The Boy with the Suitcase

by Cathy Sharp

Torn apart by war – a promise will hold them together…
As the shadows of the Blitz hang over London, young Davey finds himself the man of the house when his father leaves to fight in the war. Trying his best to support his mum and to protect his sister, Davey’s good intentions find him mixed up with the wrong crowd.

To keep him safe, and out of trouble, Davey is sent away from everything he has ever known, to a new life far away in Canada. He has always craved adventure and a place to fit in, though it could mean losing his family forever.

Starting on his new journey will take all of Davey’s courage, but he also made a promise to see his precious little sister again, and he’ll need to be fearless if he is to keep it …

Reader’s love Cathy Sharp
‘Had me gripped’ 5* Amazon reviewer
‘Absolutely brilliant’ 5* Goodreads reviewer

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II

384 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2022

About the author

Cathy Sharp is happily married and lives with her husband in a small Cambridgeshire village. They like visiting Spain together and enjoy the benefits of sunshine and pleasant walks, while at home they love their garden and visiting the Norfolk seaside.

Cathy loves writing because it gives pleasure to others, she finds writing an extension of herself and it gives her great satisfaction. Cathy says, 'There is nothing like seeing your book in print, because so much loving care has been given to bringing that book into being.'

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the genre of book that I love the most but this really fell flat. It was like a badly written soap opera, first they’re declared dead but then in the next chapter they’re found alive in a hospital or a ship, or a reunion was to take place but never happened because one person was blown to bits (this happened more than once). I get that it was WWII and these things did happen but this was over and over and over again. It got to where if someone was thought dead, I never believed it because—sure enough—in the next chapter, there they were. Meh.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating story of family separated by war

I've been up most of the night reading this book. Finally finished it at 5 am. Life was so different in wartime London from anything I've ever experienced living in Canada - very much harder, especially in wartime. The author made it easy to picture just how hard life could be and how important community was. There are examples of domestic abuse, adultery, the difficulties of caring for a terminally ill parent, all while trying to support two children while their father is off at war and no money is coming in. When Alice and Davey are evacuated to less than ideal circumstances, their lives are set on a difficult path. Their love for each other and Davey's promise that he will always return to his sister give each other hope in very challenging times. While this story is fictional, I have to wonder how many real children went through similar circumstances in the war and whether they had a happy ending.

[Mum · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 Stars. The trauma never ends. It made me feel I was reading an overdramatized “Perils of Pauline.” It is not a saga because it only covers at most 5 years. If it were a saga over generations then all the overdramatized trauma might have been justified. It’s all worse because the last few pages fate’s fairy godmother steps in. There was little character development and very uneven writing. If there was a plot underlying the traumas I missed it. It was so linear.

[Judy Sawdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wondering story. Kept me wanting to keep reading after 4:00 am. Loved it.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathy Sharp wrote a wonderful, descriptive, and heart-wrenching story. Her novel takes place during WW2. After a blitz that hangs over London, Davey’s mom can’t take care of her children and her dying mom. Her husband is serving his country. She decides to send Davey & his sister, Alice, to the countryside. But Davey is sent to Canada and Alice to the English countryside. Davey promises his sister that he will return to care for her.

Both children are resilient. Once Davey arrives in Halifax, Canada, he hides on the ship but is found by one of the shipmates who connects him with his elderly father, who lives in a remote part of the province. He gains survival skills from the mate's father. But he doesn’t last long at the homestead as the father becomes ill and dies. Davey must move in with a married couple who love him. In the back of his mind, his one goal is to return to his sister.

Alice is scared and misses her brother. The first family she lives with is very good to her, but due to unfortunate circumstances, Alice is moved to an orphanage where she is abused.

In the meantime, her family home is bombed. Her father is seriously injured on his ship. No one knows Alice’s whereabouts.

[Juanita Rankin]

Interesting how Canada, specifically Nova Scotia is described during the WWII era.
The Mi'kmaq people went through many hardships at the hands of the European settlers and are fighting for recognition and reconciliation. Treaties were signed and land was taken from the people. Children were removed from their homes and sent into foster homes and Residential schools where they lost their languages and culture at the hands of government and churches.

[Jenessa Kohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Heart wrenching, but a page turner. Must read for sure

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional heartbreaking novel set in world war 2 you can feel the characters emotions as they experience suffering and loss as families gets separated and there lives are torn apart. A novel which brings out the empathy qualities in the reader and makes them realise love conquers over evil (being spiteful to human mankind). A very heart warming novel which explores in depth emotional bonds within a family.

[Sheila Timms · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic story which touched my heart. Can't wait for Cathy to write more stories like this.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of Davey and his younger sister Alice who are sent away to keep them safe from the London blitz. Their mother also decides to send them away due to not being able to cope with looking after them while her mother is dying and her husband is fighting in the war. She also is too prideful to accept help in looking after the children from her friend who the kids consider their aunt.

Young Alice and Davey therfore get separated and this causes them to both grow up and come to grips with the real world, along with learning about the good, kind and also bad people that exist in the world. Cathy Sharp still captures their innocence as well as capturing that Davey has become a protector of his sister and shows that Alice still maintains her childlike innocence and is clearly younger than Davey. Davey keeps a promise to Alice and aims to find her while they both hold resentment to their mother for sending them away. They both do not know what awaits them when they return home or if they'll ever see any of their family again or where any of there family currently are in the world. Davey's father also learns that his wife sent the children away and endeavours to find both his children when he returns from war.

This is an heartbreaking but captivating novel set in WWII and you can feel the characters emotions, anger, resentment, hopefulness and loss of hopefulness as they experience feelings of separation, loss and grief as their lives are torn apart by the war.

This book I would rate 4.5🌟. I do feel like the ending and reunion of the family was a little rushed and felt like the feelings of joy and shared stories after the family all reunited again could have been explored further otherwise this would have been a 5.

[Shella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been saving this book for my vacation read. I had to keep delaying my Libby library ebook hold for a long time. So glad I saved it!! I read quite a bit of the book in the Boundary Waters viewing Pipestone Falls along a cozy overlook by a portage. Weather was perfect- could not have created a better reading scenario. The POV is excellent. None of the story dragged on. The character development made me feel like I could talk to the characters. I’d love a sequel to this story- the characters are just too rich to not see their next life phase. I’m surprised at how much I liked this story given that I’m on WWII setting fatigue. This story has an very fresh take on civilian life for East Enders.

[Lyn Hargreave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many stories here

A different perspective of WWII. British parents ate sending their children out of London, men are enlisting in the military and their wives are staying in their homes and working in munition factories. Therefore you have the stories of the two children who are sent away, the mothers left behind and the father concerned with the whereabouts of his children. Each intertwine while being interesting within their own circumstances. There are deaths, serious injuries and relationships that have to be addressed.

[Shirley Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually very generous awarding 5 stars but I thought this one deserved it. It was a lovely story, well written with believable characters. The ending, which is sometimes a big disappointment, finished really well and beautifully sewn up. My only small criticism is that I wish the author had used different names for the father and son. Dave and Davey got a bit confusing at times! This is the first book I have read by Cathy Sharp but I will certainly look out for more of her work.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Davy and his sister Alice are sent away this keep them safe from the London Blitz. After running away from their first placement, Davey is sent away to a new life in Canada while Alice is placed with a kindly farmer and his wife.
Both children find themselves experiencing kindness and cruelty before the war is over.

Slow start with multiple characters to try and remember and connect with. Momentum picked up leading to a story worth sticking with.

[Susan Maracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked this book, understandable of parent characters. A time of hardships and maybe wrong decision was made on what thought was the right thing to do at the time.
How many times has the same thing happened to children of a different country, still going on with trying to do the right thing in a difficult time.
Good read.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a page turner

This book is captivating. I couldn’t stop reading it. When I wasn’t reading it, I found myself thinking about it.
Excellent job Cathy!
I will be reading more of your books for sure

[Anne Mosher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great story, little slow and repetitive at times. Not crazy at how it was written, seemed more like a young adult, pre teen book to me. Then again most of of it was thru the eyes of young Davey.

[Bernie Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Loved it

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Narrative was very slow and dragging

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

This was so well written. Couldn't put it down! Just keep your tissues handy. The author does such a great job describing the people and the situations they face.

[Diane Staggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author!

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a story that touched me.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tear jerker, couldn't put it down.

[j connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Looking forward to next book really enjoyed last one and 2more to go would recommend to any one who likes war books

[Sue Sykes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, such a lovely story and each page keeps giving and making you wish for a happy ending. Highly recommended

[JacqBarwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad

[Eleanor · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok storyline, but very simple in its narration, and rather all over the place in its flow.

[Bonnie Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed in this book. The characters seemed very flat, the story became so predictableand lacked depth. I thought I'd like it but it fell short compared to what I normally read.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my! I was a bit slow getting into this, I honestly don't know why but once I did I just couldn't stop reading. I really liked this

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good story.