This is a heartbreaking historical fiction novel that had me captivated throughout.
The friendship in this book is so heartwarming and beautiful

This is a wonderfully compelling book

I really enjoyed this book set in England during World War 2. This book was an easy but at the same time a really good read about friendship during difficult times and how people can survive even during the darkest of times, 4⭐️

I was not able to get interested in this book and I did not finish it. The characters and the plot were not able to catch or keep my attention.

A WW2 story of a German Jewish girl a and an English orphan girl forming a binding friendship that will help see them through their pain and troubles of the war. Recommended to fans of war stories.

I wanted to love The Outcast Girls, but the writing style didn't interest me. I found it too slow to continue reading.

I enjoyed this book. It held my attention from start to end. I recommend it to others. You are going to enjoy it as much as I did.

I was given a copy of The Outcast girls by the publisher in exchange for an honest. This is the second book by Shirley Dickson I have read, the first book I thoroughly enjoyed so was looking forward to reading her latest book. The story is set near the beginning of world war 2. It is about Frieda who is sent to England to escape Germany and Sandra who is an orphan and goes as a housemate. When they both end up working as Land girls they are drawn together and support each other throughout the war. This was another well written book by Shirley which she addresses some difficult subjects. A great read for fans of historical fiction.

★★★★ 4.5 stars

THE OUTCAST GIRLS is the third book by Shirley Dickson I have read and I knew I was in for a treat. I loved "The Orphan Sisters" and "Our Last Goodbye" so when I saw another release by the author I knew I just had to have it. Dickson easily transports the reader back in time with her wonderful stories quickly absorbing us in life during World War 2. An enthralling page turner, we journey from Germany to England in this poignant tale of love, loss and friendship.

England 1939: After the death of their mother, Sandra Hudson and her younger brother Alf are sent to live at Blakely Hall by their father who is unable to cope. Soon after, their father also dies so the two children are left to grow up in the orphanage until the age of 15, when they must then leave to find a job. When the time came, Sandra is given a job as a housemaid in the Kirton household. But she soon discovers that life in the orphanage was a lot safer when the Kirton's eldest son Duncan comes home on leave. The only other servant is the cook, Olive Goodwin, who takes young Sandra under her wing and gives her a place to stay with her and her husband Tommy. Not wanting to be idle and yet not wanting to return to service, Sandra decides to join the Women's Land Army. A decision that is only cemented upon learning that her brother Alf has joined the RAF.

Germany 1938: Eleven year old Frieda Sternberg lives in the Jewish quarter in Berlin with her family. Tensions are rife and before the Nazis deport them to concentration camps, the Sternbergs learn of the "Movement for the Care of Children from Germany"...where Jewish children are relocated and looked after by families in England. They decide at once that Frieda and her younger brother Kurt must be sent to safety. Their papa goes back to their apartment for the shop's weekly takings, a few precious possessions and photograph for the children to take with them for financial secrutiy...but he does not return, having been arrested as he left the Jewish quarter.

So Frieda and Kurt board a train, clutching their suitcases and identity cards, to Holland where they then board a ship that will take them to England. But at the last minute, Kurt jumps from the ship and escapes into the crowd leaving Frieda to travel to England alone where she doesn't speak a word of the language. Upon arrival in England, she travels by train to the north to Newcastle and ends up in a little village outside of Hexham called Leadburn, where she is given a home with Doris Leadbetter, the local postmistress. Over the months and years, Doris shows Frieda a kindness she didn't expect and teaches her the English language. She attends the local school but is bullied terribly by the other children for being German. Frieda grew to love the village and the kind widow who had given her a home, who she called Aunty Doris.

But at the back of her mind, Frieda could not stop thinking about her family back in Germany. Or her younger brother Kurt who jumped ship as they were about to embark on their new lives together. What had become of them? And would she ever see them again?

England 1943: Sandra is thrilled to be accepted into the WLA and is soon sent to the country to begin her work as a Land Girl in the village of Leadburn. The Land Girls reside in a hostel in the village and are tasked with their duties on various farms throughout the area. Sandra, never having ridden a bicycle before, soon learns its value when travelling to and from the farm she works on. But there is something else Sandra has never learnt to do...and that is read. So when letters from Alf and Olive arrive for her at the hostel, she secretes them for later when she can have someone read them to her...thereby keeping her illiteracy a secret from the others.

Upon arrival in Leadburn, one of the first things Sandra does is find the local church. She has made a bargain with God to keep her Alf safe and she will pray for him at church every Sunday. It is there she meets the young curate, Matthew Carlton. Sandra decides that as a man of the cloth she can trust him with her secrets, and so she asks Mr Carlton to teach her to read...as well as having him read her letters to her until she is able to read them herself.

One of her first jobs as a Land Girl was working on the Wilson farm milking cows, mucking out stalls and feeding the pigs. But as a townie, Sandra had never done such work before and the grumpy Mr Wilson - owner of the farm - had no time to teach her. It is there that Sandra meets shy German girl Frieda, who shows Sandra what to do. The two girls soon become friends and find that their childhoods, though different, were both difficult and they felt as if they were kindred spirits. Both girls worried for their younger brothers, miss their families and have low self confidence. While Sandra doesn't think very highly of herself being unable to read and thinks she is stupid, Frieda has been bullied throughout school for being German and has taken it upon herself to not eat for as long as her family is suffering. Both girls deal with their difficulties in secret until they find the strength to confide in each other and together they form a bond that changes them both for the better with their friendship.

Beautifully written, THE OUTCAST GIRLS is a story about two lost and lonely young women who find friendship in the midst of war and a happiness neither thought they would. Raw, heartbreaking and heartwarming, Frieda and Sandra's strength simply shines through the pages as they grow from girls into women, finding love where they least expect it.

Captivating and compelling, THE OUTCAST GIRLS is so heartwarming I was absorbed from the very first page and found myself becoming invested in the beautiful friendship between the two girls. I also love the characters or Olive, Doris and Matthew Carlton which added a depth to the stories involving each of them.

I have just one complaint about this otherwise wonderful story, and that was the ending. I found it just came to such an abrupt end that I was left feeling...what just happened? And it is that which keeps it from a 5 star rating this time.

As with all of Dickson's novels, THE OUTCAST GIRLS is an enjoyable read that shines a light on a different perspective to war in the way that it affects those at home and how the women do their bit for the war effort and keeping things running until their lads are home. It is heartwarming, heartbreaking but beautifully written.

My third read by Shirley Dickson, I especially love how pieces of her previous two - "The Orphan Sisters" and "Our Last Goodbye" - were cleverly incorporated into THE OUTCAST GIRLS. Blakely Hall featured in the first book, along with the friends she made there Dorothy and Esther (Etty) which were briefly mentioned. A nod to her second book with the mention of May Robinson and her parent's boarding house also noted. Having said that, it is important to note that all books can be read as standalones and do not follow on from each other...although they do complement each other. I thoroughly recommend them all!

I have loved Shirley Dickson's books since I discovered "The Orphan Sisters" and I continually look forward to more by this wonderfully talented author. Can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.

I would like to thank #ShirleyDickson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheOutcastGirls in exchange for an honest review.

A terrific WWII saga. Really enjoyed this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Two girls from different countries and completely different backgrounds are thrown together by war. Sandra was brought up in an orphanage and Frieda by her loving family but once they start working together they make friends and realise that they also have a lot in common. A great WW2 saga.

The back story is set in England during World War II. Two young women have survived the hard conditions and life threatening events to land in a small English village at the same time. Both are alone, missing their family and sharing their fears that they will never see them again. They are very different backgrounds but learn to trust and help each other to become the support each needs.
Shirley Dickson has done an excellent job of describing everyday life during the late 1930's and early 1940's. Her characters are vividly developed, I can see and hear these young ladies as they work together and ultimately become the family both of them need. The story is very emotional, drawing readers into the events that shape The Outcast Girls.

I absolutely loved this book. I just got totally drawn into the story and caught up in it. I’ve read a book by this author before, and I knew that she writes such superb, authentic historical fiction.

It’s told from both Sandra’s and Freida’s points of view, with slightly more input from Sandra.

Both of them have been through a lot, and have had to be strong. They’re both quite innocent, Sandra is a little older, but seems younger, and they just click when they meet. Freida hasn’t had many friends, and it’s very touching to see their friendship develop. They’re good for each other, and complement each other.

Although they are in a quiet country village, the impact of war is everywhere. There are still shortages and rationing, and loved ones away fighting. It was heartbreaking to hear of the fear when the telegram delivery boy would appear on his bicycle.

The story flows beautifully and will totally captivate you from start to finish. I savoured it every time I read it, and was sorry when it was finished. I’d really love a sequel.

If you like historical fiction, or just love a beautiful story with excellent characters, please read it, you will love it.

I try not to compare books to others in the same genre because I think each book should stand on its merit. However, sometimes it is just unavoidable – that is the case with this book. I liked the concept of two girls from disparate backgrounds meeting in a farm program while WWII raged. I did learn about the Land Army, which was interesting because I didn’t know much about it. But there were times the story seemed to go off-target and some events seemed forced. Compared to other WWII-set novels I have read lately, this one was a tad lacking. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.

An interesting and enjoyable book that looks at wartime stories from a different perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed reading book and would recommend it to those who enjoy this type of historical events.

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙾𝚞𝚝𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝙶𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝚂𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝙳𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚜𝚘𝚗
𝑃𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑: 24 𝐽𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑦 2020

✭✭✭✭
4 STAR REVIEW

The story is about 2 young girls, Frieda Sternberg and Sandra Hudson, from different backgrounds and different parts of the world. With the war raging on, both of them have experienced the heartache war brings.

Sandra and her younger brother Alf grew up in Blakeley Orphanage, they just had each other. Now her brother is a pilot in the war and she is in England. Being miles apart and not always knowing if he was still alive, it kept Sandra constantly worrying.

Frieda Sternberg wasn't an orphan but after she and her brother Kurt was supposed to be shipped from Germany to England, he jumped ship before they boarded and she was stuck in the mass and pulled unto the ship, she felt like an orphan. She was sent to a strange land with a strange language that she had to learn. She received no news of her family left behind in Germany, and so the thought of being an orphan haunted her. Everyday she had this constant yearning for them.
On a farm, fate brings these two girls together, working as Land Girls they formed a bond as strong as family. Two strangers becoming sisters, enduring the war and becoming each other's rock to lean on during time of loss, heartache and life.

I loved reading this story and grew fond of Frieda and Sandra. Though the war casted them out, together they found a home. The dialect is very interesting, it is my first time reading it. I like the words 'yer', 'hinny' and 'dogsbody'. It's funny how a different dialect can transport you to another country, another culture, another life.

One of my favorite quotes in the story: 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦' 𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴.
Life is all about choices and Frieda and Sandra didn't get to make a choice in what happened to them, but they made a choice to be strong and being stronger together, no matter what.

Frieda & her brother are German Jews & as the situation becomes more dangerous they are put on a boat to England but Kurt jumps ship at the last moment leaving her bereft. She is fostered by a very kind lady she calls Aunty Doris & tries to settle into life in the rural NE of England.

Sandra & her brother Alf were brought up in an orphanage. Sandra went to work for a demanding family who treated her very badly. After escaping the clutches of the son of the house the kindly cook helps her. Eventually she ends up as a Land girl in the same village as Freida.

In many ways the girls are similar, Freida worries she'll never see Kurt again, whilst Sandra worried about Alf in the RAF. Through the events of their lives they form a strong bond.

I enjoy stories of women in WW2 & this was a good read. There are a nice selection of characters & the story moves along well. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This story of two girls growing up in different but completing similar circumstances had me on edge wondering how can they survive this time with so many struggles. The great part of the story was they were able to find one another. The bond of this friendship was remarkable. This showed the reader the travesty of war. The affects on people in the homefront. The Land Girls and the children sent to safety from Germany. I was moved by this story. Each girl must come to terms with her own identity as a survivor. I would definitely recommend this novel.

It's 1938 and the rumbling of war has just begun. Jews are already being taken away, but Frieda Sternberg's parents have a chance to send her to England; so they send her away. There she is placed with a widow until the war is over. Sandra Hudson is an English orphan who has aged out and found a place as a cook in a wealthy home. But when the son tries to molest her, she is fired and takes off on her own. Frieda and Sandra both feel like outcasts and develop a close friendship when they end up becoming Land Girls. Due to the lack of male help because of the war, Land Girls were assigned to a hostel in a given area and assisted on any farm that needed extra help.

The relationship between Frieda and Sandra was so special. They both had individual problems that they helped the other try to overcome. They saw each other through first loves that weren't God's plan and didn't work out. They were strong for one another as they worried about their remaining family members who were caught up in the war. I hated to see this book conclude because I wanted to know what happened to the girls and Frieda's family after the war. Here's hoping Dickson decides to write a sequel because this new-to-me author certainly captured my attention with this wonderful novel.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

The Outcast Girls by Shirley Dickson was so, so good. Shirley is a wonderful writer and I am keeping an eye out for future books from her. I always forget how I love historical fiction especially when it tugs at your heartstrings like this one.

England, 1937: After a devastating childhood at Blakely Hall Orphanage, fifteen-year-old Sandra is released. She finds work as a housemaid, finally able to put her past behind her. But the start of World War Two throws the country into turmoil, and her brother Alf is sent away to fight, leaving her completely alone.

Germany, 1939: Eleven-year-old Frieda is about to board a ship bound for England with her brother, Kurt. Life at home is perilous, with synagogues set alight and innocent lives lost to the Nazis. They have no choice but to flee, with only their identity cards and a small suitcase. But at the last moment, as Frieda stands on the deck crammed with frightened children, she spots her brother jumping off, back to land.

England, 1943: Joining the Land Army, Sandra is sent to a farm in the remote countryside where she meets evacuee Frieda. The girls are grappling with their own tragedies – Sandra fretting over whether Alf, flying a bomber in the heavens, will see tomorrow, and Frieda distraught that Kurt abandoned her, uncertain whether he is alive.

Sandra and Frieda form a friendship that sees them through the darkest of days, but in times of war heartbreak is always just around the corner. Will the girls ever be reunited with their loved ones? And will the relationships they have fostered amidst the terror of war survive?

I knew from the first page that I would love the book and I did. Shirley knows about to make the reader feel emotions and empathy for the characters in her books. The Orphan Sisters is another book by this author which I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND. You can read both books back to back, they are heart-tugging pages turners.

Ninety-nine cents on Kindle, worth every penny! Loved it.

The Outcast Girls by Shirley Dickson was a book I don't usually read and it did not disappoint. I found this book a Lovey warm read of a heart warming historical Fiction. It was set from 1939 to the Second World war and is about two young girls Sandra and Frieda go on an incredible journey of friendship between two young girls.

England in 1939; Sandra is fifteen and lived in the Blakely Hall Orphanage with her older brother Alf, She was at the age where she can leave and find work, which she did as a housemaid in a grand old house. Sandra's tries to put her past behind her. Her brother is sent away to fight as England is thrown into turmoil as Second World War takes hold of the country. Sandra is all alone and not knowing if her brother Alf is alive or dead!.

Germany in 1939; Freida is eleven years old and is about to aboard a ship bound for Britain with her brother Kurt. Life with their family is a very dangerous one and they have no choice to flee just with their identity cards and a small suitcase. They have to be on the move all the time to survive as the Nazis are setting alight to all the synagogues and close friends and family members are disappearing around them. While Freida and her brother Kurt stand on the crammed deck to aboard the ship with other frightened children Kurt jumps off and heads back for Land. All alone Freida heads for the ship for Britain!

England, 1943: Sandra is send to a farm in the remote countryside and joins the Land Army, This is where she meets evacuee Frieda. Sandra and Frieda forms a great friendship, they help and support each other through the darkest days of their young life.

Will the two girls be reunited with their loved ones?

Will the relationships they have fostered amidst the terror of war survive it?

WoW.............What a book! it was beautifully written and I will be reading more from this new author to me. Thanks Shirley for opening my eyes to a new book gene to get my teeth into.

I highly recommend this book.

Big Thank you to Shirley Dickson, Bookouture Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of the book.