responsibilities. I can see children reading this and feeling responsible to "fix" their parents' divorce, or their older sibling's issues, or something even worse, like an abusive situation. Some of my childhood friends felt responsibilities like this, which were totally inappropriate, but came from twisted family structures where no one was present to care for them. They're now dealing with the ramifications of this. A novel that carries this message is unnecessary and dangerous, in my opinion. I could only think of how Henrietta must have felt about herself when she grew up. Would she have been angry at her father for absconding? Would she have realized this made her grow up far too quickly? Did she have lingering nightmares about what her mother endured?
I'm eager to hear how readers interpreted this story differently, but having read it this way, there's no way I can read it with an ethical message. If anyone had truly stepped in to support Henrietta and give her solid wisdom and real guidance, I would not have been this angry upon completing the book. What support she managed to scrounge up was too little in most cases, far too late in others.
Content warnings: some disturbing nightmare scenes, mentions of violence in the Great War, antiquated mental health "treatments," and the aforementioned laying of adult responsibilities on a child's shoulders
I was really looking forward to The Secret of Nightingale Wood, but unfortunately I found the story's message totally inappropriate for middle-grade readers. Henrietta Abbott, the heroine who turns 13 over the course of the book, is made completely responsible for rescuing her mother from a cruel method of treatment for post-partum depression and the loss of a child (WWI-era). The father has absconded, the baby sister (whom the mother has never held) has been taken by the well-meaning but obtuse doctor, the nanny is powerless, and the mother is kept under near-constant sedation, so it's all up to a twelve-year-old child to return the world to normal. Oh, and a lady who has been pretending to be dead for three years and is by no means a responsible adult.
Many children can read and profit from this book as long as they do not internalize the message that they are responsible for their parents' mental health and their families' long-term stability. As a read-aloud, with lots of discussion, this could work, I suppose. There are some scary scenes when Henrietta is dreaming in a drugged sleep (because of! course! Henrietta is drugged in this freaking book) that might rub against the eldritch too much for some young readers. Some kids are into ghost stories and horror, but the pink-and-blue cover of The Secret of Nightingale Wood does not reflect the terrors contained within. There is no author's note at the end to soften the blow, either, and readers are left to wonder if psychiatry has moved on from infecting people with tropical diseases to cure brain illnesses.
Children who are about to welcome a younger sibling, who have suffered the loss of an older sibling, whose mothers have experienced PPD, or who have an absentee parent might want to stay away from this book. Instead of being a sympathetic read for those in such situations, The Secret of Nightingale Wood gives the message that all adults are either bumblingly cruel, impotent, or absent, with the consequence that children must step in to fix adult problems. Henrietta singlehandedly solves the many issues in her family. The adults pull through in the end, but not until Henrietta has opened their eyes to the true state of things. Not, mind you, by reasonable discussion with adults (because they foolishly do not converse with Henrietta), but by drastic action, such as bodily rescuing her mother from the asylum (called Helldon, of course), physically taking her sister back from the doctor's wife, spinning some smart-kid magic that helps her family confront the loss of her older brother, and telegraphing her father to come home for goodness' sake, why the HECK did you leave your family in this state?!?!?!?!?!
*breathes*
Perhaps I'm misinterpreting the book, or this is genuinely not the message Strange intended to communicate. Yet, the message was crystal-clear through the entire book for me: adults cannot be trusted to handle adult problems, so children must step in. The Abbott family had two major problems: grief at the loss of Robert, and the mother's deep depression. They tried to ignore the grief by not talking about it. Mr. Abbott decided to leave his wife at the time of her most profound need, and thus he leaves his children without a legal guardian in compos mentis, to go build bridges and stuff his feelings. The nanny is fine, she's not mean, but she's left to follow the only authoritative person in their circle, which is the bumblingly cruel doctor. When he starts coming for Henrietta because he interprets her "visions" (that come from highs induced by his drugs) as "inherited lunacy," she takes drastic action. There's no one to protect Henrietta, and she takes on full responsibility for herself (reasonable), infant sister (a stretch but normal within children's literature) and her mother (completely unreasonable and unhealthy). All while being drugged. I'm sorry, it's a hard no for me.
Because the wordsmithing of The Secret of Nightingale Wood was enjoyable, the references to children's classics were delightful, and the same cover designer has stuck with Strange, I will be giving her other books a try. I just did not enjoy the message of this one. If taken the way I read it (which not all readers will), it contains an extremely dangerous message that children are responsible for fixing their family problems that are adult responsibilities. I can see children reading this and feeling responsible to "fix" their parents' divorce, or their older sibling's issues, or something even worse, like an abusive situation. Some of my childhood friends felt responsibilities like this, which were totally inappropriate, but came from twisted family structures where no one was present to care for them. They're now dealing with the ramifications of this. A novel that carries this message is unnecessary and dangerous, in my opinion. I could only think of how Henrietta must have felt about herself when she grew up. Would she have been angry at her father for absconding? Would she have realized this made her grow up far too quickly? Did she have lingering nightmares about what her mother endured?
I'm eager to hear how readers interpreted this story differently, but having read it this way, there's no way I can read it with an ethical message. If anyone had truly stepped in to support Henrietta and give her solid wisdom and real guidance, I would not have been this angry upon completing the book. What support she managed to scrounge up was too little in most cases, far too late in others.
Content warnings: some disturbing nightmare scenes, mentions of violence in the Great War, antiquated mental health "treatments," and the aforementioned laying of adult responsibilities on a child's shoulders
November 4, 2016
What a wonderful book. This was Children's book of the month in Waterstones but it really is a classic for adults too, especially one who has dealt recently with grief. Henry is the most wonderful heroine and through her eyes we see the effect of loss, grief, mental health issues and the impact of WW1. We also see the power of love and determination. The writing was sublime and the references to the children's classics which Henry reads made it just perfect. "Grief is just amputated love" is a phrase I will always remember. The best book of the year for me.
May 11, 2023
une lecture qui, malheureusement, ne m’a pas impressionnée. c’est la première de couverture qui m’avait donné envie de le lire sans que j’en ai eu entendu parler.
toutefois, il n’y a finalement que la première que j’ai trouvé intéressante. j’ai trouvé le déroulement trop prévisible, je ne me suis pas attachée à la protagoniste et je n’ai pas été surprise par le dénouement . tout cela est bien personnel, mais je m’attendais à une lecture magique et bien plus surprenante.
toutefois, il n’y a finalement que la première que j’ai trouvé intéressante. j’ai trouvé le déroulement trop prévisible, je ne me suis pas attachée à la protagoniste et je n’ai pas été surprise par le dénouement . tout cela est bien personnel, mais je m’attendais à une lecture magique et bien plus surprenante.
July 2, 2019
This is a book I adored. It has a terrific main character in Henrietta(Henry), and covers a lot of fairly weighty things but in an approachable way for its younger audience: grief, mental health, adults who don’t take children seriously, a medical profession that dismisses women's concerns and health, loss of a child, believing in oneself, repercussions of war, and misogyny.
Henry’s mother is prostrate with depr after Henry's elder brother's (Robert) death, her father cannot deal with his wife and elects to have the local physician medicate her and go to Italy fot work. Henry's mother is left in a locked, dark room, and Henry is prevented from seeing or talking with her. Henry’s still processing her own grief, but is left to her own devices all day, though she does spend time caring for her baby sister Roberta (Piglet—what a great nickname!) Henry reads and the children's nanny, Jane, observes Henry talking to herself. Consequently, Henry is quickly diagnosed by the doctor as suffering from nervous tension or something equally stupid and she’s dosed with drugs, too.
During Henry’s rambles of the wood near the house, she stumbles on a woman living there by herself, hair wild and abrupt in attitude. Henry dubs her Moth, and Moth quickly deduces that there’s nothing wrong with either Henry or her mother that a while spent properly grieving won’t help.
Henry’s father leaves instructions that allow the doctor to quickly abuse his patient and separate Piglet from the family, and Henry feels it incumbent upon her to save her mother and sister.
There’s nothing ridiculous in this story, and Henry’s decisions are sound, no matter most adults in her life dismiss her concerns and feelings. I found myself alternately infuriated and cheering along with every new obstacle Henry encountered. Every time Henry was shushed, drugged or her feelings dismissed, I was infuriated, and every time Henry managed to find a way to take back some control in her life I cheered. Henry is a wonderful character, and there's nothing unusual or fantastic about her. She's a little out of her depth in many of the situations she finds herself in, but keeps finding a little more inside herself, whether it's determination, or the right thing to say. I fell in love with Henry, and now am eager to read Lucy Strange's next book.
Henry’s mother is prostrate with depr after Henry's elder brother's (Robert) death, her father cannot deal with his wife and elects to have the local physician medicate her and go to Italy fot work. Henry's mother is left in a locked, dark room, and Henry is prevented from seeing or talking with her. Henry’s still processing her own grief, but is left to her own devices all day, though she does spend time caring for her baby sister Roberta (Piglet—what a great nickname!) Henry reads and the children's nanny, Jane, observes Henry talking to herself. Consequently, Henry is quickly diagnosed by the doctor as suffering from nervous tension or something equally stupid and she’s dosed with drugs, too.
During Henry’s rambles of the wood near the house, she stumbles on a woman living there by herself, hair wild and abrupt in attitude. Henry dubs her Moth, and Moth quickly deduces that there’s nothing wrong with either Henry or her mother that a while spent properly grieving won’t help.
Henry’s father leaves instructions that allow the doctor to quickly abuse his patient and separate Piglet from the family, and Henry feels it incumbent upon her to save her mother and sister.
There’s nothing ridiculous in this story, and Henry’s decisions are sound, no matter most adults in her life dismiss her concerns and feelings. I found myself alternately infuriated and cheering along with every new obstacle Henry encountered. Every time Henry was shushed, drugged or her feelings dismissed, I was infuriated, and every time Henry managed to find a way to take back some control in her life I cheered. Henry is a wonderful character, and there's nothing unusual or fantastic about her. She's a little out of her depth in many of the situations she finds herself in, but keeps finding a little more inside herself, whether it's determination, or the right thing to say. I fell in love with Henry, and now am eager to read Lucy Strange's next book.
March 19, 2018
Der Gesang der Nachtigall schien vor dem Lesen ein sehr geheimnisvolles Buch zu sein und ich wusste nicht so recht, auf was ich mich da letztendlich einlassen sollte. Doch direkt mit der ersten Seite waren alle meine Sorgen und Bedenken vergessen, denn die zuckersüße Henry bezauberte mich direkt mit ihrer herzlichen und direkten Art. Sie war so ein kluges Kind und obwohl ihr Denken manchmal sehr erwachsen schien, vergaß man doch nie, dass sie eigentlich erst ein kleines Mädchen ist.
Das Buch spielt 1919 und auch in England sind die Schrecken, die der erste Weltkrieg verbreitet hat noch sehr präsent. Dies wird zwar nicht explizit im Buch beschrieben, unterschwellig ist es jedoch stets ein Thema, das Henry nicht so ganz zu begreifen scheint. Und doch ist es nur eines von vielen Themen dieses facettenreichen Buches, dass ich weder einem Genre noch einer Zielgruppe so genau zuordnen kann. Sehr schnell wird jedoch klar, dass der mysteriöse Anteil, den ich im Klappentext zu erahnen glaubte, so überhaupt nicht exisitiert. Heraus kommt etwas anderes, viel Emotionaleres und Tiefgründigeres, als man es sich zunächst vorstellt und genau dies zu entdecken, macht für mich viel des Reizes des Buches aus.
Lucy Strange hat Henry Geschichte auf so wundervolle Weise beschrieben. Ich würde ihren Schreibstil als sehr besonders beschreiben und dennoch ist er nicht etwa schwer zu erfassen. Darüber hinaus hat sie in meinen Augen ein großes Talent, Gefühle und Emotionen zu transportieren, was das Buch in meinen Augen so sehr hervorhob. An der einen oder anderen Stelle hätte ich mit eine vielschichtigere Betrachtung und weniger Schwarz-Weiß-Denken gewünscht. Bedenkt man aber, dass alles aus der Sicht der doch sehr jungen Henry erzählt wird, gewöhnt man sich sehr schnell daran, dass man besonders hier häufig mehr zwischen den Zeilen lesen aber auch fühlen muss.
Der Gesang der Nachtigall ist ein zunächst doch sehr unscheinbares Buch, das es jedoch gewaltig in sich hat, wenn man anfängt, zwischen den Zeilen zu lesen und das Gelesene nachher tatsächlich zu reflektieren. Die junge Erzählerin Henry habe ich dabei direkt ins Herz geschlossen und Lucy Strange kann man durchaus als talentiert beschreiben. Von mir gibt es dafür eine Empfehlung.
Das Buch spielt 1919 und auch in England sind die Schrecken, die der erste Weltkrieg verbreitet hat noch sehr präsent. Dies wird zwar nicht explizit im Buch beschrieben, unterschwellig ist es jedoch stets ein Thema, das Henry nicht so ganz zu begreifen scheint. Und doch ist es nur eines von vielen Themen dieses facettenreichen Buches, dass ich weder einem Genre noch einer Zielgruppe so genau zuordnen kann. Sehr schnell wird jedoch klar, dass der mysteriöse Anteil, den ich im Klappentext zu erahnen glaubte, so überhaupt nicht exisitiert. Heraus kommt etwas anderes, viel Emotionaleres und Tiefgründigeres, als man es sich zunächst vorstellt und genau dies zu entdecken, macht für mich viel des Reizes des Buches aus.
Lucy Strange hat Henry Geschichte auf so wundervolle Weise beschrieben. Ich würde ihren Schreibstil als sehr besonders beschreiben und dennoch ist er nicht etwa schwer zu erfassen. Darüber hinaus hat sie in meinen Augen ein großes Talent, Gefühle und Emotionen zu transportieren, was das Buch in meinen Augen so sehr hervorhob. An der einen oder anderen Stelle hätte ich mit eine vielschichtigere Betrachtung und weniger Schwarz-Weiß-Denken gewünscht. Bedenkt man aber, dass alles aus der Sicht der doch sehr jungen Henry erzählt wird, gewöhnt man sich sehr schnell daran, dass man besonders hier häufig mehr zwischen den Zeilen lesen aber auch fühlen muss.
Der Gesang der Nachtigall ist ein zunächst doch sehr unscheinbares Buch, das es jedoch gewaltig in sich hat, wenn man anfängt, zwischen den Zeilen zu lesen und das Gelesene nachher tatsächlich zu reflektieren. Die junge Erzählerin Henry habe ich dabei direkt ins Herz geschlossen und Lucy Strange kann man durchaus als talentiert beschreiben. Von mir gibt es dafür eine Empfehlung.
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September 26, 2016It's 1919 and Henrietta's family have just moved from London to the countryside following the death of Henry's brother. The family has never recovered from their loss and Hope House is a place for them to heal, but it's a big change for twelve-year-old Henry, with its secret doors, dark woods, and new faces. As people interfere in her family's lives, the more worried Henry becomes for their future together. And as truths surface and hope fades, Henry feels alone. She realises she must do something and draws on strength and courage from her storybooks. But will it be enough to piece her family back together?
A difficult past, a book of fairy tales, a witch in the woods, and an interfering doctor shape this story and our main character, Henry, into something quite spectacular. With references to classic children's books and a vivid imagination, this is a moving historical novel about the strength of family and the power of stories. It read like a dream and I enjoyed it immensely. Gorgeous.
A difficult past, a book of fairy tales, a witch in the woods, and an interfering doctor shape this story and our main character, Henry, into something quite spectacular. With references to classic children's books and a vivid imagination, this is a moving historical novel about the strength of family and the power of stories. It read like a dream and I enjoyed it immensely. Gorgeous.
July 26, 2024
I ADORED this book, and feel it’s the best book I’ve read recently. It perfectly captures the feel of classic children’s books. The characters each have so much depth, the narrative is engaging and a bit mysterious, and the way the author weaves in classic fairytales is fantastic. A beautiful picture of grief and loneliness through the eyes of a child.
October 8, 2022
Haarav lugu 11aastasest Henriettast, kes on kaotanud oma venna, ema on depresioonis, isa aga põgeneb probleemide eest. Lisaks tahab ema raviv arst lapsendada Henry väikest õde. Henriettal jätkub südikust, et kõigile probleemidele vastu astuda.
Raamatut on raske käest panna, sest kogu aeg tahaks edasi lugeda, et teada saada, kuidas lugu laheneb. Kohati on valus Henrietta pärast, kes on ju tegelikult veel üpris väike tüdruk, mistõttu tahetakse temast üle astuda ja tehakse talle ülekohut. Raamatusse on sissepõimitud ka fantastikat, mis teeb lugemise veelgi huvitavamaks.
Raamatut on raske käest panna, sest kogu aeg tahaks edasi lugeda, et teada saada, kuidas lugu laheneb. Kohati on valus Henrietta pärast, kes on ju tegelikult veel üpris väike tüdruk, mistõttu tahetakse temast üle astuda ja tehakse talle ülekohut. Raamatusse on sissepõimitud ka fantastikat, mis teeb lugemise veelgi huvitavamaks.
July 15, 2024
This is a beautifully written story of a family dealing with enormous grief and mental health. It seems too heavy for middle grade so I’d have to classify it as YA although the main character is 12. There is mystery, fantasy, villains, misunderstanding, lying, courage, and a bit of hope (all without Christ though 😞).
October 10, 2021
THIS IS JUST BEAUTIFULLY WONDERFUL!!!!!!
AND THE LATIN PHRASES ADD SUCH A SPECIAL TOUCH!!
And the hidden meaning behind the book😍😍😍🥺🥺
Its just left me speechless!
AND THE LATIN PHRASES ADD SUCH A SPECIAL TOUCH!!
And the hidden meaning behind the book😍😍😍🥺🥺
Its just left me speechless!
October 19, 2020
"In the woods, the moon and the stars generated something that couldn't quite be called light. They didn't shine, they silvered the darkness."
November 2, 2017
Calling all middle grade readers! (Or friends/parents/librarians/buddies of middle grade readers. 😊) I recently received The Secret of Nightingale Wood from Scholastic and Chicken House Press and I could not have loved it more! Middle grade books have to work hard to impress me. Their themes and stories may be geared toward a younger set of the population, but that doesn’t mean I give them a pass on plot, pacing, authentic characters, or engaging storylines. In fact, I think the best middle grade reads are those that make me completely forget they are MG at all.
Nightingale Wood was a delight to read and had all the right parts — a loveable protagonist that I could totally get behind, atmospheric writing, and a plot that kept me moving along but paid attention to all the juicy details I need to build a world and flesh out the characters in my head.
The story revolves around Henrietta-Henry for short-a bookish, imaginative, headstrong, loyal girl. She and her family move from London to the country, renting the large and mysterious Hope House in hopes of a new start after the tragic loss of her older brother. Her mother is battling depression and her father copes by throwing himself into work and becoming largely absent. Henry and her baby sister are left primarily in the care of their well-meaning governess, Nanny Jane. Strange and erie happenings surround Henry – coming from both Hope House itself and the surrounding woods. But that quickly becomes just a part of Henry’s problems. The bulbous-nosed, overbearing town doctor begins visiting Hope House regularly to see Henry’s mother. Anxious to set himself apart as a revolutionary expert and ingratiate himself with the powerful physicians running the local mental asylum, his experimental treatments become more intense, as does his pressure to have Henry’s mom committed. When he concludes that Henry herself appears to be exhibiting signs of hysteria and wants to begin treatment, she has to brave her fears – both of the reclusive witch that lives in the woods and of the doctor–to save her family and herself.
The Secret of Nightingale Wood does a great job of sensitively handling the topic of mental illness with both age-appropriateness and empathy. I also appreciated the minor themes of gender inequality in this time period. Both are important topics for middle grade readers to be properly introduced to.
I really enjoyed this novel and have already passed it along to my fifth grader, who is presently devouring it with equal enthusiasm to my own.
Nightingale Wood was a delight to read and had all the right parts — a loveable protagonist that I could totally get behind, atmospheric writing, and a plot that kept me moving along but paid attention to all the juicy details I need to build a world and flesh out the characters in my head.
The story revolves around Henrietta-Henry for short-a bookish, imaginative, headstrong, loyal girl. She and her family move from London to the country, renting the large and mysterious Hope House in hopes of a new start after the tragic loss of her older brother. Her mother is battling depression and her father copes by throwing himself into work and becoming largely absent. Henry and her baby sister are left primarily in the care of their well-meaning governess, Nanny Jane. Strange and erie happenings surround Henry – coming from both Hope House itself and the surrounding woods. But that quickly becomes just a part of Henry’s problems. The bulbous-nosed, overbearing town doctor begins visiting Hope House regularly to see Henry’s mother. Anxious to set himself apart as a revolutionary expert and ingratiate himself with the powerful physicians running the local mental asylum, his experimental treatments become more intense, as does his pressure to have Henry’s mom committed. When he concludes that Henry herself appears to be exhibiting signs of hysteria and wants to begin treatment, she has to brave her fears – both of the reclusive witch that lives in the woods and of the doctor–to save her family and herself.
The Secret of Nightingale Wood does a great job of sensitively handling the topic of mental illness with both age-appropriateness and empathy. I also appreciated the minor themes of gender inequality in this time period. Both are important topics for middle grade readers to be properly introduced to.
I really enjoyed this novel and have already passed it along to my fifth grader, who is presently devouring it with equal enthusiasm to my own.
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March 11, 2022Wow. What a deeply moving book, full of such heavy important topics & emotions. All those emotions weighed down our amazing main character Henry. Her parents, her baby sister Piglet, & her Nanny Jane have just moved to Hope House for a fresh start. It’s been almost a year since they lost her older brother. They lost her mom in a way too after, b/c she was so heartbroken & lost. It’s 1919, & soon after arriving her father leaves for a job abroad. Nanny Jane is too busy to pay attention to her, & her mother is too ill. She only has her stories & fairytales for company. She finds a secret room that leads into the attic, that reminds her too much of painful memories. She sees ghostly figures, & a light from a fire in the dark woods. Mental illness is at the core of this book, & how it was dealt w/by some after the war. Doctor Hardy-ohhhhh I despise that man!-keeps her mother sedated, locked in her room, with rest therapy. Henry can’t even see her own mother. This is supposed to cure her?? Other invasive & incredulous treatments are discussed, & it just makes me so angry that people would have ever gotten away w/this, under the mask of caring & helping others. Henry feels like her whole world is crumbling. It started w/her brother, & now it feels like the world it trying to tear the rest away from her. She is so brave, & a true hero to her own story. I loved “Moth” too. My heart broke for her. I adored Mrs. Berry, & especially Mr. Berry. This is an amazing story about family, grief, mental illness, hope, & never giving up. Such a powerful read. Highly recommend. This beautiful cover by Helen Crawford-White is a perfect representation of the beautiful story inside too. So happy to have finally read a book by Lucy Strange, & can’t wait to read more!💜
March 4, 2018
I'm veering between a 3 and a 4 star read for this one. I'm not a huge fan of reading middle grade stories - I do like to feel slightly challenged by a book and sadly felt a little empty after reading this. Having said that,I think this would be a challenging read for kids of that age - I kept finding myself wondering whether I would recommend it to my girls. The themes of grief, mental health and war related injuries are quite tough going.
Hen (Henrietta) moves to a new home with her family. A family that is already broken following the death of her older brother a year ago. Hen's Mum is consumed with grief and under the watchful eye of the unscrupulous local doctor. Hen's Dad is working away so is pretty much left with Nanny Jane. Hen explores the area and find Moth living in nearby Nightingale Wood whilst at the same time discovering that her new home might hold more secrets than first thought.
There were elements of the writing that were very simplistic - This is a book that can be pretty much read in one day. I know times were different then, but couldn't help finding myself getting frustrated with Nanny Jane. She obviously cared a lot for the children but allowed wrong decisions to be made.
Hen (Henrietta) moves to a new home with her family. A family that is already broken following the death of her older brother a year ago. Hen's Mum is consumed with grief and under the watchful eye of the unscrupulous local doctor. Hen's Dad is working away so is pretty much left with Nanny Jane. Hen explores the area and find Moth living in nearby Nightingale Wood whilst at the same time discovering that her new home might hold more secrets than first thought.
There were elements of the writing that were very simplistic - This is a book that can be pretty much read in one day. I know times were different then, but couldn't help finding myself getting frustrated with Nanny Jane. She obviously cared a lot for the children but allowed wrong decisions to be made.
December 27, 2017
This book was very heart touching. It follows a 12 yr old, Henrietta better known as Henry, and her family dealing with the death of her older brother. Set in 1919 London, the family's home burns and the son Robert dies in the fire. The family then moves to the countryside to heal. The story goes into how each of the family member is coping with things mentally and how the era in which this story was set in affected the family and treatments. I am not going to go much more into the story as to not spoil it but I must say that one day while Henry is exploring she meets Moth (my favorite character in the book) and they become close due to similar situations. I would recommend this book to everyone. It was a wonderful read. I very much enjoyed it.
June 18, 2023
In the summer of 1919, twelve year old Henrietta and her family move out of London to Hope House cottage alongside Nightingale Wood. Before the move, the family suffers a tragic loss leaving Henry's mother fragile and extremely unwell. She and her little sister are left behind when her father travels away for work leaving Henry's mother in the care of a very suspicious and unsavory doctor. With all the bravery she can muster and with the assistance from some unlikely friends, Henry must do whatever she can to save her family. This darling coming-of-age story is for those who enjoyed The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.
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