Wartime in the Dales

In Wartime in the Dales, two young girls face the challenges of being evacuated from Liverpool to Yorkshire during World War II, navigating homesickness and friendship.

Set against the backdrop of September 1939, Wartime in the Dales tells the poignant story of two young girls, Maggie Shaunessy and Lizzie Taylor, who are uprooted from their homes in Liverpool and sent to the serene yet unfamiliar landscape of rural Yorkshire. The novel captures their heartache as they adjust to life away from the bustling city, each finding themselves in vastly different living situations. Lizzie is placed with a vicar in the quaint village of Gargrave, while Maggie is taken to the grand Hawith Hall, where she encounters the aristocratic Lady and Lord Bradley.

As they navigate their new environments, both girls experience homesickness and the challenges of adapting to a different way of life. Maggie, however, discovers a glimmer of hope in the form of Alice, a young servant at the hall who becomes her ally and friend. Their bond offers Maggie some comfort amidst the turmoil of war and the uncertainties that lie ahead. The girls grapple with their feelings of isolation and longing for home, which is made all the more poignant by the looming threat of conflict.

As the story unfolds, the Dales themselves are not immune to the changes brought by the war, and the girls find themselves contemplating daring plans to escape back to Liverpool. Wartime in the Dales is a touching exploration of friendship, resilience, and the longing for home during a time of upheaval.