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While the Bombs Fell
What was it like for children growing up in rural Suffolk during World War 2? Elsie and her family live in a small double-storey cottage in Bungay, Suffolk. Every night she lies awake listening anxiously for the sound of the German bomber planes. Often they come and the air raid siren sounds signalling that the family must leave their beds and venture out to the air raid shelter in the garden. Despite the war raging across the English channel, daily life continues with its highlights, such as Christmas and the traditional Boxing Day fox hunt, and its wary moments when Elsie learns the stories of Jack Frost and the ghostly and terrifying Black Shuck that haunts the coastline and countryside of East Anglia. Includes some authentic World War 2 recipes
Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2018
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37 people want to read
About the author
Robbie Cheadle
42 books156 followersSouth African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children's books, written and illustrated four poetry books and written and illustrated one celebration of cake and fondant art book with recipes. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.
Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
You can find Robbie Cheadle's artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
You can find Robbie Cheadle's artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 3, 2019
While the Bombs Fell is a collection of memoirs written jointly by Robbie Cheadle and her mother, Elsie Hancy Eaton. While some of the tales might be fictionalized, everything is based on memories and history experienced by Elsie during the 1940s WWII bombing of England by the Germans. What a wonderful way to conclude my July month of [mostly] autobiographical and non-fiction works.
Elsie was born shortly before the war began but knew only a life about rations, ducking for cover, and living without... at least in her first few years. While I know a lot about the war and life in the last century, I learned more through these stories. Elsie and her siblings struggled immensely. Imagine daily life without showers, toilets, heat, prepared meals, or other modern conveniences? We think we know what it's like when we catch a 30-second glimpse on a television spot or hear someone mention it, but to read twenty or thirty pages in each major tale--reliving the experience through Elsie's words--it's a whole lot different. I wonder if people today (born in the last 30 years) could survive such a life. I'd definitely struggle, and I'm somewhere between these two generations.
This memoir isn't meant to be an all-inclusive look at life during the war. It's more like the authors have shined a spotlight on 8 to 10 specific experiences that as a larger collection offer a taste of the past. It's also an opportunity to understand where Elsie came from and for her to remember both the good and the bad. What I liked most about the book was Elsie's focus on turning negative events into something positive or a lesson for the future. The book could've easily just told a sad story and let readers wallow in the pain of the past. Instead, it's an inspirational outlook on how our past sometimes denotes who we are capable of becoming. Elsie seems like a wonderful woman, particularly seeing the way she was raised and how special her mother was.
I'm really glad I had the opportunity to read this one. Not only did I feel several heartwarming emotions, but I also saw the wonderful relationship between the two authors. Having read other books by Robbie before, I can see where she gets her talent at weaving together descriptions, characters, and personal experiences. This is the kind of story to share with your older relatives who might remember going through some of these moments in their own lives. It's also good to show those who are so far removed from it what the past was really like. Kudos to both authors. Seeing the "Nethergate" reference in this book makes me even more excited for Robbie's upcoming fall YA release - I wonder how they will connect?
Elsie was born shortly before the war began but knew only a life about rations, ducking for cover, and living without... at least in her first few years. While I know a lot about the war and life in the last century, I learned more through these stories. Elsie and her siblings struggled immensely. Imagine daily life without showers, toilets, heat, prepared meals, or other modern conveniences? We think we know what it's like when we catch a 30-second glimpse on a television spot or hear someone mention it, but to read twenty or thirty pages in each major tale--reliving the experience through Elsie's words--it's a whole lot different. I wonder if people today (born in the last 30 years) could survive such a life. I'd definitely struggle, and I'm somewhere between these two generations.
This memoir isn't meant to be an all-inclusive look at life during the war. It's more like the authors have shined a spotlight on 8 to 10 specific experiences that as a larger collection offer a taste of the past. It's also an opportunity to understand where Elsie came from and for her to remember both the good and the bad. What I liked most about the book was Elsie's focus on turning negative events into something positive or a lesson for the future. The book could've easily just told a sad story and let readers wallow in the pain of the past. Instead, it's an inspirational outlook on how our past sometimes denotes who we are capable of becoming. Elsie seems like a wonderful woman, particularly seeing the way she was raised and how special her mother was.
I'm really glad I had the opportunity to read this one. Not only did I feel several heartwarming emotions, but I also saw the wonderful relationship between the two authors. Having read other books by Robbie before, I can see where she gets her talent at weaving together descriptions, characters, and personal experiences. This is the kind of story to share with your older relatives who might remember going through some of these moments in their own lives. It's also good to show those who are so far removed from it what the past was really like. Kudos to both authors. Seeing the "Nethergate" reference in this book makes me even more excited for Robbie's upcoming fall YA release - I wonder how they will connect?
April 6, 2025
This is a charming short book made up of vignettes from a childhood spent on a farm in England while the Second World War raged across mainland Europe and in the skies above. Each chapter is a simple, uncomplicated glimpse into life - sometimes idyllic, like summer days spent swimming in the river, and sometimes exposing the hardships of food rationing and air raids.
The war itself remains on the edges of the book, always lurking, but as from the viewpoint of a child, the true horrors never encroach. We get to meet a selection of local characters, each with their own idiosyncrasies, who pass through young Elsie's life.
The writing style is simple and clear, which adds to the overall nostalgic feeling. The only complaint would be wanting to read more about the time, events and people that are introduced, but the short book and simple style make this an ideal book to introduce younger readers to sort of things that happened in Britain during the war.
A very well written short journey back to a child's view of wartime Britain, with plenty of charm and nostalgia for childhood.
The war itself remains on the edges of the book, always lurking, but as from the viewpoint of a child, the true horrors never encroach. We get to meet a selection of local characters, each with their own idiosyncrasies, who pass through young Elsie's life.
The writing style is simple and clear, which adds to the overall nostalgic feeling. The only complaint would be wanting to read more about the time, events and people that are introduced, but the short book and simple style make this an ideal book to introduce younger readers to sort of things that happened in Britain during the war.
A very well written short journey back to a child's view of wartime Britain, with plenty of charm and nostalgia for childhood.
January 14, 2019
What a lovely, poignant book! It's the only one I've read that describes what life was like for very young children growing up during World War Two. There is also quite a bit of English history included, which I found quite interesting. The wartime recipes are a nice touch.
It's told from the perspective of a girl aged 4-6 years old, and focuses mainly on the daily life of kids living through horrendous times, without truly understanding what was going on in the adult world. Many of the stories told reminded me of my Dutch father-in-law's descriptions of growing up during WWII in the Netherlands.
It's appropriate for young children as well as young readers. Fascinating read.
It's told from the perspective of a girl aged 4-6 years old, and focuses mainly on the daily life of kids living through horrendous times, without truly understanding what was going on in the adult world. Many of the stories told reminded me of my Dutch father-in-law's descriptions of growing up during WWII in the Netherlands.
It's appropriate for young children as well as young readers. Fascinating read.
November 29, 2019
There’s a saying about real life: it’s very poorly organized. In fiction, we can have our make-believe people say all the right things in all the right places, craft our villains into anything from being totally evil to fatally misunderstood, and decide if our protagonist is going to be a hero. When you’re writing about something that really happened, all that freedom goes away. In many respects, it’s the ultimate writing challenge.
This book rises to that occasion. It’s the remembrances of a girl growing up in WWII England, so the antagonist is the war itself. Young Elsie couldn’t remember a time when food, coal, and clothing hadn’t been rationed. One of her greatest reliefs was that she didn’t have to actually wear her gas mask. She’d never seen poison falling from the sky, but she could see the worry in her father’s face when he talked to her about it.
That’s the sort of detail that makes up this story. A terrible threat that modern readers never had to face—or worse, prepare their children for—but it’s taken in stride. That’s what life was, and people simply had to adapt to it. The house was cold, but there wasn’t enough to coal to heat the front room. Everyone grew gardens as part of the “Dig for Victory” war initiative, and the children remembered the words to the anthem that went with it decades later. And at night before she fell asleep, young Elsie would listen for the engines of German bombers and the whistle of the bombs as they flew toward England.
Not all the story related directly to the war. Elsie went to school, made plum pudding with her mother for Christmas, rejoiced in the gift of her very own doll, and went swimming in the summer. But even there, on something as idyllic as a riverbank in rural England, unexpected tragedy could befall. One of Elsie’s neighbors cut his foot while playing, like any kid could do, only he died swiftly of lockjaw. No tetanus vaccines or antibiotics were available back then.
This is the sort of history that I love to read—all the stuff you can’t find in newspaper stories, but it made up the fabric of people’s lives. If that sort of tale is your cup of tea, I strongly recommend checking out this book.
This book rises to that occasion. It’s the remembrances of a girl growing up in WWII England, so the antagonist is the war itself. Young Elsie couldn’t remember a time when food, coal, and clothing hadn’t been rationed. One of her greatest reliefs was that she didn’t have to actually wear her gas mask. She’d never seen poison falling from the sky, but she could see the worry in her father’s face when he talked to her about it.
That’s the sort of detail that makes up this story. A terrible threat that modern readers never had to face—or worse, prepare their children for—but it’s taken in stride. That’s what life was, and people simply had to adapt to it. The house was cold, but there wasn’t enough to coal to heat the front room. Everyone grew gardens as part of the “Dig for Victory” war initiative, and the children remembered the words to the anthem that went with it decades later. And at night before she fell asleep, young Elsie would listen for the engines of German bombers and the whistle of the bombs as they flew toward England.
Not all the story related directly to the war. Elsie went to school, made plum pudding with her mother for Christmas, rejoiced in the gift of her very own doll, and went swimming in the summer. But even there, on something as idyllic as a riverbank in rural England, unexpected tragedy could befall. One of Elsie’s neighbors cut his foot while playing, like any kid could do, only he died swiftly of lockjaw. No tetanus vaccines or antibiotics were available back then.
This is the sort of history that I love to read—all the stuff you can’t find in newspaper stories, but it made up the fabric of people’s lives. If that sort of tale is your cup of tea, I strongly recommend checking out this book.
October 27, 2018
A lovely memoir written by a mother and daughter team about a young girl living in the UK during WWII. Elsie is very little during the war but can't help feel the fear and anxiety of her parents, siblings and neighbours. What I found interesting is that in spite of the threat of invasion, bombs falling on homes, air raid shelters, and food shortages, everyday life carried on. The cows were still milked, children attended school, went swimming and to the movies, neighbours met for tea, Christmas cake was made and Christmas was still celebrated. Never having lived under these circumstances, it was a good insight into another time and place. An added bonus is the wartime recipes at the end of the book. Well done Elsie Hancy Eaton and Robbie Cheadle!
July 17, 2019
“While the Bombs Fell” is told through the eyes of a young girl in England during WWII. From food rations to bombs falling, it was a fascinating look into war from a child’s eyes. It was written much like a journal or someone retelling their memories—which it was. I was drawn into what it would be like to live through this period via Elise’s descriptions. Between supplementing their food with a garden, going into the bomb shelter during raids, or the children finding ways to entertain themselves, I felt like I understood what she went through. I loved the addition of recipes at the end. This is a great peek into what it was like to survive in wartime, especially for children.
December 9, 2018
This is a charming book, which gives great insight in to what life was like for some growing up during WWII. The recipes at the end were a nice addition too.
May 3, 2019
The story of life behind war zones.
Elsie is born in England during a tumultuous period in history- WWII. Her family must learn to live on rations, restricted power, blackout posters, and food stamps while still providing milk to the nearby village.
Elsie understands the threat of war. The fear of German bombers is a backdrop to an everyday life without extras, but the family still manages to enjoy simple pleasures such as summer swims, afternoon tea, and on special occasions small gifts and treats.
I found it fascinating to read the lives of those not directly involved in the war effort. The average citizens just trying to survive what must have been a frightening time. While Elsie is young, she still grasps the stress her parents are under to provide a safe, warm home for their family.
Standout lines:
Britain had been at war with Nazi Germany since 1 September 1939, and the little girl could not remember a time when the distribution of food, coal, and clothing had not been controlled. She listened for the sound of bomber planes and air raid sirens without even realising it and even possessed her own gas mask.
While the Bombs Fell- Robbie Cheadle & Elsie Hancy Eaton
The air raid shelter smelled damp and musty, and the dark felt as thick as velvet curtains before Father lit the paraffin lamp.
While the Bombs Fell- Robbie Cheadle & Elsie Hancy Eaton
This is an enlightening read about village life in wartorn times.
I give While the Bombs Fell 5 lovely Kisses!
Elsie is born in England during a tumultuous period in history- WWII. Her family must learn to live on rations, restricted power, blackout posters, and food stamps while still providing milk to the nearby village.
Elsie understands the threat of war. The fear of German bombers is a backdrop to an everyday life without extras, but the family still manages to enjoy simple pleasures such as summer swims, afternoon tea, and on special occasions small gifts and treats.
I found it fascinating to read the lives of those not directly involved in the war effort. The average citizens just trying to survive what must have been a frightening time. While Elsie is young, she still grasps the stress her parents are under to provide a safe, warm home for their family.
Standout lines:
Britain had been at war with Nazi Germany since 1 September 1939, and the little girl could not remember a time when the distribution of food, coal, and clothing had not been controlled. She listened for the sound of bomber planes and air raid sirens without even realising it and even possessed her own gas mask.
While the Bombs Fell- Robbie Cheadle & Elsie Hancy Eaton
The air raid shelter smelled damp and musty, and the dark felt as thick as velvet curtains before Father lit the paraffin lamp.
While the Bombs Fell- Robbie Cheadle & Elsie Hancy Eaton
This is an enlightening read about village life in wartorn times.
I give While the Bombs Fell 5 lovely Kisses!
March 9, 2019
A great short read.
Set in Suffolk during World War 2, this true story is told through the eyes of young Elsie. She and her family live on a dairy farm on the outskirts of Bungay.
It tells of the hardships they endured during this time, but they were a happy family who made the most of life regardless of the shortages and restrictions.
It is well written and researched.
Set in Suffolk during World War 2, this true story is told through the eyes of young Elsie. She and her family live on a dairy farm on the outskirts of Bungay.
It tells of the hardships they endured during this time, but they were a happy family who made the most of life regardless of the shortages and restrictions.
It is well written and researched.
October 16, 2018
I was immediately interested in reading this book, as I've lived in Suffolk for nearly 30 years, and not too far from Bungay. I heard lots of wartime stories from my mother who lived in London during the war, but this book was different in that the main character, a child called Elsie, lives in the countryside. Ms Cheadle has written anecdotes gleaned from family and friends over the years, and has written quite a charming faction book.
Elsie tells of what it was like to live not only through the war itself, but also about food rationing and how her mother made the pennies stretch to feed her family. There are highlights in Elsie's life of Christmas Day, and the rich fruit pudding complete with a lucky sixpence that she and her siblings looked forward to, and also at other times of the odd rabbit that her farmer father managed to catch and the rabbit stew it became after her mother had skinned and gutted it. There is also the alarming sound of the air raid siren, and how she had to flee to the garden shelter with her family, sometimes in the middle of the night.
As Elsie is a child, the book is written in quite a young style that is suitable for older children as well as adults. She thinks nothing of walking two miles with her siblings to play at a favourite spot, something I think today's children would not even consider (indeed if they are allowed outside in the first place). She took as normal today's privations such as icy bedrooms and having to share a bed with her 2 sisters, but she was glad of them for warmth.
With a diet augmented by rabbits and whatever else her father managed to catch, Elsie possibly fared rather better than children in London who were not evacuated. I'm sure she grew up healthier than today's children, brought up on a diet of fast food and lack of exercise. Hopefully she would have been too young at the time to let the war's horrors blight her later life.
I would have preferred the style of writing to be more aimed at adults, but I give this book 4 stars for an entertaining read.
Elsie tells of what it was like to live not only through the war itself, but also about food rationing and how her mother made the pennies stretch to feed her family. There are highlights in Elsie's life of Christmas Day, and the rich fruit pudding complete with a lucky sixpence that she and her siblings looked forward to, and also at other times of the odd rabbit that her farmer father managed to catch and the rabbit stew it became after her mother had skinned and gutted it. There is also the alarming sound of the air raid siren, and how she had to flee to the garden shelter with her family, sometimes in the middle of the night.
As Elsie is a child, the book is written in quite a young style that is suitable for older children as well as adults. She thinks nothing of walking two miles with her siblings to play at a favourite spot, something I think today's children would not even consider (indeed if they are allowed outside in the first place). She took as normal today's privations such as icy bedrooms and having to share a bed with her 2 sisters, but she was glad of them for warmth.
With a diet augmented by rabbits and whatever else her father managed to catch, Elsie possibly fared rather better than children in London who were not evacuated. I'm sure she grew up healthier than today's children, brought up on a diet of fast food and lack of exercise. Hopefully she would have been too young at the time to let the war's horrors blight her later life.
I would have preferred the style of writing to be more aimed at adults, but I give this book 4 stars for an entertaining read.
November 7, 2020
Mother and daughter collaborate beautifully in this story of the war years based on Elsie Hancy Eaton’s memories of her early childhood.
As we sit in our centrally heated homes and pop to the supermarket to buy our week’s groceries with produce from all around the world, it is easy to forget that only 80 years ago it was very different for millions of people in Britain. Times were hard anyway after the great depression that hit the UK in the 1930s, followed very quickly by World War II and food rationing and restrictions on use of essential utilities.
This is a detailed snapshot of life on a small farm in Bungay in Norfolk. A place steeped in medieval history with a ruined castle now a playground for children. Apart from those evacuees seeking sanctuary from the big cities, particular Norwich, hard hit by bombing raids, there is a small community which includes four year old Elsie Hancy and her extended family of grandmothers, uncles, aunts and cousins.
Her father is a dairy farmer who supplies the town with milk seven days a week in all weathers, including on Christmas Day. Whilst the family has milk fresh each day, with food rationing in force, butter, cheese, meat and fresh fruit is scarce and feeding a large family is a huge daily challenge.
The story is told through the eyes of Elsie and she shares every aspect of daily life from building an air raid shelter in the back garden, freezing bathing routines during the winter, the farm activities that began at the crack of dawn until last thing at night, going to school for the first time and stories of grandmothers and newcomers to the town.
As children, Elsie and her brothers and sisters are very resilient as they take these tough times in their stride. There are fun times too as the children head off in the summer school break to paddle and swim in the river taking packed lunches of jam and bread. There is the delight of a hand me down doll in a pram for Christmas, and the family involvement in the making of the pudding rich with saved up dried fruit.
Added to this first hand account of this harsh time in our history, is a section containing authentic recipes used by millions to make dishes from the meagre ingredients available. Whilst they may not contain the rich and diverse produce we enjoy today, in many respects they are ingenious and also nourishing.
Definitely a recommended read.
As we sit in our centrally heated homes and pop to the supermarket to buy our week’s groceries with produce from all around the world, it is easy to forget that only 80 years ago it was very different for millions of people in Britain. Times were hard anyway after the great depression that hit the UK in the 1930s, followed very quickly by World War II and food rationing and restrictions on use of essential utilities.
This is a detailed snapshot of life on a small farm in Bungay in Norfolk. A place steeped in medieval history with a ruined castle now a playground for children. Apart from those evacuees seeking sanctuary from the big cities, particular Norwich, hard hit by bombing raids, there is a small community which includes four year old Elsie Hancy and her extended family of grandmothers, uncles, aunts and cousins.
Her father is a dairy farmer who supplies the town with milk seven days a week in all weathers, including on Christmas Day. Whilst the family has milk fresh each day, with food rationing in force, butter, cheese, meat and fresh fruit is scarce and feeding a large family is a huge daily challenge.
The story is told through the eyes of Elsie and she shares every aspect of daily life from building an air raid shelter in the back garden, freezing bathing routines during the winter, the farm activities that began at the crack of dawn until last thing at night, going to school for the first time and stories of grandmothers and newcomers to the town.
As children, Elsie and her brothers and sisters are very resilient as they take these tough times in their stride. There are fun times too as the children head off in the summer school break to paddle and swim in the river taking packed lunches of jam and bread. There is the delight of a hand me down doll in a pram for Christmas, and the family involvement in the making of the pudding rich with saved up dried fruit.
Added to this first hand account of this harsh time in our history, is a section containing authentic recipes used by millions to make dishes from the meagre ingredients available. Whilst they may not contain the rich and diverse produce we enjoy today, in many respects they are ingenious and also nourishing.
Definitely a recommended read.
January 26, 2022
An interesting compilation of memories of a young girl during wartime in Britain. The author relays her mother, Elsie’s memoirs of what transpired in her day-to-day life growing up during WWll.
We see life through the eyes of Elsie who didn’t know what was going on around her with the war because of her young age. All she knew was she was cold and hungry and loved to have some sweets at Christmas time. She remembers the fun she had with her siblings and curling up in bed together on cold nights to keep warm. She remembers helping her mother make Christmas pudding and receiving a beautiful doll as a Christmas present.
Elsie lived on a farm with cows and chickens and other animals around. She was fortunate to have eggs and milk daily. Others were not as fortunate. She didn’t realize the hardships caused by war but she and her family adjusted and were resilient. Her father was a farmer who delivered milk daily while her mother kept the home clean and children fed and cared for even if they had very little to eat at times.
This story displays the tenacity, strength, courage and resourcefulness of this generation of people, known as the greatest generation of all times. We, today, could not do what these amazing people did to survive. We are too spoiled and cosseted in our ways and life styles. We can’t imagine a time where war came to our doorstep. Thank God for that.
A lovely story for young adults to read in order to learn about life during the toughest of times. The collection of recipes at the end of the book is a nice touch to further display what these truly courageous and resilient people had to use daily to survive.
We see life through the eyes of Elsie who didn’t know what was going on around her with the war because of her young age. All she knew was she was cold and hungry and loved to have some sweets at Christmas time. She remembers the fun she had with her siblings and curling up in bed together on cold nights to keep warm. She remembers helping her mother make Christmas pudding and receiving a beautiful doll as a Christmas present.
Elsie lived on a farm with cows and chickens and other animals around. She was fortunate to have eggs and milk daily. Others were not as fortunate. She didn’t realize the hardships caused by war but she and her family adjusted and were resilient. Her father was a farmer who delivered milk daily while her mother kept the home clean and children fed and cared for even if they had very little to eat at times.
This story displays the tenacity, strength, courage and resourcefulness of this generation of people, known as the greatest generation of all times. We, today, could not do what these amazing people did to survive. We are too spoiled and cosseted in our ways and life styles. We can’t imagine a time where war came to our doorstep. Thank God for that.
A lovely story for young adults to read in order to learn about life during the toughest of times. The collection of recipes at the end of the book is a nice touch to further display what these truly courageous and resilient people had to use daily to survive.
November 15, 2018
While WWII raged in England and the men left home and battled enemy forces, the bombs fell and the women and children left behind took care of the business of living. We rarely get the inside story of what it was like for the mothers and daughters; grandmothers and aunts and sisters, who had to find a way to get enough food on the table to survive, to stay warm during those cold winters with no fuel for the furnace or fireplace, to walk to the privy in cow dung and ice. Robbie Cheadle writes the story from her mom's perspective, Elsie, when she was a child and lived through WWII. The stories remind us how spoiled we are now with our lives, and how comparatively weak. Those in the English countryside during the war needed to be hearty and strong to survive. Yet, they also found ways to have fun and to stay strong within their circle of family and friends. A loving tribute to what it was like for those left behind, "while the bombs fell."
April 11, 2019
I've always liked wartime stories, and usually, they are fictional accounts and family sagas, but rarely from the view of a child.
Robbie has taken the accounts of wartime life from her mother, and alongside her, used the anecdotes to write a book about what life during the war was like, from Elsie's 3-6-year-old perspective.
Not really a story, more a memoir, mother and daughter have weaved the tales together to create a wonderful, simply written account from Elsie's memories.
It was great to read how, despite all the shortages and limitations, Elsie and her family still managed to have a good life. Simple pleasures were enough to sate the appetites of children, both foodwise and when keeping busy - something this generation of youngsters could learn from too!
And a bonus of some lovely family photos and even recipes from the war era!
Robbie has taken the accounts of wartime life from her mother, and alongside her, used the anecdotes to write a book about what life during the war was like, from Elsie's 3-6-year-old perspective.
Not really a story, more a memoir, mother and daughter have weaved the tales together to create a wonderful, simply written account from Elsie's memories.
It was great to read how, despite all the shortages and limitations, Elsie and her family still managed to have a good life. Simple pleasures were enough to sate the appetites of children, both foodwise and when keeping busy - something this generation of youngsters could learn from too!
And a bonus of some lovely family photos and even recipes from the war era!
September 30, 2018
I'd give this 3.5 stars for the fact that I believe it's a biography even though it's not catagorized as a memoir or biography. While the Bombs fell is a sweet collection of anecdotes, much like what a grandparent would tell to a grandchild. They are the remembrances of a childhood lived in England during WWII. It was a tough childhood and a collection of stories such as these is important to record while the last of this generation is still with us.
The chapters read as if someone is telling us the stories. They sometimes come across a bit disjointed and jump around from subject to subject. I also get the impression that this was written for a younger audience. Recommended reading for young adults with an interest in life experiences during WWII.
The chapters read as if someone is telling us the stories. They sometimes come across a bit disjointed and jump around from subject to subject. I also get the impression that this was written for a younger audience. Recommended reading for young adults with an interest in life experiences during WWII.
July 1, 2019
Little Elsie grew up in a family of nine in rural East Anglia. Her life in the small town of Bungay was perfectly normal, except for the consequences of the second world war. Elsie learned to respond to air raid sirens, understand the importance of gas masks and live with the effects of rationing. Through all this, she remained cheerful and innocent.
‘While the Bombs Fell’ is a collection of memoirs giving a child’s eye view of what it is like to be young in the middle of the War. From bathing by the fire in a galvanized bath to wearing bloomers for swimming, Elsie’s story is from a bygone era.
As a genealogist with deep-rooted Suffolk ancestry, I found this book charming. It is an easy read, full of nostalgia and has a certain ‘feel good’ quality. I enjoyed it very much.
‘While the Bombs Fell’ is a collection of memoirs giving a child’s eye view of what it is like to be young in the middle of the War. From bathing by the fire in a galvanized bath to wearing bloomers for swimming, Elsie’s story is from a bygone era.
As a genealogist with deep-rooted Suffolk ancestry, I found this book charming. It is an easy read, full of nostalgia and has a certain ‘feel good’ quality. I enjoyed it very much.
November 10, 2020
A sweet story about a girl's life in England during WWII: amid the sirens, Elsie's memories are like any other young girl's. She enjoys Christmas and Boxing Day despite the shortage of food. Nothing can stop a girl's active imagination as she reads tales and poems.
August 2, 2019
This autobiographical book, co-authored by a mother and daughter team and told in brief anecdotal chapters, offers young readers a vivid window into the world of wartime Britain, as seen through the eyes of Elsie, a small girl of 4 to 6 years of age. Elsie and her siblings live in Suffolk, in a village called Bungay. Their father runs a dairy which is attached to the house; their mother runs everything else, cooking, cleaning, washing and the rest. It is a world far removed from modern appliances and methods of communication. There is the war, with its blackouts, bombing raids and rationing. Then again there are the perennial things of everyday life to observe, including the rituals of bath night and the mysteries of washing day when the mangle is in use. In summer the children swim in a local river, unsupervised, the boys in their knitted swimsuits. For Christmas, there is the pudding to make and on Christmas Day the joy of simple gifts, mostly hand-me-downs from older siblings. Written in a clear and engaging style, ideal for its target audience, the innocent pleasures of childhood are portrayed. There are a few darker moments, but these are set alongside the busy and happy life of Elsie’s close family. Theirs is a community and a way of life that feels old, stretching back a long way into the past.
For parents and teachers seeking to introduce today’s children to that other country which is the past, this is an excellent guide, packed with small details and enlivened by large themes. Elsie and her family and friends are good company. The not-so-long ago world they inhabited is fascinatingly different. War casts its shadow over that world, which yet shines bright, full of warmth and colour.
For parents and teachers seeking to introduce today’s children to that other country which is the past, this is an excellent guide, packed with small details and enlivened by large themes. Elsie and her family and friends are good company. The not-so-long ago world they inhabited is fascinatingly different. War casts its shadow over that world, which yet shines bright, full of warmth and colour.
November 28, 2018
What is this book? Its something I asked myself around Chapter 2 when reading "When the Bombs Fell." I opened it up with no background and no expectations, reading it cold with no idea what I was going to get. What I got was something that was a cross between a biography and a collection of short stories set in the background of WWII in England.
Having no connection to that era or location myself, it was an interesting snapshot of the time--the food, the clothes, the family life, the activities. I couldn't help but imagine all the TV shows and movies I'd seen set in this same time as a similar backdrop to this story.
As I read on it became clear that these were all real, true stories from some relation to the author, and that helped me stay interested in the book as I read on. There were a few things that made me want to stop reading--there was no "overarching story" that connected all the short stories together except for the general background of the war, and there was a lot of back and forth between talking about "how things were" and describing specific events that made it unclear whether I was reading out a specific incident or just a description of the era, but that's a more stylistic choice than anything else so it isn't a deal-breaker for reading this book.
I will say that I have a better understanding of how things were back then, and for that, this book is a great read for anyone wanting to find out the same.
Having no connection to that era or location myself, it was an interesting snapshot of the time--the food, the clothes, the family life, the activities. I couldn't help but imagine all the TV shows and movies I'd seen set in this same time as a similar backdrop to this story.
As I read on it became clear that these were all real, true stories from some relation to the author, and that helped me stay interested in the book as I read on. There were a few things that made me want to stop reading--there was no "overarching story" that connected all the short stories together except for the general background of the war, and there was a lot of back and forth between talking about "how things were" and describing specific events that made it unclear whether I was reading out a specific incident or just a description of the era, but that's a more stylistic choice than anything else so it isn't a deal-breaker for reading this book.
I will say that I have a better understanding of how things were back then, and for that, this book is a great read for anyone wanting to find out the same.
October 20, 2018
This book is a collaboration between author Robbie Cheadle and her mother Elsie Eaton, as Cheadle expresses her mother's wartime memories written through the eyes of a young Elsie.
I would say that the writing style and voice here is more geared toward a younger audience - older children as well as adults, who may want to learn what it was like in wartime for a child growing up with the uncertainty of siren warnings, sharing beds, toys and clothing with siblings, and their playtime amusements taking them through til the end of the war. We learn that the simplest of makeshift toys and something as simple as eating an orange can delight a child, keeping them oblivious to the surroundings of war.
The authors give us rich descriptions of the hardships taken on by Elsie's father to keep the family fed, as well as the day-to-day chores Elsie's mother performed to keep her family clean, fed, safe, and happy through the changing seasons and elements that change with the seasons. It was interesting to read and learn how the simplest of food and sparse household items were meticulously used to keep a family going through difficult times - and a good reminder about the abundance of everything we so often take for granted in our present every day living. There are bonus wartime recipes shared at the end of the book.
I would say that the writing style and voice here is more geared toward a younger audience - older children as well as adults, who may want to learn what it was like in wartime for a child growing up with the uncertainty of siren warnings, sharing beds, toys and clothing with siblings, and their playtime amusements taking them through til the end of the war. We learn that the simplest of makeshift toys and something as simple as eating an orange can delight a child, keeping them oblivious to the surroundings of war.
The authors give us rich descriptions of the hardships taken on by Elsie's father to keep the family fed, as well as the day-to-day chores Elsie's mother performed to keep her family clean, fed, safe, and happy through the changing seasons and elements that change with the seasons. It was interesting to read and learn how the simplest of food and sparse household items were meticulously used to keep a family going through difficult times - and a good reminder about the abundance of everything we so often take for granted in our present every day living. There are bonus wartime recipes shared at the end of the book.
April 7, 2019
Growing up in rural Suffolk during World War Two, Elsie and her family live their lives amid the rumble of German bomber planes and the whine of air-raid sirens. But daily life must continue, and the children and their parents make the most of restricted amenities during wartime.
Along with Elsie Hancy Eaton (whose life inspired the book), Robbie Cheadle has produced an interesting and heart-warming tale about a wartime family and the ups and downs of everyday life as they strive to cope with the constant threat of invasion. The stories reflect the highlights and occasional tragedies that face the family during the war years, as well as the many ingenious ways they find to deal with the limitations of rationing and lack of income. The book includes family photographs from the time and lists several authentic World War Two recipes, such as Potato Pastry and Lord Woolton Pie.
A delightful way for children to learn about wartime Britain.
Along with Elsie Hancy Eaton (whose life inspired the book), Robbie Cheadle has produced an interesting and heart-warming tale about a wartime family and the ups and downs of everyday life as they strive to cope with the constant threat of invasion. The stories reflect the highlights and occasional tragedies that face the family during the war years, as well as the many ingenious ways they find to deal with the limitations of rationing and lack of income. The book includes family photographs from the time and lists several authentic World War Two recipes, such as Potato Pastry and Lord Woolton Pie.
A delightful way for children to learn about wartime Britain.
September 12, 2019
While the Bombs Fell shows family life in times of the war through the eyes of a child. Even though there was fear of the air raid sirens blaring and having to get in their bomb shelters, the family knew this is just something they have to do. There was a closeness amongst them and were always there for each other. With the rationing of food and other items, they made due with what they had and were happy to have it.
The book is well written with a factual account of how life was in WWII. The fears, love and simple pleasures were beautifully portrayed. The little song "There was a little man, who had a little gun......." brought back memories.
I recommend this book for young adults wanting to learn about life during a war.
The book is well written with a factual account of how life was in WWII. The fears, love and simple pleasures were beautifully portrayed. The little song "There was a little man, who had a little gun......." brought back memories.
I recommend this book for young adults wanting to learn about life during a war.
October 5, 2018
While The Bombs Fell is a well written book about growing up in England during World War II. It’s brimming with great appreciation for the simple things in life that we take for granted these days, such as, eating bread and butter and getting a new dress. The accounts about families spending time together enjoying songs brought a smile to my face. It was impossible not to be in awe of the hard work and patriotism of the men, women and children so vividly depicted in this novel.
If you enjoy reminiscing or are interested in learning about growing up in Britain during World War II, then you’ll definitely enjoy While The Bombs Fell.
If you enjoy reminiscing or are interested in learning about growing up in Britain during World War II, then you’ll definitely enjoy While The Bombs Fell.
December 13, 2020
While The Bombs Fell was somewhat of a mixed-bag for me. While I love the homefront setting during the Second World War, along with the social history of the time period, there was a lack of coherent plot and character progression that really hampered my overall enjoyment of it.
I felt that the book read kind of like a textbook with characters. We hear a lot about family life, including what they would normally eat during the blitz, and we hear about the games that children of the time period played. This is a nice touch but it does not create a plotline. Things just happen with seemingly no purpose. For a lot of the book (and in spite of the book’s title), there were not a lot of bombs falling, and when they did there was not an awful lot of detail of the tension or the fear the characters must have felt. This really dampened down the excitement of what is a compelling historical subject.
One problem I did have was trying to understand who the characters were. At no point in the blurb, introductory pages, or even on the back page, does the author state that the characters in this book are real people. I only found this out when a number of pictures were shown towards the end of the book. Then, at the end, there is a disclaimer, which states that the main character was a real person and that the story is based on real events, however the authors willingly took some creative liberties to create a more interesting book. This confused me even more: why write a fictitious book based on real people, and yet add so little drama, plotline or characterisation? A caveat or disclaimer in the opening pages would have given me a much clearer understanding of this book from the beginning.
Still, the positives outweigh the negatives for me. I enjoyed the little touches around hot toddies and spotted dick, and I really enjoyed the simple sentence structure, reflecting the idea that this was told through a child’s eyes. However, the stand out aspect of this book was how it made me reminisce about my own grandparents, who were all children of this age during the blitz. This book made me remember them and their wartime stories fondly, and I can only thank the author for how that made me feel. As such, despite its flaws, this was a touching and heartfelt book that I would thoroughly recommend to all social historians and historical fiction lovers.
I felt that the book read kind of like a textbook with characters. We hear a lot about family life, including what they would normally eat during the blitz, and we hear about the games that children of the time period played. This is a nice touch but it does not create a plotline. Things just happen with seemingly no purpose. For a lot of the book (and in spite of the book’s title), there were not a lot of bombs falling, and when they did there was not an awful lot of detail of the tension or the fear the characters must have felt. This really dampened down the excitement of what is a compelling historical subject.
One problem I did have was trying to understand who the characters were. At no point in the blurb, introductory pages, or even on the back page, does the author state that the characters in this book are real people. I only found this out when a number of pictures were shown towards the end of the book. Then, at the end, there is a disclaimer, which states that the main character was a real person and that the story is based on real events, however the authors willingly took some creative liberties to create a more interesting book. This confused me even more: why write a fictitious book based on real people, and yet add so little drama, plotline or characterisation? A caveat or disclaimer in the opening pages would have given me a much clearer understanding of this book from the beginning.
Still, the positives outweigh the negatives for me. I enjoyed the little touches around hot toddies and spotted dick, and I really enjoyed the simple sentence structure, reflecting the idea that this was told through a child’s eyes. However, the stand out aspect of this book was how it made me reminisce about my own grandparents, who were all children of this age during the blitz. This book made me remember them and their wartime stories fondly, and I can only thank the author for how that made me feel. As such, despite its flaws, this was a touching and heartfelt book that I would thoroughly recommend to all social historians and historical fiction lovers.
August 24, 2020
A Child in WWII
This is a collection of memories from someone who was a young child in rural Norfolk during the Second World War. They range from sharing a bed with two siblings through to the delights of Christmas and include some recipes from the time as well.
As an historical document this is really valuable, capturing the impressions of a very young child whose only conscious knowledge of life was of a nation at war and also the fleeting remains of a world without much technology or medical science, just before it all changed. It shows a world where washing day meant spending the whole day doing laundry, baths were bi-weekly events and food was scarce. D-Day was remembered more for having conjunctivitis than for its historical import.
There is a tremendous amount to appreciate in this little book and for anyone studying the period, as social history, I would recommend it highly. However, for the general reader the writing style makes it very difficult to get into. There is a lack of flow and the insertion of such things as the odd chunks of local history - which may or may not be interesting in themselves but are of irrelevance to the main narrative - made it a very choppy read, in my opinion, rather than an enthralling one.
I recommend it for adults with an interest in the period or to read with children studying the period, to help them understand how life was for children in that place and time.
This is a collection of memories from someone who was a young child in rural Norfolk during the Second World War. They range from sharing a bed with two siblings through to the delights of Christmas and include some recipes from the time as well.
As an historical document this is really valuable, capturing the impressions of a very young child whose only conscious knowledge of life was of a nation at war and also the fleeting remains of a world without much technology or medical science, just before it all changed. It shows a world where washing day meant spending the whole day doing laundry, baths were bi-weekly events and food was scarce. D-Day was remembered more for having conjunctivitis than for its historical import.
There is a tremendous amount to appreciate in this little book and for anyone studying the period, as social history, I would recommend it highly. However, for the general reader the writing style makes it very difficult to get into. There is a lack of flow and the insertion of such things as the odd chunks of local history - which may or may not be interesting in themselves but are of irrelevance to the main narrative - made it a very choppy read, in my opinion, rather than an enthralling one.
I recommend it for adults with an interest in the period or to read with children studying the period, to help them understand how life was for children in that place and time.
March 29, 2023
This is an enjoyable book about what life was like for a rural family in England during the Second World War. Reading it felt like sitting down to hear about a relative's memory of those times - complete with digressions as they'd think of another memory related to what they were saying.
The book contains some great, interesting details, like how the family constructed their bomb shelter and covered it with dirt to be able to plant vegetables there. The story includes tidbits of local history and historical facts about the war which helped give some context. The included recipes with little bits about their historical significance and the photos of some of the places and people mentioned added a nice touch.
There's a lovely tone of appreciation for what they had that runs through the story. I enjoyed the reminder of the matter-of-fact approach to hardships and deprivations: no whining or blaming, it was what it was, and people did what they had to. It was wonderful to read about how they tried to keep life as normal as they could in the circumstances and celebrated what they could: birthdays, Christmas, Boxing Day, and such.
Overall, this is a truly engaging, informative book. It's a great taste - and reminder - of what life was like during that challenging time. Sit down and experience some memories of those days.
The book contains some great, interesting details, like how the family constructed their bomb shelter and covered it with dirt to be able to plant vegetables there. The story includes tidbits of local history and historical facts about the war which helped give some context. The included recipes with little bits about their historical significance and the photos of some of the places and people mentioned added a nice touch.
There's a lovely tone of appreciation for what they had that runs through the story. I enjoyed the reminder of the matter-of-fact approach to hardships and deprivations: no whining or blaming, it was what it was, and people did what they had to. It was wonderful to read about how they tried to keep life as normal as they could in the circumstances and celebrated what they could: birthdays, Christmas, Boxing Day, and such.
Overall, this is a truly engaging, informative book. It's a great taste - and reminder - of what life was like during that challenging time. Sit down and experience some memories of those days.
January 6, 2019
“While the Bombs Fell” is the fictionalised memoir of a young child in Suffolk – in the east of England – during WWII, in the period 1940-1944. As such, there are many interesting details about the hardships and intermittent pleasures of life in the 1940s – some of these are not a direct feature of the war, but they do paint a picture of how basic existence could be in this relatively modern era, giving us a useful reminder of how life was not so very long ago; the struggle to get food and cook, the joys of swimming in the river and jumping in the mud and the death of a playmate from tetanus.
However, the book would probably have made a better factual account of a way of life now vanished in a rural backwater of England – life made more basic by the privations of the war. It does not really work well as fiction, and does not convince as such. All those details would be better carried by a defined storyline, and because of all the information being conveyed, there is no real feel to the characters. While concentrating on the experiences of young Elsie – aged 3-4 - the viewpoint rarely feels like a child, only like an adult looking back on a child’s life, which suggests that it was perhaps originally written as a factual account. In its current form, it therefore sometimes oscillates between adult explanations of what is happening in the war and a child’s observations. There is also the occasional lapse in viewpoint, such a referring to a pillbox having been built in WWII, which is a term that would only have been used much after the war.
In short, “When the Bombs Fell” is an interesting book for details and atmosphere of the period, but perhaps should be read as a factual account rather than fiction.
However, the book would probably have made a better factual account of a way of life now vanished in a rural backwater of England – life made more basic by the privations of the war. It does not really work well as fiction, and does not convince as such. All those details would be better carried by a defined storyline, and because of all the information being conveyed, there is no real feel to the characters. While concentrating on the experiences of young Elsie – aged 3-4 - the viewpoint rarely feels like a child, only like an adult looking back on a child’s life, which suggests that it was perhaps originally written as a factual account. In its current form, it therefore sometimes oscillates between adult explanations of what is happening in the war and a child’s observations. There is also the occasional lapse in viewpoint, such a referring to a pillbox having been built in WWII, which is a term that would only have been used much after the war.
In short, “When the Bombs Fell” is an interesting book for details and atmosphere of the period, but perhaps should be read as a factual account rather than fiction.
September 30, 2019
When the Bombs Fell takes us to Britain during WW2 but instead of battles on the beaches or in the skies we are treated to the everyday lives of everyday people making do with their limited rations and making everything count.
I enjoyed the story particularly for the small details of everyday life, be they of the adults or more often the children. War tales can often focus on the battles; the brushes with death, the close shaves, the intrigues and plots but the ordinary humdrum is marginal - not so here. The book reminds me of another, also for children, called 'Mister Tom', which was a fictional account of rural life during WW2, this on the other hand draws from the real life experiences of a single person. Stories of this kind are to be commended for relating to young children the kind of lives lived in years gone by. Who knows it might help them (and us) appreciate more what we have and how struggles with scarcity can make us all muddle together, for a greater purpose.
While enjoying the story, I still found times when the writing was a little funny, the construction of some sentences was a bit odd or didn't read quite right. I also felt it ended abruptly but I enjoyed the inclusion of recipes at the close, though I am unlikely to make any myself. Sometimes I felt war facts were a little jarring or out of place when laid next to the personal experiences of Elsie and her family.
As others have said, it might have suited more the somewhat disjointed nature of the stories if it were written as non-fiction, but the author may have worried children might have been put off by this – I am only speculating though.
Overall, a nice read for children and adults alike but in my case probably more for the small details that made up their lives.
It's 3.5 from me.
I enjoyed the story particularly for the small details of everyday life, be they of the adults or more often the children. War tales can often focus on the battles; the brushes with death, the close shaves, the intrigues and plots but the ordinary humdrum is marginal - not so here. The book reminds me of another, also for children, called 'Mister Tom', which was a fictional account of rural life during WW2, this on the other hand draws from the real life experiences of a single person. Stories of this kind are to be commended for relating to young children the kind of lives lived in years gone by. Who knows it might help them (and us) appreciate more what we have and how struggles with scarcity can make us all muddle together, for a greater purpose.
While enjoying the story, I still found times when the writing was a little funny, the construction of some sentences was a bit odd or didn't read quite right. I also felt it ended abruptly but I enjoyed the inclusion of recipes at the close, though I am unlikely to make any myself. Sometimes I felt war facts were a little jarring or out of place when laid next to the personal experiences of Elsie and her family.
As others have said, it might have suited more the somewhat disjointed nature of the stories if it were written as non-fiction, but the author may have worried children might have been put off by this – I am only speculating though.
Overall, a nice read for children and adults alike but in my case probably more for the small details that made up their lives.
It's 3.5 from me.
February 14, 2020
This story reads like a memoir, and I loved it. It follows the daily life of Elsie, a 4-5-year-old growing up on a farm in England during World War II. The story starts with the family listening to an air-raid siren and climbing into their shelter beneath the garden. And though the war is the backdrop to the story and impacts daily life in significant ways, this isn't really a story about war. At heart, this is a story about the resilient spirit of children growing up within a strong family.
The details of daily life are incredibly well-researched, and this book could almost serve as a guide to rural life in England in 1942 when rationing required adults to make some careful and creative choices. At the same time, the story is filled with delightful anecdotes of family life and the perspectives of a child, including a fear of Jack Frost, the trials of a stinky outhouse, and a trip to the movie theater to see the Three Stooges outwit the Germans.
The story unfolds in an omniscient point of view, and there’s not really a plot (thus the feeling of a memoir), but from beginning to end, the book is thoroughly engaging. I read it in one sitting. As an added bonus, the author included a few wartime recipes. Highly recommended to readers of memoirs, historical fiction, WWII fiction, and warm family stories.
The details of daily life are incredibly well-researched, and this book could almost serve as a guide to rural life in England in 1942 when rationing required adults to make some careful and creative choices. At the same time, the story is filled with delightful anecdotes of family life and the perspectives of a child, including a fear of Jack Frost, the trials of a stinky outhouse, and a trip to the movie theater to see the Three Stooges outwit the Germans.
The story unfolds in an omniscient point of view, and there’s not really a plot (thus the feeling of a memoir), but from beginning to end, the book is thoroughly engaging. I read it in one sitting. As an added bonus, the author included a few wartime recipes. Highly recommended to readers of memoirs, historical fiction, WWII fiction, and warm family stories.
July 7, 2019
When the Bombs Fell is a World War II book about Elise a little girl growing up in the country side of England. The book is told in snippets of her life. The snippets are categorized by the titles in each chapter. For instance: Swimming and Fishing, An Introduction into School, and Rabbit Stew and Christmas Pudding were just a few. I didn’t realize this book was autobiographical until I got to the chapter with the pictures from the story which was a surprising delight. It’s nice to make the connections to the book with tangible pictures. It also has several recipes in the back for those looking for authentic English food served during that time.
This book has many historical facts about how life was lived in the early 40s. This book wasn’t one story with a continuous flow like I stated above it is more of snippets of life through Elise’s eyes. This makes the book a little choppy. The transitions between memories and facts was a little jarring and could have been more transitional, but I still felt like I learned more about the people of this time.
I think this is a good book for people wondering what life was like day to day for those affected by the war other than soldiers. It was a unique perspective form a child.
This book has many historical facts about how life was lived in the early 40s. This book wasn’t one story with a continuous flow like I stated above it is more of snippets of life through Elise’s eyes. This makes the book a little choppy. The transitions between memories and facts was a little jarring and could have been more transitional, but I still felt like I learned more about the people of this time.
I think this is a good book for people wondering what life was like day to day for those affected by the war other than soldiers. It was a unique perspective form a child.
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