The Little Wartime Library, by Kate Thompson.
This WWII novel set in East End London and the Bethnal Green underground Station shelter.
This story follows Clara Button, the librarian of the only underground library in England and her assistant, Ruby Monroe, as they struggle to serve the underground population and process the death and destruction that surrounds them daily.
Clara works tirelessly with the youth, offering nightly story times while mourning the loss of her husband after the battle of Dunkirk. Ruby faces her own battles after losing her sister in the tragic disaster of 173 lost lives in the crowds’ haste to get down to safety at the Bethnal Green Station shelter.
The courage of these many community members shines through as they support each other, build relationships, read together, and do what they must to survive the bombings. This Little library and it’s librarians become the heart of this community.
The basis of this story comes from real live events with much of the research included at the end of the book. It is a reminder of the importance of libraries as community centers and meeting places in times of trouble and compares WWII with Covid 19.
#netgalley
#littlelibraries

Happy Pub Day to "The Little Wartime Library" by Kate Thompson! This was a sweet read about preserving libraries during WWII in England. 3.5⭐

This historical fiction novel is based on real events! Clara and Ruby run an underground library for the tiny makeshift village that has popped up in an unfinished Tube station. They are challenged by the bombings of London, a misogynistic boss, and family members who disapprove of their jobs. Taking care of their library patrons, including children, the elderly, and women in abusive relationships, causes Clara and Ruby to become almost like social workers.

I thought this book was very well-researched and I enjoyed the extra material in the back, such as descriptions of what really happened in Bethnal Green (along with pictures). I liked the ending and how the end of the war brought Ruby and Clara new opportunities as some doors closed. However, it wasn't un-put-downable and I sometimes struggled to keep track of all the characters.

⚠️ war deaths, bombings, PTSD, tragic deaths, brief mentions of internment camps & torture

Shareability: sort of like a gentle homefront version of a Kate Quinn novel

Clara Button is a librarian during WW2 and she risks her life daily to help keep a secret underground community alive. She is able to smuggle in books along with her best friend. There are so many terrible things going on so it’s nice they were able to do this for others. I loved the found family aspect to the book because sometimes those that become closest to you are by chance and not initially chosen. They stick together and work together to keep a community alive. I loved the cover as well it was so beautiful! I think the author did a great job of mixing the reality of the times with the lovely community of people. I also liked the best friend character.

The Little Wartime Library is historical fiction about a part of WWII that I didn't know about. With all of the bombings, people set up "camps" underground and Clara made sure to also make the library part of that shelter.

Clara and Ruby are friends through thick & thin and they try to help the families and kids that are taking shelter underground. Along the way, they also form relationships with these people as well as romantic relationships with men they feel lucky to have met. Of course, there continues to be incidences that are the cause of the war that they have to cope with and survive.

I felt that the first third or so of the book was a little slow, but then it really did pick up and I was invested as to what was happening with everyone. I rooted for both Clara and Ruby and really enjoyed the end when we found out what had happened to each of them.

BRb SObbing! This wa beautiful ode (love letter?) to libraries and reading, and to friendship and to love - no matter what it looks like !

Clara and Ruby are complex, dynamic characters who take centre stage in the underground library. I love that this book is set towards the 'end' of the war and the focus on Jersey and reading - two unique aspects (for me!). Clara's and Ruby's wars have been different, but both heartbreaking and their combined courage gets them through, around and over hurdles big and small - summoning strength from one another, from the heroines of the books they devour and share and of course, the readers of the library!

I appreciate the focus on trauma and its lingering effects. I also love the idea of a found family - done so beautifully.

Sob.

This little gem was so needed! I was in a bit of a slump after my last read. This is such a beautiful and endearing character driven novel. Steeped with so much imagery you feel you are right there in the middle of the chaos during WW2. Smack dab in the tunnels with everyday people just trying to survive.

The Little Wartime Library is centric to the characters in this book. You will grow to love some of them and loathe others too. Clara and Ruby are the stars of this book-they will have your heart. They run an underground library in the tunnels built over the tracks of the Bethnal Green Tube. It’s a whole community that is displaced, but they make a home, become family and watch out for one another. The library is where everyone gathers and books become a respite and an escape from the darkness around them. Not a soul in this book is untouched by the trajedy of war, yet through the despair you feel the unending hope. The hope that through dark times it’s the people and it’s their love that create an environment that once seemed so bleak, to overflow with light and promise. 5 star read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Happy pub day to The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson!

"Books are a nice diversion, but life, real life, marches on regardless."

Thoughts: The premise of this one instantly captivated me! The story takes place during World War II and follows Clara Button and Ruby Monroe, who are two best friends that set out to challenge the status quo, during a time of war and heartbreak. Clara manages an oasis known as the Bethnal Green Station, which has a little slice of everything needed to survive life during war, shelter, a cafe, and the best part, a library.

I loved the friendship between Clara and Ruby, they care so much about each other and were always encouraging each other to be the best versions of themselves! I also loved how the author depicted Clara as being an advocate for women during this time period, encouraging them to get lost in the pages of a book, when society was pushing them back into the gender roles commonly known for this time period in history.

The author's notes of the Bethnal Green Station and stock images included at the end of the story truly brought the setting to life and I was SO intrigued.

The literary focus of this one was very interesting to me, as it shed some light on some of the popular books and genres common to this time in history. I mean even women of this time period wanted to read steamy nooks!! 😂👏🏼

Some downfalls though I felt that this one dragged on a bit and I could have done without the romance plot, but overall I found it to be well researched, and I loved the strong theme of women overcoming adversity while living in wartime Britain.

Thank you to Forever for providing me with a physical ARC and thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC of this heartfelt novel in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars
This story will take you on an adventure – both emotionally and through your imagination. These characters are so relatable that they feel real, as do what they went through during the course of the story. Thompson has a depth hand at creating a world that draws the reader in and feel so very real. This story sheds a light on the various aspects of the human spirit during the darkest times. The story and characters are captivating and interesting from start to finish.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I finished the last page minutes before heading out to dinner in a wild wind storm. Not focused at all on the rocking of our high profile vehicle, I was back in blitz-torn London, 1944, in an underground library that gave hope to so many.

"It's like Aladdin's cave in here," declared young reader Marie, upon her first visit.

The role of the library during war -- based on a true story -- is revealed in this gripping historical novel featuring courageous librarian Clara and her lively assistant Ruby:

"Young childless widow Clara Button is doing her bit for the war effort, running Britain’s only Underground Shelter Library.... Our barbarous foes may be hell-bent on burning London to the ground, but beneath the city’s surface, Mrs. Button calmly carries on stamping books and ensuring everyone has a thumping good read to take their mind off the bombs."

The library forms the heart of a community of thousands who bunked nightly in the unused tube station, which also boasted a theater, cafe, nursery, even a hairdresser.

And we see how books such as The Wind in the Willows, Rebecca, Treasure Island, and Gone with the Wind gave vital respite from the deadly blitz and the resulting tragic deaths; from grief over loved ones lost on the battlefield; from domestic violence, sexual assaults, and other crimes that ensued as before.

I read THE LITTLE WARTIME LIBRARY in two sittings, left in awe by this inspiring story that remains with me still. Highly recommended for histfic fans and readers who love uplifting and beautifully written tales.

The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson was an engaging book to read. I love how the author engaged you into a family story about a library in the tubes of the London subway during World War 2.

This story is about a grandmother telling her grandchildren how she ran the library during wartime in the tubes of london. She gives great descriptions of how the library was set up, how tragedies that happened in history were handled and I love stories came about and unfortunately were dashed during war.

This book is a definite read again and again and I highly suggest picking up a copy.

For me, the best historical fiction is the kind that takes you right back to that time and convinces you that it is real. You might even convince yourself that those characters and their stories were real.

As an avid reader, I obviously adore books. But I also adore stories about books and how powerful they could be. So The Little Wartime Library, the story of an underground library during World War II had so much potential.

And these expectations were blown away. I was instantly captivated by Clara, the head librarian, and Ruby, her sidekick and dear friend. Their commitment to the library, books and the community is evident from the first page and makes you get invested quickly.

What I found most compelling were the stories of how impactful the books were on the members of the community. The majority of library members lived underground. And the books gave them an escape. And an opportunity to learn. And be empowered.

Of course, that empowerment rustles feathers. It's no suprise that two strong women running the library a children's reading program and a book club doesn't sit well. And Clara and Ruby have to navigate that as the war rages on.

It is also a story of hope - finding it in the darkest of places. And how family isn't necessarily just what you are born into - but the relationships you seek out and fight for. And also the power of resilence.

It is also a love letter to libraries - I was particularly moved by the author's note, where author Kate Thompson discussed the 100 interviews she did with librarians to prepare for this book. And how for so long they have been so crucial to society - whether that was during war, or during the COVID-19 pandemic. As someone who has picked up covid tests and my local library for the last year, I could not agree more.

This was such an excellent book. I couldn't put it down. I fell for these characters and their stories. What a gift it was to read!

I'll post this review to goodreads, retail sites and my instagram @scottonreads

Captivating, rich, and inspirational!

The Little Wartime Library is a heartwarming, tragic, uplifting tale set in England during 1944 that takes you into the lives of Clara Button, a young, plucky librarian with a kind heart, and Ruby Munroe, a loyal friend and hardworking assistant, who after both suffering unimaginable personal loss work tirelessly to give the people and children of East London a sanctuary and source of escapism by moving the library destroyed by bombs at the start of the Blitz seventy feet underground into the haven and community created on the unused tracks of the Bethnal Green tube station.

The prose is evocative and rich. The characters are genuine, determined, and courageous. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine seamlessly into an alluring tale of life, loss, love, family, devastation, hardship, hope, friendship, adversity, self-discovery, wartime living, survival, and ultimately the power of books.

The Little Wartime Library is an insightful, poignant, engrossing read by Thompson that does a wonderful job of interweaving historical facts and compelling fiction into an absorbing, heart-tugging tale that is exceptionally atmospheric, beautifully entertaining and a true love letter to libraries and librarians everywhere.

This was a pure delight to read!! Based on the real story of the Bethnal Green underground library that operated after the original was bombed at the beginning of the London Blitz in 1940.

I switched between audio and physical copies while reading this amazing love letter to libraries and librarians. The book truly had everything I love in a good story: strong female friendship, found family, some romance, ties to Canada plus adventure, a dual timeline and a testament to the power of books to help get us through difficult times.

Filled with great quotes from librarians at the beginning of each chapter (although these were in the audiobook but not the physical copy I have which was sad. I hope my copy is a mistake, there were some excellent ones!).

The reader’s guide and author’s note at the end also made for a fascinating read! The amount of research the author put into this book was commendable and I loved that she included so much of it. There were archival photos, quotes from interviews she held with a variety of librarians, past and present plus so much more.

There were also so many parallels between this story and our present pandemic life - librarians going above and beyond for their communities, books providing a solace and escape from the hardships of life, etc etc

Much thanks to NetGalley and Forever for an early digital copy, Hachette for sending me a gifted physical copy and @libro.fm for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Favourite quote:
“Sounds strange, but library work isn’t all about books. It’s the people who make it special; you never know who’s going to walk in and what their story is.”

“A library is the only place you can go—from cradle to grave—that is free, safe, democratic and no one will try to flog you anything. You don’t have to part with a penny to travel the world. It’s the heartbeat of a community, offering precious resources to people in need. It’s a place just to be, to dream and to escape—with books. And what’s more precious than that? So, here’s to all library workers. We need you.”
-From The Author’s Note, The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson

During WWII, the unfinished Bethnal Green Station not only provided shelter to five thousand people who slept in the bunkers constructed in the tunnels – a safe haven amid the devastation caused by the Blitz but also housed a theatre that hosted opera and ballet, a coffee shop, doctor’s quarters and a wartime nursery and a library.

Set in 1944, The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson follows twenty-five-year-old Clara Button, a young widow working as a librarian in the underground library in the Bethnal Green Tube Station and her close friend and assistant Ruby Munroe. Widowed after losing her husband in Dunkirk, Clara is the heart and soul of the library and friend to its patrons- the children, factory workers and those sheltering underground to whom reading provided an escape from the reality outside. Clara’s job isn’t easy, having to deal with misogyny, censorship and petty politics, and her personal losses but she is determined to help anyone who needs her assistance including evacuees fleeing their homes, women facing abusive relationships, those working multiple jobs just to provide for their loved ones and those needing the sanctuary of the library to cope with everything that is happening on the outside. Both Clara and Ruby have much to deal with on the personal front - for Clara it is the loss of her husband, the secrets she harbors and her conflicted feeling for an ambulance worker she meets when he saves her from being attacked outside her home and Ruby is dealing with the tragic death of her elder sister and domestic violence at home with her abusive stepfather’s violence directed toward her mother. As the narrative progresses, we see how both Clara and Ruby not only stand up for their friends and family but are also compelled to make choices that would significantly impact their own stories.

Narrated from the perspectives of Clara and Ruby in alternating chapters, The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson is a beautifully written story that combines fact and fiction while touching upon themes of war, loss, hope and survival, and the significance of libraries and librarians in our communities, especially during difficult times ( the author also incorporates a discussion on present times and the need for libraries in the context of the pandemic). The author writes with compassion capturing the life and times of wartime Britain – the loss, death and destruction caused by the war, and the hope and resilience of those trying to make the most of what they have. The author incorporates real events such as the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster of 1943 and the Hughes Mansions Tragedy of 1945 into the narrative. I loved learning about the subterranean community and found the Author’s Notes at the end of the book extremely informative. The historical context and the stories of libraries destroyed during the Blitz ( with stock images) make this story come to life. I love how the author based some of the characters in this story on actual people who lived down in the bunkers of Bethnal Green Station during those difficult times. I also loved learning about the books that were popular during the war years. The author does a brilliant job of not only painting a realistic picture of life in wartime Britain but also gives us an insight into societal changes during those times that also impacted reading habits and preferences, especially among women.

Informative and enlightening, heart-wrenching yet hopeful, this is a story that will stay with me. Fans of historical fiction and stories revolving around libraries would certainly enjoy this novel.
Many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this exceptional novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released in the U.S. on February 21, 2023.

“We have lost so very much, but we have not lost heart nor hope. Books help to keep us human in an inhumane world. Don’t you agree?”

“The solution was reading. On a shelf somewhere there was a book whose pages offered escape and emancipation. She just had to find it,” The little Wartime Library.
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During WWII London, 1944 Clara Button children’s librarian temporarily appointed librarian (while all the men librarian were in the war) and strong spirited best friend and library assistant Ruby Monroe are tasked with creating an underground shelter and library to protect others from the ravages of the war raging on by converting the Bethnal Green tube station. We follow a dual perspective of both Clara and Ruby both struggling to adjust to the changes in both their personal and professional lives. The choices they make tests the limits and confines of societal norms both and what was acceptable as a woman working during the war. I found this to be a slow burn read but still interesting and engaging to see the perspectives and expectations of those trying to survive this devastating and difficult time in history. Thank you to @netgalley for this arc. The release date for this 2/21/23.

Historical fiction is a go-to genre for me. The Little Wartime Library was very different from a lot of the historical fiction I have read. It is set in London, during WWII, and follows the lives of those living in London during the war.

The book tells the story of the little library that operated in an unfinished tube tunnel in the East End of London. This tube tunnel was home to a great many people who needed a safe place to stay after the bombing started. An entire community was formed in this tube tunnel.

The themes in this book were of love, loss, resilience, and bravery. This book speaks to something I have felt for my entire life. Reading can transport you to a different place and time. Reading is relaxing, reading is entertaining, reading is educational and informational. Reading is essential to nourish our minds and soles.

The Little Wartime Library played a huge part in the lives of those it serviced. It gave people a place to go to connect with others. It gave people an escape from the horrors they witnessed and the grief they experienced. It gave children access to stories that could transport them to other worlds, where they could be princes or princesses, or adventurers. It opened up worlds of possibilities to them.

This fictional telling of the story of this little Wartime Library and its female librarians was fantastic. For those who love libraries, reading and historical fiction, I can not recommend it enough. It was just so beautiful.

Thank you, @NetGalley and @readforeverpub, for the advanced digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The historical aspect of this novel was fascinating for me - I did not know that part of the Underground (subway) was converted into a bunker in WW2 and that a library was moved into the space. I enjoyed reading the stories of the characters Thompson created - characters that faced realistic challenges for the time period. I liked, too, the thread of hope that runs through the story - and the fact the library itslef gave so much to its community.

This was a really interesting story, made even more interesting to me when I read the authors note at the end about how much of the story was rooted in truth. This book followed the life of two librarians Ruby and Clara who created an underground library in an abandoned tube station during WWII. Both have suffered unspeakable tragedies in their young lives, but pull together to create a place of learning and solace for a giant underground community. There were so many wonderful side characters in the library community as well. This was a beautiful story of love and loss, and above all hope. I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson is an amazing and inspiring historical fiction based on true events.

Following the bombing of the public library in WWII, Clara and Ruby run the library underground in the tunnel system of London. These women become more than just librarians to their patrons...they become friends, family, educators, advocates and protectors.

I absolutely loved this story and highly recommend it.

I was utterly captivated by this book. The plucky librarians, Clara and Ruby, who provided a myriad of services above and beyond the traditional expectations. I hadn’t heard of the underground library before so it was delightful to read how it touched so many people’s lives. Books are such an important asset, but during times of extreme crisis they are lifesavers.
I was most taken with the children in the story. The “Tube Rats” who haunted the tunnels and relied on the precious gift books afforded them, in a time when their childhood was sacrificed.
This book is just a must read. The extensive notes the author provides at the end adds to the prowess of the story.
Probably the most profound statement in the entire book is “ History isn't about dates and battlefields, leaders and royalty. It's about ordinary people getting on with the business of living in spile of such unforgiving odds. And somehow in the process always managing to hold hard to hope. It was such a simple truth.”