The Secret Book of Flora Lea: A Novel

Excellent — a must read! I adored this wonderful, multiple-layered tale of family, first-love, loss, remorse and forgiveness that all ties into a heart-wrenching, unsolved mystery. Set in two time periods; -in the current time a mysterious book shows up at a rare book store linking our main character Hazel to her sister who for 20-years has been missing, presumed drowned at the tender age of five. Going back in time to 1940 during WWll, Britain required all children to leave the city of London naming this endeavor Operation Pied Piper. Sisters Hazel 14, and Flora 5, were evacuated to the countryside where they were chosen to live in the caring home of Mrs. Aberdeen and her son, Harry. This is when and where Hazel created the magical world of “Whisperwood” to calm her frightened little sister. This is also the year Flora disappeared on the banks of the River Thames. Patti Callahan Henry has created a very SPECIAL story that gives her readers a phenomenal, MAGICAL escape into another era.. it’s then and now, where you will find inside these pages that the power of love IS an incredible thing. Hazel never gave up on finding Flora.. and there’s several surprising twists that bring something truly HEARTWARMING 💫 into the storyline.. even perhaps a second chance at the impossible. I’m still thinking about this book and want to read it again. I can’t recommend it enough or this author! ♥️🤩 5 stars — Pub. 5/2/23

The Secret Book of Flora Lea's premise intrigued me, as did the description of the Whisperwood story and novel. Not having read Patti Callahan's work since the illustrious Once Upon a Wardrobe, I was eager to give this one a try. For the most part, Patti didn't disappoint. And even the one fairly big flaw in the book pushes the story more into 3.6-3.7 territory. First off, I want to give Patti major kudos for making yet another World War II story unique and dare I say special in a saturated market. The story of London's child evacuees is somewhat familiar depending on whose books you read, but Hazel and Flora definitely stand out among their counterparts. Their determination to stay together, how they come to billet at Bridie Aberdeen's, their use of Whisperwood as a coping mechanism, and their overall experience all feel tailored to them. These elements contain twists and turns, emotional arcs, and "pops of color," as it were, not seen in stories like theirs (e.g., The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Once Upon a Wardrobe, split time WWII novels from authors like Pam Jenoff or Melanie Dobson). Patti's characters are both three-dimensional and uncomfortably relatable. Sometimes the discomfort comes from the unwise choices they make, since these are reminders of how vulnerable we all are to such choices. But for me, the discomfort, the rawness, the aching vulnerability, came in less obvious moments. For instance, I ached for Hazel as she explored, grappled with, and denied her growing love for Harry. I ached for Bridie as she struggled with the disappearance of her husband, her spiritual beliefs, and her place in Binsey--because she never truly seemed as wanted and loved as she deserved. Yet never were any of these characters victims, even little Flora when she went missing. No, these characters are strong, and not just strong in the face of war. They are strong in their autonomy, their compassion, and their interdependence. They are strong in both their goodness and their sins, their wisdom and their foolish moments. I truly enjoyed spending time with each of them. While most characters leave me wanting "more," I closed their story knowing I had enough and they had completed a journey with me. I also loved the settings of The Secret Book, and as I've said before, settings don't often win brownie points from me. This one though, really popped off the page. Binsey is as enchanting as Narnia or the Kilns, but it's a place all its own. I had no trouble believing this was the place Whisperwood was meant to exist, the one and only place you could find shimmering doors. I loved the small elements of ancient Catholic and Celtic culture within Binsey too, such as the treacle well and the chapel and the festival of St. Margaret. I wanted a bit more of these, especially how they interwove with Christian culture and a true love of Jesus (I'll get to that more in a minute). Finally, I appreciated Patti's interwoven mystery behind Whisperwood, its origins and its travels. Throughout the novel, I enjoyed guessing how Whisperwood came to be a bestselling series and who found or stole the tale from the Linden sisters. Those guesses didn't lead anywhere, which again, I'll get to. But the mystery itself was a lot of fun, and as someone who doesn't read a ton of mysteries, I don't get to say that very much. Plus, the mystery involved a book and a story, and as you might know, if there's a book inside a book, I'm usually sold. Now, unfortunately, on to The Secret Book's weak elements, the ones that push it into 3.6-3.7 territory. The first and most egregious is the solution to the Whisperwood issue. That solution, at least for me, comes completely out of left field. That is, I buy the idea behind Dorothy Bellamy's role in the story, at least to a point. And I buy the idea of Frances having a part in it, to a point. But the surrounding details were so convoluted, I was unable to keep up my suspension of disbelief. Without spoiling anything, trauma or not, I don't for one second believe Frances could've gotten away with what she did, in the absence of something like total, decades-long, retrograde amnesia. (Which, by the way, is extremely rare and would've been way too soap opera-like for this story). A bit more on this: I'm still unsure I understand where Peggy, Maria, and Linda Andrews fit into all this. I mean, intellectually, I "get it." But considering Hazel, Flora, Dot, and Frances' roles, the Andrews family feels extraneous and unneeded. And unfortunately, because of that, the idea of Whisperwood being a bestselling series no longer works. It's a real shame, because that idea provides a great reason for Hazel to revisit the story and find closure for the loss of her sister. But the Andrews family "somehow" finding the story through a traumatized sister and aunt, Linda angsting and crying over "stealing" it while claiming she didn't...I mean, for me, the entire thread fell apart. Finally--and this is something I've noticed with some of Patti Callahan's other work. I don't think Patti can decide whether she wants to write Christian or secular fiction, so she ends up with this strange hybrid. Now, sometimes this works, like when Bridie acts as a Christ-follower but also respects Celtic culture and explains the origins of the word "pagan." But other times, when a book billed as Christian has F bombs and several scenes of premarital sex, it doesn't work. I wish Patti and her publishing team would make up their minds about which market she's aiming for, and tailor any hybrid elements accordingly. Because no, spirituality need not be in readers' faces, but if it's there, it should be a bit clearer, I think. And yes, there should be lines that Christian books don't cross. Anyway, with all that said, The Secret Book of Flora Lea is still a strong one. It isn't perfect, and as I said, the ending was kind of a turn-off for me. I'm unsure if I'd read this one again. But I will recommend it for discerning and mature readers, especially if you're like me and enjoy stories within stories, or those with a fantastical connection.

I absolutely loved, loved, loved this enchanting ode to storytelling, books and love in various forms. In what may well be her best novel yet, master storyteller Patti Callahan Henry has penned - with her trademark gorgeous prose - a page-turning, immersive, heartfelt historical mystery about two sisters evacuated to the English countryside for safety during World War II’s Operation “Pied Piper.” This tale is chock full of vividly drawn, fascinating characters and set in both World War II and 1960s England, primarily in a charming, picturesque village near Oxford and in Bloomsbury in London, with occasional glimpses of Oxford and of St. Ives, Cornwall. I found myself yearning for a cuppa and visits to an old stone cottage in present day Oxfordshire and to St. Ives in short order! As a bonus, the cover is beautiful and truly captures the mood and essence of this story. Highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a complementary digital ARC. Opinions are my own.

The stories of Whispernwood, a place springing from the imagination of a young Hazel Aberdeen bring comfort to her younger sister Flora when the reality of WW Ii overwhelms them both. This land also has a profound effect on their livess and guides them to a devastating truth that lay buried for twenty years. Written with believable emotional reaction to tragedy as well as the joys of childhood.

This tale of a child gone missing in England during the second World War is unresolved twenty years later. The sister of the missing girl has never gotten over the disappearance and seeks answers. The story is rich in details of the travails of those displaced by the blitz that bombed London. I could only give the book three stars because of several problems. The author has undertaken two novels, one set in 1940 and one in 1960. We know what happened in 1940, yet we must have detailed scenes. This slows the narrative of the more recent story. The protagonist does some unbelievable things (like stealing a first edition when any other would do, like cold calling a foreign author without a plan, like not knowing her own heart). There is a repetition of various things, ranging from one character repeating a story the reader has already read, to teen twitching over sex, to narrator fretting. The effect is the make the book seem quite long and slow-moving, and this outweighs the interesting two (or three) stories.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was timed perfectly for me as I really enjoyed the setting, the characters and the plot line. It was our book club selection and sweet.

Excellent book! So much mystery and intrigue in this book. I often accurately guess the ending of novels before getting to the end, but this one was more surprising than most. Beautiful, haunting, sobering, and romantic. The characters had depth and complexity, and their journeys led to growth and insight.

There is so much to take in and enchant you with . . . honestly, I'm still processing it all as I write this. It captures the reality of how difficult in all accounts living in London during WW2 and having go send you child away and/or being a child sent away, the traumas & loss endured and the ramifications those events bring for years to come. Yet, the author doesn't leave you utterly hopeless in this situation. There is a light trying go burst through, some days are easier than others; but this book serves as a reminder to allow hope go flourish, even in grief!! And that unexpected joys can be ahead. Some books linger with you long after you've read it . . . this will be one it those books!!

This novel is simply superb. I didn't want it to end. It is exquisite in revealing the wonder of the imagination, the realm within our souls where all manner of story can be created and sometimes lived. But it's also a story of sisterly love, of loss, first love and the desperate need to believe in the seemingly impossible. Two sisters, Hazel and Flora Lea Linden are relocated to Binsey, a small town just outside Oxford, as part of Operation Pied Piper which was Britain's oddly-named program for moving children away from the threat of the German bombing in WWII. The sisters find home with Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry. Bridie is a whimsical type of person and cares for the girls encouraging their imaginations and helping minimise their fears for their mother left in London. Hazel, fourteen, helps Flora, only six, to put aside the trauma by telling her a wonderful fairytale, with the fabulous title, Whisperwood. It's a secret tale only known by the sisters. So Hazel believes. Fast forward twenty years to 1960, we meet 34 year old Hazel who continues to grapple with the loss of her sister, presumedly swallowed up by the fast moving torrent of the River Thames that flows through the township. Hazel is unable to forgive herself, believing she is at fault for leaving a napping Flora alone while she has cuddles with Harry. Hazel works at a rare bookshop and happens upon a first edition Whisperwood with original illustrations. As we all would do, Hazel turns her life upside down to discover all she can about the author of this book. Is her sister alive? It's riveting page turning reading. It's brilliant and I was especially surprised by what Hazel eventually discovers. I really enjoyed how the author portrayed Hazel. She's living with a shadow hanging over her that has limited her life choices. Not forgiving ourselves can do this. Watching the author develop Hazel through the story was brilliant and how she re-discovered herself was marvellous to read. With a fine cast of supporting characters, Callahan Henry brings us a story that will linger long in my heart and oh, wouldn't it be fabulous to see on the big screen. I was very fortunate to receive an early ebook copy via HarperCollins Australia via NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review. My pre-ordered copy arrived on release day (thanks Amazon.com.au) and I'm excited to read it again.

1939 and two sisters, Hazel and Flora are evacuated to Oxfordshire to escape the bombing. To distract her sister, Hazel tells stories of a magical land called Whisperwood, where they escape to have adventures. However, when Flora goes missing one day, Hazel blames herself and her stories. Twenty years later, working at a rare bookstore, Hazel is astonished when she unwraps a book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Other than Flora, she never told anyone about those childhood stories, yet the Whisperwood in this children's book is the same as her Whisperwood. Could it be that Flora is still alive, and if so Hazel will stop at nothing to find her. My first read from Patti Callahan Henry, I found the premise of this book intriguing, and was drawn into the story straight away. The chapters alternate between 1960, when Hazel comes across Whisperwood and the River of Stars, and twenty years earlier, charting her and Flora's evacuation and stay with the Aberdeens during the war. There was something very magical about the childhood stories that Hazel tells her sister, and the power of story-telling and imagination is a prominent theme in the book. Hazel tells the stories so that both she and Flora can find an escape from the horrors of wartime and the separation from their mother, yet after Flora disappears, Hazel stops telling and writing stories, something that was a passion. Indeed, whilst the narrative follows Hazel trying to find her sister, her journey also becomes one of healing and self-discovery, as she reconciles herself with her past, in order to finally be able to properly embrace her future. The story had a very cosy and almost fairy-tale like feel to it, especially the chapters set in Oxfordshire during the girls' stay there, which very much capture a sense of childhood innocence and adventure. Henry blends historical fiction with mystery, as well as romance in the book. I will say that whilst the book started strongly for me, as it went on, I did begin to feel that it didn't quite deliver on its initial promise. It perhaps felt a little repetitive and meandering in places, with the characters not as fleshed out as they could have been. Young Hazel was rather too angsty and as such not always the most likable character, and whilst I could connect better to older Hazel, she could be annoyingly indecisive, especially when to came to her romantic relationships. I will say that Harry was very lovable throughout. There were some twists in the story regarding Flora's disappearance, though for me the reveal felt somewhat rushed and contrived, and didn't pack the emotional punch that it should have. Also without wanting to give away spoilers, some of the plot and characterization around Flora's disappearance was a little bizarre. Overall, an intriguing premise, with a strong beginning, but could have been better executed in parts. 3.5 stars

I thought this was a lovely book, about the disappearance of a child during the Second World War when children had to leave home in London and be separated from their parents for safety's sale- the story is magical, whimsy, and extremely touching. I would recommend this anytime.

I think the book is very well written. There wasn’t a boring moment!

Loved this book, so well written! Made me think about my grandmother who was in London as a teen during the Second World War and some of the things she must have struggled with. This is a beautiful story and I must say I cried in the last few chapters.