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Anna at War
As life for German Jews becomes increasingly perilous, Anna’s parents put her on one of the last trains leaving for England. But the war follows her to Kent, and soon Anna finds herself caught up in web of betrayal and secrecy. How can she prove whose side she’s on when she can’t tell anyone the truth? But actions speak louder than words, and Anna has a dangerous plan…
A brilliant and moving war time adventure from the author of Evie‘s Ghost.
A brilliant and moving war time adventure from the author of Evie‘s Ghost.
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2019
About the author
Helen Peters
58 books43 followersHelen Peters is the author of The Secret Hen House Theatre. She grew up on an old-fashioned farm in Sussex, surrounded by family, animals and mud. She spent most of her childhood reading stories and putting on plays in a tumbledown shed that she and her friends turned into a theatre. After university, she realised that she needed to find a job where someone would pay her to read stories and put on plays (though maybe not in a tumbledown shed) and so she became an English and Drama teacher. Several years later, finding herself as a stay-at-home mother of two, she decided to have a go at writing the sort of book she’d so enjoyed as a child. Helen lives with her husband and children in London, and she can still hardly believe that she now gets to call herself a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 15, 2019
If I could give this six stars, I definitely would. This is the exact definition of a fantastic book. I honestly couldn’t put it down, an incredible page turner. Would definitely recommend to anyone.
December 7, 2020
"Try to be happy," she said. "Always be kind. And make the most of every opportunity you get. Fill your head with good things."
A moving account of a child's experience of escaping Nazi Germany in the 1930s. It's beautifully written with much sensitivity, but also full of intrigue and adventure. An outstanding read.
A moving account of a child's experience of escaping Nazi Germany in the 1930s. It's beautifully written with much sensitivity, but also full of intrigue and adventure. An outstanding read.
January 20, 2020
When Daniel's class begins studying WWII, he volunteers that his Granny, Anna Schlesinger, had come to England as a refugee from Germany, but that is all he knows. When he asks her about it, he also discovers that there is an M15 file on her with the Secret Service. Now, Daniel can't wait to hear her story.
And what a story it is, one that really begins on November 9, 1938, Kristallnacht, when the Schlesinger apartment is destroyed by Nazis and Anna's father is arrested and taken to Buchenwald concentration camp. Back home weeks later, a heartbreaking decision is made by her parents to send Anna, 12, to safety in England on the Kinderstransport. No sooner does her journey begin, then she has a sleeping baby boy thrust at her through the train window. Anna cares for the baby, refusing to give the little stowaway up until they arrive in England and she has assurances he will be taken care of properly.
After more traveling, Anna finds herself on an estate farm in Kent with no electricity or indoor plumbing, but with a family that warmly welcomes her into their home - Aunty Rose and Uncle Bert Dean, their young son Frank, 6, and Molly, also 12-years-old and with whom Anna will share a room.
Anna adjusts to English life on a farm, but when Hitler invades Poland, and England and France declare war with Germany, she is crushed as all hope that her parents could also escape to England is completely destroyed.
Meanwhile, a boy at school, Billy Townsend, insists that Anna is a German spy, sending secrets back to help the Nazis invade England, even going so far are to write up a list of reasons to prove it and to turn the other kids in school against her. But when Molly betrays her because of Billy, it is almost more than Anna can take and she begins to avoid Molly as much as possible.
Until an injured man who calls himself Peter Smith and who claims to be a British soldier is found in the hay loft in the barn. He tells them that his mother is very ill and he wants to visit her, even though he doesn't have leave to go, and that he had injured his ankle on his way, so he can't walk. The children are very sympathetic, offering food and water, and even agreeing to mail a letter for him. But after they leave the barn, Anna goes back to get the family cat and hears the soldier speaking German. Realizing he probably is a German spy injured when he parachuted into the area, Molly and Frank refuse to let her report him to the authorities - Frank had repeated some important top secret war-related information to Molly that he had overheard his dad telling his mum. If they report the spy, and he repeats what he may have overheard Frank say, their dad might be tried for treason - punishable by death.
What can they do to get the spy arrested and still keep Mr. Dean safe? They do come up with a plan for that, but will it work?
Some things I really liked about this book:
Anna at War is my favorite kind of WWII story. It's exciting, it has lots of local detail about what WWII was like for those living in the English countryside, and most importantly, it has lots of detail about what life was like in Nazi Germany for Jews like the Schlesinger's. Helen Peters doesn't hold back on her descriptions of the destruction of Jewish homes and businesses on Kristallnacht, the cruel anti-Semitism of people who used to be their friends, and what a few weeks in a concentration camp did to Anna's father. And the decision by the Schlesinger's to send Anna away, not knowing if they will ever see each other again, is presented in all its agonizing difficulty and its emotionally wrenching reality. Yet, it is all handled with a good deal thoughtfulness, considering the age of the target reader.
Anna is depicted as a sensitive girl, who has a strong understanding of right and wrong, and who always tries to act responsibly. She's also pretty courageous, resourceful, stubborn and even defiant when she needs to be - character traits that are made very clear right from the beginning. Her story is compelling and because it is Anna recounting her life to her grandson, it is told in the first person in a voice that is authentic, clear and very powerful.
Peters has also captured the fears of the English that they too could be invaded by Nazi Germany just as so many European countries had been. And fears that spies like Peter Smith were parachuting into England (this did happen, but not all that frequently) to make the invasion easier are also presented in Billy Townsend's insistence that Anna is a spy and his rallying schoolmates, including Molly, into believing such a far-fetched idea is testament to how contagious and persuasive hate can be - even in the schoolyard, even in the face of facts.
Anna at War is a must read for anyone interested in historical fiction set in WWII. I picked it up and couldn't put it down once I started reading. And there is a wonderful denouement that makes Anna journey just so very rewarding.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was purchased for my personal library
And what a story it is, one that really begins on November 9, 1938, Kristallnacht, when the Schlesinger apartment is destroyed by Nazis and Anna's father is arrested and taken to Buchenwald concentration camp. Back home weeks later, a heartbreaking decision is made by her parents to send Anna, 12, to safety in England on the Kinderstransport. No sooner does her journey begin, then she has a sleeping baby boy thrust at her through the train window. Anna cares for the baby, refusing to give the little stowaway up until they arrive in England and she has assurances he will be taken care of properly.
After more traveling, Anna finds herself on an estate farm in Kent with no electricity or indoor plumbing, but with a family that warmly welcomes her into their home - Aunty Rose and Uncle Bert Dean, their young son Frank, 6, and Molly, also 12-years-old and with whom Anna will share a room.
Anna adjusts to English life on a farm, but when Hitler invades Poland, and England and France declare war with Germany, she is crushed as all hope that her parents could also escape to England is completely destroyed.
Meanwhile, a boy at school, Billy Townsend, insists that Anna is a German spy, sending secrets back to help the Nazis invade England, even going so far are to write up a list of reasons to prove it and to turn the other kids in school against her. But when Molly betrays her because of Billy, it is almost more than Anna can take and she begins to avoid Molly as much as possible.
Until an injured man who calls himself Peter Smith and who claims to be a British soldier is found in the hay loft in the barn. He tells them that his mother is very ill and he wants to visit her, even though he doesn't have leave to go, and that he had injured his ankle on his way, so he can't walk. The children are very sympathetic, offering food and water, and even agreeing to mail a letter for him. But after they leave the barn, Anna goes back to get the family cat and hears the soldier speaking German. Realizing he probably is a German spy injured when he parachuted into the area, Molly and Frank refuse to let her report him to the authorities - Frank had repeated some important top secret war-related information to Molly that he had overheard his dad telling his mum. If they report the spy, and he repeats what he may have overheard Frank say, their dad might be tried for treason - punishable by death.
What can they do to get the spy arrested and still keep Mr. Dean safe? They do come up with a plan for that, but will it work?
Some things I really liked about this book:
Anna at War is my favorite kind of WWII story. It's exciting, it has lots of local detail about what WWII was like for those living in the English countryside, and most importantly, it has lots of detail about what life was like in Nazi Germany for Jews like the Schlesinger's. Helen Peters doesn't hold back on her descriptions of the destruction of Jewish homes and businesses on Kristallnacht, the cruel anti-Semitism of people who used to be their friends, and what a few weeks in a concentration camp did to Anna's father. And the decision by the Schlesinger's to send Anna away, not knowing if they will ever see each other again, is presented in all its agonizing difficulty and its emotionally wrenching reality. Yet, it is all handled with a good deal thoughtfulness, considering the age of the target reader.
Anna is depicted as a sensitive girl, who has a strong understanding of right and wrong, and who always tries to act responsibly. She's also pretty courageous, resourceful, stubborn and even defiant when she needs to be - character traits that are made very clear right from the beginning. Her story is compelling and because it is Anna recounting her life to her grandson, it is told in the first person in a voice that is authentic, clear and very powerful.
Peters has also captured the fears of the English that they too could be invaded by Nazi Germany just as so many European countries had been. And fears that spies like Peter Smith were parachuting into England (this did happen, but not all that frequently) to make the invasion easier are also presented in Billy Townsend's insistence that Anna is a spy and his rallying schoolmates, including Molly, into believing such a far-fetched idea is testament to how contagious and persuasive hate can be - even in the schoolyard, even in the face of facts.
Anna at War is a must read for anyone interested in historical fiction set in WWII. I picked it up and couldn't put it down once I started reading. And there is a wonderful denouement that makes Anna journey just so very rewarding.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was purchased for my personal library
June 3, 2019
I was a little concerned at the start of Anna At War because I have a loathing of introductions. We are familiar enough with war-fiction; it's no new topic for children's literature, and Peters' writing is so deliciously solid and fabulously readable that it does not need this. It really doesn't.
I also need to let you know that I only get picky like this when the book is good.
Anna At War is a very good book. Admittedly, it takes a while to find its feet, but once it does we're away. The story bowls along; Anna's fabulous, the situation she's in is horrible, but she's a fighter. Strong. Powerful. Brave. Braver than I'd ever be under the circumstances. And the final few scenes of the book made me cry. Excellent. That's all I want. Peters is a treat, and this story is just really well done.
But oh, that introduction. It just holds the story back and, in a way, tells you a little bit too much about what's to happen. And I don't want you to think that it's a bad introduction, because it isn't. Peters writes with care, kindness and truth throughout her work - but this introduction is an endnote. It's context, a reminder of the truth that lies behind these horrors, and a warning to never let them happen again.
I know I've banged on about the introduction a lot, so here's the part where I reinforce how good the rest of it is. Anna is a lovely heroine, and Anna At War is reminiscent of When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and Carrie's War. It's also interesting in how it touches on some very big issues such as spy fever and the fear of imminent invasion. As a whole these are done with a gentle bigness. Does that make sense? I'm not sure it does, but Peters can do it. She can talk about these big issues, and make them relevant. Small. Accessible. The big fears of the world expressed in a school playground.
Like I said, the good books make me picky.
My thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
(EDIT: 3/6 - I've been informed that the final version of the book will have no introduction. Excellence all round!!)
I also need to let you know that I only get picky like this when the book is good.
Anna At War is a very good book. Admittedly, it takes a while to find its feet, but once it does we're away. The story bowls along; Anna's fabulous, the situation she's in is horrible, but she's a fighter. Strong. Powerful. Brave. Braver than I'd ever be under the circumstances. And the final few scenes of the book made me cry. Excellent. That's all I want. Peters is a treat, and this story is just really well done.
But oh, that introduction. It just holds the story back and, in a way, tells you a little bit too much about what's to happen. And I don't want you to think that it's a bad introduction, because it isn't. Peters writes with care, kindness and truth throughout her work - but this introduction is an endnote. It's context, a reminder of the truth that lies behind these horrors, and a warning to never let them happen again.
I know I've banged on about the introduction a lot, so here's the part where I reinforce how good the rest of it is. Anna is a lovely heroine, and Anna At War is reminiscent of When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and Carrie's War. It's also interesting in how it touches on some very big issues such as spy fever and the fear of imminent invasion. As a whole these are done with a gentle bigness. Does that make sense? I'm not sure it does, but Peters can do it. She can talk about these big issues, and make them relevant. Small. Accessible. The big fears of the world expressed in a school playground.
Like I said, the good books make me picky.
My thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
(EDIT: 3/6 - I've been informed that the final version of the book will have no introduction. Excellence all round!!)
June 2, 2019
A complete game changer in children’s historical fiction. Telling Anna’s heartwrenchingly-accurate story as she witnesses Kristallnacht & has to flee on the Kindertransport; it is absolutely ESSENTIAL reading for Y5/6. I can’t wait for the world to read this.
July 29, 2019
This story is both an incredible testament to the bravery and resilience of a German refugee during the Second World War, and a good old-fashioned adventure which completely absorbed me and, I am not ashamed to admit, led to heartfelt tears. Any children’s book that can capture and affect me so deeply is a real credit to the depth, honesty and power of the writing.
The Second World War is studied by many children in Year 6, so I loved the way this story started in a Year 6 class with the children being asked if they knew anyone who lived through the war. Daniel did and, when he spoke to his Grandmother, he probably wasn’t expecting mention of MI5!
There aren’t many of us left, and it would be a shame if our stories died with us.
This is the heart-breaking, but ultimately uplifting, story of Daniel’s Grandmother, Anna Schlesinger, who travelled to England from Germany before the outbreak of the War on the kindertransport in order to escape from the cruel and terrifying persecution of the Jewish community by the Nazis. This persecution is compellingly described and made me appreciate the terror that Anna carries with her throughout the story. She locks images she can’t deal with in a box locked away in her mind.
Once Anna arrives in England, she is taken by her new foster parents to their family farm in Kent, and a new life begins. The family, including their two children Molly and Frank, are friendly and welcoming and Anna finds herself settling into her new life, despite the worry for her parents and her nightmares … until the war comes to Kent!
An injured British soldier is hiding in the hayloft, desperate to visit his ill mother … but is he who he appears? Anna makes a terrifying discovery that makes her nightmares real. Will she be able to overcome her genuine fear to thwart a plan to cause possibly insurmountable damage to Britain’s war with Germany? So begins Anna’s incredible tale of courage, daring and determination to help the war effort which sees her involved in a dangerous web of intrigue.
Anna is such a wonderful young protagonist who could easily have been destroyed by her horrific experiences in Germany, but instead she chooses to honour her mother and father by making the most of the opportunities she is given, and by making them proud of her. She is kind, loyal and courageous despite her heartache and fear, but also reacts in a totally believable way to the prejudice and betrayal she is faced with after the outbreak of war with Germany.
Threaded throughout this powerful story are themes of loss, sacrifice and prejudice which are just as pertinent to today’s society as they were during the Second World War. These would make for some fantastic discussion in any Year 6 classroom.
What can I say about the ending of this story? It is fair to say that I closed this book with tears streaming down my face, tears of both sorrow and release. This story is truly inspirational: heart-breaking in places, but also full of hope that adversity can be overcome, and that goodness will shine through in our darkest moments.
Thank you to Nosy Crow and Toppsta for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Second World War is studied by many children in Year 6, so I loved the way this story started in a Year 6 class with the children being asked if they knew anyone who lived through the war. Daniel did and, when he spoke to his Grandmother, he probably wasn’t expecting mention of MI5!
There aren’t many of us left, and it would be a shame if our stories died with us.
This is the heart-breaking, but ultimately uplifting, story of Daniel’s Grandmother, Anna Schlesinger, who travelled to England from Germany before the outbreak of the War on the kindertransport in order to escape from the cruel and terrifying persecution of the Jewish community by the Nazis. This persecution is compellingly described and made me appreciate the terror that Anna carries with her throughout the story. She locks images she can’t deal with in a box locked away in her mind.
Once Anna arrives in England, she is taken by her new foster parents to their family farm in Kent, and a new life begins. The family, including their two children Molly and Frank, are friendly and welcoming and Anna finds herself settling into her new life, despite the worry for her parents and her nightmares … until the war comes to Kent!
An injured British soldier is hiding in the hayloft, desperate to visit his ill mother … but is he who he appears? Anna makes a terrifying discovery that makes her nightmares real. Will she be able to overcome her genuine fear to thwart a plan to cause possibly insurmountable damage to Britain’s war with Germany? So begins Anna’s incredible tale of courage, daring and determination to help the war effort which sees her involved in a dangerous web of intrigue.
Anna is such a wonderful young protagonist who could easily have been destroyed by her horrific experiences in Germany, but instead she chooses to honour her mother and father by making the most of the opportunities she is given, and by making them proud of her. She is kind, loyal and courageous despite her heartache and fear, but also reacts in a totally believable way to the prejudice and betrayal she is faced with after the outbreak of war with Germany.
Threaded throughout this powerful story are themes of loss, sacrifice and prejudice which are just as pertinent to today’s society as they were during the Second World War. These would make for some fantastic discussion in any Year 6 classroom.
What can I say about the ending of this story? It is fair to say that I closed this book with tears streaming down my face, tears of both sorrow and release. This story is truly inspirational: heart-breaking in places, but also full of hope that adversity can be overcome, and that goodness will shine through in our darkest moments.
Thank you to Nosy Crow and Toppsta for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this. Helen Peters is a real master of pace, and covers a wide time span with deft and ease. I really rooted for Anna, and my heart broke for her often throughout the story. I also really liked the way Molly was portrayed with a complex duality. A refugee story with an interesting twist that I hope will change the mindset of people who perhaps perceive refugees in a certain way.
June 8, 2019
When I realised that this book began on Kristallnacht, I was fairly sure that I was going to love it, and I was right. When I studied History, I found what life was like in Germany preceding the war such a fascinating and horrifying area, and reading this book- which is the story of a Jewish girl named Anna who must leave Germany on the Kindertransport and begin a new life in England- was so interesting too. First of all, the way in which this book is told in that it`s Anna recounting this tale of her past to her grandson in the present day is so clever, particularly as she is such an amazing character that it was just lovely to see how her life turned out after reading about her experience of discovering a Nazi spy in the barn of the farm she stays on and must decide how to handle the dangerous, complicated situation. I loved her for how intelligent she was, her compassion and how resilient she remains during some really awful things that happen to her. I liked the family she stays with a lot too, the Nazi soldier she meets was utterly chilling as an antagonist and I was such a huge fan of a certain character I don`t want to name because it`s possibly a slight spoiler. The historical period the book tackles is obviously an incredibly upsetting one, but it felt really sensitively handled and overall, this reminded me quite a bit of When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit as it was so moving and showed how the Nazis` reign of terror would have impacted real people. I had tears streaming down my face as I finished this, and I highly recommend it if you`d like to see an area of the war that`s not often seen in fiction explored. 5/5
August 24, 2019
The story begins with a young boy realising that he doesn't know the full story of how his grandmother came to England on the Kindertransport, fleeing from persecution in Nazi-controlled Germany. So he aks her to tell her story...and what a story it is!
I was absolutely gripped from the very beginning, with Anna's distinct voice and the strong bonds between her and her parents, as well as the kindness they show and are shown by their neighbours and friends in the aftermath of Kristallnacht. Anna and her family's story is told with sensitivity and sympathy and every character is pitch perfect.
This should be essential reading!
I was absolutely gripped from the very beginning, with Anna's distinct voice and the strong bonds between her and her parents, as well as the kindness they show and are shown by their neighbours and friends in the aftermath of Kristallnacht. Anna and her family's story is told with sensitivity and sympathy and every character is pitch perfect.
This should be essential reading!
August 11, 2021
I think this book may be a new favourite, I like that it reminded me of the judieth kerr series 'when Hitler stole the pink rabbit' as it was from Anna's point of view and its about her life as a child throught out the second world War.
I liked the chapter where Anna has to look after Ezra as you see her change and become more responsible and having to defend for herself, I enjoyed the suspense when the solider comes on to the train as you didn't know what was going to happen and I felt the same when Anna gets confronted about Ezra when about to get on the ferry.
When Anna gets to England she is full of happiness but when Ezra has to go with Mrs Simons that happiness disappear instantly, as the reader you can feel Anna's emotions for Ezra as they have had a mother and child bond.
However this is turned around when Anna meets her foster mother which relaxes her as she is everything Anna has hoped for.
I liked how the book shows Anna's home sickness by showing Anna crying and thinking that she has seen her mum and her reoccurring nightmares.
I liked how the tension between Anna and Molly is shown and how Molly sees Anna which makes the relationship seem real and believable when you feel threatened and are trying to out do the other person to get the attention, which back fires.
I enjoy the tension that builds throught out chapter twenty five as you can see the world around Anna changing for what is about to happen next, which builds fear in the reader mind and making them believe they are in Anna's shoes.
The tension at the end of chapter 30 feels real from the cliffhanger of the solider swearing, this makes you unsure about the information the solider told the kids and makes you question what is the real reason he is there is it because he has actually hurt his leg or not ?
I liked how the kids have worked together and using each other ideas to get more information about the solider and this is also builds suspense as you don't know what will happen and if the solider would find out?
The suspense builds rapidly throught out chapter 32 and the ending of the chapter give you goose bumps of fear for Anna as her plan isn't going to work.
However i like how it played out after Anna getting caught and it work well for her but also makes her feel like she is a detective and that she is doing her part for the war.
I like that Anna has a possibly role model to look up to(the colonel),as she become more confident and brave to help the army about the solider.
The suspense of chapter forty three and four keeps the reader hucked and gets their heart beating thinking they are actually there with Anna.
The tension and suspense in chapter forty five was intense and I have never reader a book with that much tension at one point never mind tension and suspense continuely throught out a book.
I enjoyed this book so much and love how anna got to meet Winston churchhill and get offered a job in the secret service. But for me the ending was emotional but worth the emotions as the sad news turns into happy news.
I enjoyed this book so much that I didn't want it to end and would love a second one.
I liked the chapter where Anna has to look after Ezra as you see her change and become more responsible and having to defend for herself, I enjoyed the suspense when the solider comes on to the train as you didn't know what was going to happen and I felt the same when Anna gets confronted about Ezra when about to get on the ferry.
When Anna gets to England she is full of happiness but when Ezra has to go with Mrs Simons that happiness disappear instantly, as the reader you can feel Anna's emotions for Ezra as they have had a mother and child bond.
However this is turned around when Anna meets her foster mother which relaxes her as she is everything Anna has hoped for.
I liked how the book shows Anna's home sickness by showing Anna crying and thinking that she has seen her mum and her reoccurring nightmares.
I liked how the tension between Anna and Molly is shown and how Molly sees Anna which makes the relationship seem real and believable when you feel threatened and are trying to out do the other person to get the attention, which back fires.
I enjoy the tension that builds throught out chapter twenty five as you can see the world around Anna changing for what is about to happen next, which builds fear in the reader mind and making them believe they are in Anna's shoes.
The tension at the end of chapter 30 feels real from the cliffhanger of the solider swearing, this makes you unsure about the information the solider told the kids and makes you question what is the real reason he is there is it because he has actually hurt his leg or not ?
I liked how the kids have worked together and using each other ideas to get more information about the solider and this is also builds suspense as you don't know what will happen and if the solider would find out?
The suspense builds rapidly throught out chapter 32 and the ending of the chapter give you goose bumps of fear for Anna as her plan isn't going to work.
However i like how it played out after Anna getting caught and it work well for her but also makes her feel like she is a detective and that she is doing her part for the war.
I like that Anna has a possibly role model to look up to(the colonel),as she become more confident and brave to help the army about the solider.
The suspense of chapter forty three and four keeps the reader hucked and gets their heart beating thinking they are actually there with Anna.
The tension and suspense in chapter forty five was intense and I have never reader a book with that much tension at one point never mind tension and suspense continuely throught out a book.
I enjoyed this book so much and love how anna got to meet Winston churchhill and get offered a job in the secret service. But for me the ending was emotional but worth the emotions as the sad news turns into happy news.
I enjoyed this book so much that I didn't want it to end and would love a second one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2026
Germany’s Nazi government makes a new rule: Jewish doctors are no longer allowed to treat non-Jewish patients. As Anne’s uncle is a Jewish doctor, he makes plans to move to Paris and urges Anne’s parents to do the same. Anne’s parents choose to stay, saying they are too old to start over again as refugees.
When Anne’s father is violently taken to Buchenwald Prison Camp during the night, Anne obtains a place on a children’s transport train. It is taking German Jewish children to England to live in foster families during the war.
When Anne and her foster siblings find an injured English soldier in their barn, they try to help him, but Anne discovers that he’s really German. He has also overheard her foster siblings discussing top secret war information: that Prime Minister Winston Churchill will be arriving in their village soon.
Her foster siblings know this because they heard their parents discussing it. If the British authorities find out Anne’s foster parents have leaked sensitive information, they will be hanged for telling national secrets.
Anne and her foster siblings must save Winston Churchill’s life without alerting the British troops roaming nearby. I loved this book. A World War II story about courage and sacrifice for children who enjoy history and making the world better.
When Anne’s father is violently taken to Buchenwald Prison Camp during the night, Anne obtains a place on a children’s transport train. It is taking German Jewish children to England to live in foster families during the war.
When Anne and her foster siblings find an injured English soldier in their barn, they try to help him, but Anne discovers that he’s really German. He has also overheard her foster siblings discussing top secret war information: that Prime Minister Winston Churchill will be arriving in their village soon.
Her foster siblings know this because they heard their parents discussing it. If the British authorities find out Anne’s foster parents have leaked sensitive information, they will be hanged for telling national secrets.
Anne and her foster siblings must save Winston Churchill’s life without alerting the British troops roaming nearby. I loved this book. A World War II story about courage and sacrifice for children who enjoy history and making the world better.
July 27, 2019
Moving story of Anna, from growing up in Germany, to dealing with rural life in the UK after arriving on the Kindertransport. Great and gentle way for children to learn about that time, as well as connecting the experiences of refugees then and now. It both feels honestly real, whilst having a fantastical and unlikely plot. There are a million stories for children about this era, so this cannot but remind you of some of them (for me, the beauty of Magorian's Goodnight Mister Tom or Bawden's Carrie's War and the adventure and excitement of Westall's The Machine Gunners), but it's a good addition to the canon. It's Greene's Went the Day Well for kids.
March 20, 2025
This was so good. For school, we have to write about a refugee for our assesment. This was so amazing that I literally based it on this! (Aka. German Jews) It's giving Katrina Nannestead vibes! If you don't know who she is, you should try her book called, "We are wolves."It's so good as well.
Spoilers! Do not read this bit if you haven't read the book yet!
I LOVEEE the bit where Anna mets Ezra Neumann. Like it's so hearwarming and just AHH!!!❤️💕😍😁😃😘😘😘 This book is just... simply amazing! I love all ww2 books!!
Spoilers! Do not read this bit if you haven't read the book yet!
I LOVEEE the bit where Anna mets Ezra Neumann. Like it's so hearwarming and just AHH!!!❤️💕😍😁😃😘😘😘 This book is just... simply amazing! I love all ww2 books!!
July 23, 2019
Wow, what an emotional roller coaster. Have just finished this amazing book. Beautifully written but so easy to access. Very informative about Kristallnacht and the Kinder transport. Helen Peters helps us to understand that the awful events committed by some before and during the Second World War were in some small way balanced with the kindness and resilience of others. Again, the crisis of refugees then mirrors similar crisis today. This book should be part of every child’s WWII study.
July 31, 2019
Anna grows up in Nazi Germany and is sent to England and safety on the Kindertransport. Fostered by a family in Kent she settles in to her new life until the outbreak of war. Hostility grows as does her concern for her parents. Anna and her friends discover a soldier in their barn but is he who he says he is. A gorgeous tale of adventure, kindness and acceptance, and what it must be to have to flee your home and rely on strangers.
December 28, 2019
This book is written for young readers which explains the simple writing style. However it goes into detail following the emotional journey of a child transported to safety by heartbroken parents. It also shows the effects on the family who take her in, especially the "sister's " jealousy.
I found the telling of the spy section less convincing but it certainly added drama. I liked the structure of the storyline and the satisfactory ending.
I found the telling of the spy section less convincing but it certainly added drama. I liked the structure of the storyline and the satisfactory ending.
October 27, 2020
Absolutely loved this book.
Anna is a Jew who is set to live with a family in Kent during the second world war.
You follow Anna as she struggles to fit in , make friends and find out what happens to her family.
The ending is sad but in a good way as you then see Anna as an old lady.
This is a beautiful story and I think it's a book all children should read to understand the importance of remembrance.
Anna is a Jew who is set to live with a family in Kent during the second world war.
You follow Anna as she struggles to fit in , make friends and find out what happens to her family.
The ending is sad but in a good way as you then see Anna as an old lady.
This is a beautiful story and I think it's a book all children should read to understand the importance of remembrance.
August 12, 2019
Anna at War is the story of a young girl who arrives in the UK as a refugee on the Kinder transport fleeing Nazi Germany on her on. The story follows her trip to the UK and her story as she settles in with her foster family and life in the UK.
I obviously loved the historical elements of this book. I have always enjoyed learning about 20th European history with the Blitz and the Holocaust being two topics I continue to be fascinated about. This book is special for several reasons. Firstly it gives a voice to those children who arrived here looking for a home and celebrates those families that opened their doors and embraced them allowing them to become part of their family. I don't think I've ever read another book that covers this topic.
The book also does real justice to the history of the holocaust making it accessible to a younger audience and getting across the horror faced by those who found themselves under Nazi rule in the 1930s and the appalling treatment they faced without making their experience too gory for the sake of it or too trivial. It doesn't hold back in being really clear about the impact Nazi rule had on the Jewish population of Europe and the ending of the book in particular really got to me which is no mean feat considering just how many books I have read on the topic.
I also thought the book was good in how it could be used today to drawn parallels between the treatment of the refugees from the Kindertransport and the treatment modern day refugees faced by some people within society usually encouraged by fear mongering and hatred spewed out by the press and horrible individuals on twitter.
This book is so very good. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and it left me with a lump in my throat. It's definitely one that will stick with me for a long time to come.
I obviously loved the historical elements of this book. I have always enjoyed learning about 20th European history with the Blitz and the Holocaust being two topics I continue to be fascinated about. This book is special for several reasons. Firstly it gives a voice to those children who arrived here looking for a home and celebrates those families that opened their doors and embraced them allowing them to become part of their family. I don't think I've ever read another book that covers this topic.
The book also does real justice to the history of the holocaust making it accessible to a younger audience and getting across the horror faced by those who found themselves under Nazi rule in the 1930s and the appalling treatment they faced without making their experience too gory for the sake of it or too trivial. It doesn't hold back in being really clear about the impact Nazi rule had on the Jewish population of Europe and the ending of the book in particular really got to me which is no mean feat considering just how many books I have read on the topic.
I also thought the book was good in how it could be used today to drawn parallels between the treatment of the refugees from the Kindertransport and the treatment modern day refugees faced by some people within society usually encouraged by fear mongering and hatred spewed out by the press and horrible individuals on twitter.
This book is so very good. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and it left me with a lump in my throat. It's definitely one that will stick with me for a long time to come.
September 25, 2019
I don't often read children's books but I'd seen a review of this that said adults should read it too! It's about a Jewish German girl who escapes Nazi Germany as part of the kindertransport to England. It follows her life in Germany, the journey and her new life in England. It was very moving and the end had me in tears.
July 19, 2020
This book was based in World War 2.
It was about this Jewish, German girl called Anna. Anna was considered to be a very wise and noble main character.
She has to emigrate to England but 3 months after, England went to war with Germany.
There are a lot of twists and excitement, so I recommend this book!
😝😜😋
It was about this Jewish, German girl called Anna. Anna was considered to be a very wise and noble main character.
She has to emigrate to England but 3 months after, England went to war with Germany.
There are a lot of twists and excitement, so I recommend this book!
😝😜😋
September 19, 2020
Wonderful, wonderful story. Made me tear up in many sections.
Quote from the book (pg 288)
‘ “When I left Germany in 1939,“ she said, “one of the last things my father said to me was, ‘Now, whatever happens, you must always be my cheerful, brave little girl.”
… “ And,“ she said, “I think I have been.“ ‘
Quote from the book (pg 288)
‘ “When I left Germany in 1939,“ she said, “one of the last things my father said to me was, ‘Now, whatever happens, you must always be my cheerful, brave little girl.”
… “ And,“ she said, “I think I have been.“ ‘
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2020
Wow! ✨❄️This is the book that’s definitely good for any ages 9 or up, because it’s really creative, and it’s a book that nobody gets bored, and I really want to thank Helen Peters for making this amazing book. I really want to read all of the books that Helen Peters made.
April 11, 2022
My 8year old daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book together and it raised so many great questions for us to investigate together and learn from.
Really well written, gripping yet delicate. This is a really great book.
Really well written, gripping yet delicate. This is a really great book.
October 19, 2022
Although this started as a bed time story for my 10yo, she quickly read it and I followed reading after she was done. It was an engaging story of a girl through the kinder transport and refugee life in WWII.
January 12, 2023
I thought this book was alright. Some bits did not make sense at all. But some were good I did guess the plot twist so I was not very surprised about it. This is why overall I gave it a three star 🌟. I would maybe recommend it to people younger than my age.
June 10, 2024
This book was so good. at one point I nearly cried with happiness and sadness, this book is so amazing. the fact those people and children had to go through such times like that is terrifying, but these books help us get a better understanding of what really happened.
August 12, 2019
Nice childs eye view of the Kindertransport. A tough subject but not a tough book to read.
December 29, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book however I found towards the end it kind of lost momentum.
January 3, 2020
Couldn’t put it down!! Brilliant read!
January 18, 2020
What an amazingly moving story!!!! Couldn't put it down and read it in less than a day!!
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