This book evokes so many emotions! Set in ww2, these two children have to pack up and leave everything they knew to get away from the bombs. Their story is sad, uplifting, just wonderful.

A very enjoyable read with the storyline set in WW2. Sandy Taylor is a new to me author and I will definitely be looking at reading more.

Nell and Olive are now living in Wales after being evacuated from London. During WW2 many children in the UK were evacuated from bomb torn cities into the country. Parents had their children evacuated because they believed that they would be safe away from the bombing. However, many children went to terrible homes where they were exploited and used as free child labour, others abused or poorly fed. Fortunately many children were taken in by genuine kind people who wanted to do their bit for the war effort. Nell and Olive are lucky, in that they have been taken in by a vicar and his wife. Once they have adjusted to life in Wales, they make new friends and love living with Beth and Dylan.

One day, Dylan tell the girls that he is having to move to a new parish in Cardiff and unfortunately the girls cannot go with them. Both girls are devastated by this news and don't want to move to a new family, but they don't have a say in the matter and are moved to a remote farm some 20 miles away.

Life for Nell and Olive is now much worse. Being the elder sister, Nell develops coping strategies for them both and another evacuee on the farm also helps them. Events one day force Nell into taking action, which ends in dire consequences for both girls and they (view spoiler)

A very good storyline and excellent descriptions as to how life was in WW2. How people pull together in the force of adversity. All the characters are great, especially Olive and her humour.

Many thanks for the digital copy that I received via Netgalley.

Oh my goodness what an absolutely fantastic story this was . I absolutely loved it . 13 year old Nell and her 5 year old sister are evacuated from East End London in 1942 and sent to Wales . They leave behind their mother and two brother . This book tells the story of the two girls and how after a bad experience they make the decision to return to their family in London making their way in their own from Wales. This is an absolutely wonderful story that had me laughing in places and next thing I had tears rolling down my face . Sandy Taylor has an absolutely fabulous way of telling a story . If you’ve already read her Brighton Girls trilogy you will already know what a superb author she is and how she has this superb knack of bringing her characters to life. I would give this book more than five stars if I could.

This is a beautifully written story of 2 sisters, 13 year old Nell and 5 year old Olive, who leave their Mom and 2 brothers to find safety from the bombings in London. The story is set during WW2. Nell is so very strong and Olive is just adorable. Reading their story through their eyes is heartbreaking. They are both so brave and face all the challenges that come their way. I received and ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture. All opinions are my own.

This book is written in a very simplistic style. It reads like a young adult novel. The story is OK, but the
writing is definitely "easy reading". Not recommended for avid, discerning readers.

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.” ― Mark Twain

WOW!!!!!

There are books that leave a mark in the heart of a reader. A book that is so beautifully written that you are sure it will become an instant classic. I believe this is one of them. It reads like a classic. If you love Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre and Before We Were Yours you will fall in love with this one.

The story takes place in 1942 London during The Blitz bombings of WWII. Thirteen year old Nell, her eleven year old brother Tony, and five year old sister, Olive are asked to evacuate the city they live in as a means of surviving the threat of daily bomb raids. Nell is forced to take on the role of protector and be her siblings’ only guide.

Sandy Taylor takes us on an unforgettable journey of hope, love, heartbreak and resilience. The book had me hoping and praying for a good ending because I fell in love with the characters right away. I wanted them to be okay, to fight and survive and be loved and cared for.

I am a huge fan of WWII historical fiction and this book is now one of my favorite. It’s Right up there with the Book Thief, The Nightingale and very few others. One of the character in particular, stole my heart; made me laugh and cry and hope and cheer right along.

I always look for subtle ways in which the author develops their characters. I enjoy seeing them grow and I don’t mean in a physical-grown-up sense. Nell was developed in a way that left me feeling proud of her. From a lost girl in East End to becoming her sibling’s only hope.

This story had me in tears throughout. Tears of joy and sorrow. I cheered and cringed. Each one of the characters is special to me as most showed how wonderful it is to be able to help those less fortunate. It left me feeling hopeful and wanting more! Only few books can have that effect on me. I am ready to read it again!

Heartwarming wartime story of 2 sisters who were evacuated and their adventures during that time.
I have read and enjoyed all her books and look forward to reading more.

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor is a beautiful, moving story set in 1942 during the war. At the heart of the story are two young girls, Nell and Olive. The sisters were evacuees sent away from London to the countryside to keep them safe from the war. I fell in love with these two characters right from the first chapter. Nell is a sweet, strong young girl who I enjoyed getting to know through the chapters. I also loved how she was protective over her little sister. Just thinking of Olive right now brings tears to my eyes. I just love that little girl with all her quirkiness. I enjoyed reading about her and she made me smile a lot despite the fact that this wasn’t a light read.

This is a story about love and family in the time of war. Taylor took me through an emotional rollercoaster as I read about the two girls. I loved the imagery used in this book as it made me feel like I was right there in 1943 with the girls. You know how some authors can paint a picture using words? Yeah, that is definitely Taylor. I also enjoyed the character development. There are many wonderful characters that were well crafted in their roles that they impacted on the story even if they played minor roles. Apart from family, I loved the other dominant theme in the narrative, which was friendship. This was brilliantly portrayed between different characters. I loved how even the most unlikely people formed beautiful bonds throughout the story.

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor was quite an emotional, addictive read that I am certain will stay with me for a long time. Sandy’s writing is flawless. She has the ability to make readers forget everything else but the story. That is definitely what happened to me. For hours, I was completely lost in the world that she had created. I shared in the joy and sadness of the characters. This book had me smiling then crying and sometimes doing both at the same time. I totally adore this story and can’t read more books from this amazing author. Honestly, if you haven’t yet discovered Sandy Taylor’s books then you are definitely missing out on a great reading experience.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for this review copy, given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Kim from Bookouture for organising the Blog Tour!

This was my first Sandy Taylor book and I’m ashamed to admit it!! I like books set during the war, so why I haven’t read more by this author, I don’t know! The story is based around a Bermondsey family at the height of the London Blitz. Nell is the oldest of the children, although is nearly a young woman herself. She has two younger siblings, Tony and Olive and her mother has just had another baby, Freddie. London is becoming more dangerous due to the bombings and her mother decides to send the three children off to the countryside as evacuees. Tony decides he doesn’t want to go, so it’s down to Nell to look after her sister, Olive. They are evacuated to a little village in Wales, to be looked after by the local vicar and his wife. They settle in really well until one day Olive’s safety is threatened. Nell has to make a decision to protect them and she and Olive go on the run back home.

What a lovely story! I feel in love with this book as soon as I started reading you. You are immediately dragged into the 1940’s with such great storytelling, and it was that realistic that I was sure I could smell the smokiness of London during the Blitz as I was reading! I’ve read books about evacuees before and have always thought how heart-breaking it must have been for both the parents and the children to have to leave each other without knowing whether they would ever see each other again. When Nell’s brother Tony decided that he was going to stay in London with his mum, poor Nell then had to have the responsibility of looking after Olive on her own.

I loved all the characters, especially Olive. Coming from a typical East End family, little Olive certainly wasn’t one to mind her manners! No matter how many times she was told not to swear, she still did it anyway! The book covers right through to the end of the war and is wonderfully written. Without giving any spoilers, the generosity of the people that Nell and Olive meet throughout their time truly shows the wartime spirit that I’ve always heard about.

A heart-warming and funny story about family, friends and love. As Olive would say “absolutely bloody wonderful!”

Five Stars!

I absolutely loved this story. Set in world war 2 it tells the story of two children who were evacuated to the Welsh countryside and although you thought they were settled things turned out very differently but they went through terrible times and survived and eventually everything turned out fine. I didn't realise until the end that I had previously read and enjoyed another book by Sandy Taylor so think she will be added to my favourite authors list

As the story begins we meet two Sisters, Nell and Olive who are being sent away from their East End family home to avoid the Blitz during World War II. The story follows them through their heart rendering tale with people they meet during their evacuation, during which they have emotional experiences and make decisions which change their lives and those around them for ever. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the first to the very last page. This is the second book that I have by Sandy Taylor and I will now be purchasing the rest of her catalogue. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This book is filled with humor, sadness, triumph and love. It's a wonderful story. The author's writing style was inviting and easy to read. Character development was so realistic I felt like I knew some of the people in the book.

An entrancing story set against the backdrop of World War II. Due to the frequent bombings in London, 13-year-old Nell and 5-year-old Olive are evacuated to the countryside where they are taken in by a vicar and his wife. The mother and her two sons remained in London in hopes the father, who is missing in the war, comes home. The plan is to join Nell and Olive at a later time.

I really like stories told from a child's point of view - they seem to capture some of the naivete and wonder that only children can impart. Nell was faced with a huge amount of responsibility taking care of Olive and facing all new circumstances. No matter what happened she faced it with courage and a serenity that was admirable. Olive was a real treat, she kept me laughing throughout the story.

My thanks to Sandy Taylor and Bookouture through Netgalley for an advance copy.

I absolutely adore this author. She has a way of transporting you to the world of her stories and the lives of her characters - books like hers are why I read. This was a beautiful book - the author's prose is to die for. And this tale - wow! Original and stunning. I was invested in the lives of the characters, I lived out their dramas and came away changed in some small, meaningful way. This is a stunningly written masterpiece of a book that I will be thinking of for a long time. Loved it. Highly recommend it to everyone.

This is a very fine book about a family living in an East End London tenement building during the Second World War. As the book begins, the eldest daughter Nell is outside on the cold stoop attending to her precocious five year old sister Olive and middle brother Tony. She is trying to occupy them while their mother is upstairs giving birth. Their father is serving in the War and is missing. For the modest living conditions and the bleak situation, there are loving and supportive neighbors in the building that always pitch in when needed. This element lends such a heartwarming cast to the story and is a continuing theme throughout the book in different locales.

Because of the bombing raids that were concentrated in the City of London, children were being transported to the country to safe houses. This is what happened with teenage Nell and her little sister Olive. Following the birth of their Mom's baby, arrangements were made to send Nell, Olive and Tony to a country location. Tony leapt off the train at the last minute, deciding to remain with his mother and the baby in the East End. This left Nell in charge of Olive as they journeyed to an uncertain future.

At first, Nell and Olive are placed in what is a fairytale situation in a charming picture perfect village in Wales. They are chosen by the young parish vicar and his wife to stay with them in a home that looked as if it belonged on a Christmas card. Quite quickly the anguish of separation from their family is dimmed by the warm beds, good food, loving "Auntie and Uncle" and new friends that they make in this quaint village. However, all good things come to an end and the sisters' idyllic living situation is again disrupted.

The book covers a four-year period where Nell and Olive face the challenge of various living situations while separated from their parents. Their journey is richly and beautifully written. From the kindness and charity of people they meet on the run, to the frightening and unpleasant characters they encounter, this is a high standard of writing that I hope to experience even more from author Sandy Taylor. Well done!

I absolutely loved The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor. It was a charming book with wonderful characters. Two sisters were evacuated from London in 1942 to the Welsh countryside and have to leave their mother and brothers behind. The story is very emotional and uplifting. This is the first book from this author that I have read and I will certainly be reading more of her work. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant! Love this author and was excited to read this. Another heartfelt story of a family's determination through the war, I devoured this in one sitting.

What an absolutely fabulous book this is.

I have to start with Olive from the book. What an adorable and wonderful character. There is such a lovely innocence about her and she brings a certain amount of humour into the story. I absolutely loved the relationship between her and Nell, it truly was so lovely to read and my heart just melts even now just thinking about it.

Nell is yet another fabulous character. Having to grow up quickly whilst being a mother as well as a sister to Olive. I couldn’t imagine being sent away from home and having to live with strangers, even though it is for their own safety. I wanted to reach out and give a big hug so many times with what she has to carry on her shoulders.

There are a few unsavoury characters but mainly the characters in this story are just scrumptious. I loved each and every one of them. Each one stands out in their own right and I so wished I could vanish into those pages to meet them all in person as I wanted to have the relationship that Nell did with them.

The Runaway Children is a book that readers will treasure. It’s one of those reads that is timeless and will be enjoyed for many years to come. Mesmerizing, beautiful, sweet, funny, I just adored The Runaway Children and feel bereft at having now finished it. Without a doubt this is one book I could read again and again and I know I will love it even more than the last time I read it. Simply wonderful!