Down Our Street

by Lena Kennedy

Golden-haired, sunny-natured Amy is the apple of her mother's eye, youngest and dearest of Annie Flanagan's lively brood of thirteen. With the outbreak of World War II the Flanagan family is sundered, shaken from their crowded nest in London's East End. Joe is soon made a sergeant, fighting in France. Billy volunteers for the Army Transport, young Dan fulfils his dreams and joins the RAF. The young ones are evacuated from the war-torn capital - the girls to Devon and the boys to a school in the Midlands they reckon is worse than Colditz! The war brings tragedy - even the old home is in ruins, bombed and shell-splintered. It's Amy, with her fierce courage and determination, who pulls the family back together. Then handsome Sparky, full of wicked charm and Cockney banter, walks into her life and wins her heart. Turbulent happy years follow; times of great joy for Amy and times of bitter heart-rending when family ties war against the needs of her feckless darling husband . . .

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published September 10, 1987

About the author

Lena Kennedy (June 15, 1914 - August 1 1986), was an English author. Her books were mostly historic romantic fiction set in and around the East End of London where she lived for all her life. Some of her books, including her autobiography, were published posthumously.

She appeared, as a subject, on the television programme This Is Your Life shortly before her death in 1986.

Reviews

[SUE Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I loved this book from start to finish, the story.was lovely and the ending brilliant. I love reading about the old days

[Natalie Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book showed good promise in the storyline, however I just felt like all major plot points were just brushed over. More time was spent describing the wood in the end of the book, then major characters dying. I did like the end of the book, but just felt like this could’ve been a great story that went much further in depth that this.

[Annalie McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Lena Kennedy’s style of writing and enjoyed how she tells the stories with the development of the characters lives. Whilst I liked ‘Down our Street’ I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable and found the end really disappointing. This is 3 1/2 stars from me.

[Nicola friston-kemble · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of life in wartime and after.

This story takes you from the early days of war and walks you through the life of an EastEnders famiky

[cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

See

Love this book great story will read more about the war and find more books from this author thank you

[Patricia Rowlands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Easy to read. Good insight into life in the East End of London during and after the war and how people pulled together.

[Sarah Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not brilliant.

Not sure what to make of this book. A very disappointing end to the book. Felt very unfinished. Not one of her better books

[Tania Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

I love reading this genre of books! This era fascinates me. I look forward to reading some more but which one next?!!!

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of her best. Very disappointed in the ending

[Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this author especially if I’m having a bit of a reading rut, but this one didn’t strike gold for me; I found out why when I read another review - I just didn’t like the characters enough to be able to consistently hold my interest. I think I spoilt things by reading her masterpiece, Maggie, first and so no other book lives up to that. Still one of my favourite wartime saga authors.