Elsewhere

by Ken McCoy

Eleven-year-old Billy Clegg and his big sister Peggy disappear from their home in Leeds after a suspicious fire in a local mill. The owner says the children caused it by lighting fireworks on Mischief Night. Their widowed mother Betty, badly injured in the incident, doesn't know if her children are alive or dead. She prefers to think of them as being elsewhere.
Following various adventures, the resourceful duo find themselves a long way away from bleak post-war Britain. Though successful, both of them are haunted by memories of the fire and the possibility that they caused their own mother's death. When the family is finally reunited, the repercussions continue...

402 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2019

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit different from my normal choice of book, but I did enjoy the story especially the plot lines involving the children. The story is set up well from the beginning when Peggy and Billy Clegg are out with their friend, David, it's mischief night, a local tradition and they have fireworks to let off. They do this near the factory where their mother works but then an enormous explosion occurs and causes a catastrophic fire. The Clegg children are recognised by the factory owner and blamed for starting the fire, which led to twenty lives being lost. The siblings believe their mother has been killed in the fire and so they run away. Then their adventures start, as they encounter some dubious characters and get involved in some strange happenings. Meanwhile their mother has survived and with help is trying to clear her children's names and get them back.
For my the ending was a bit strange but I did enjoy the book it was a good concept.