I am loving all of the fantastic historical fictions that is coming onto the market at the moment and this is one of the best and also heartbreaking novels that I have read from the genre. This is a novel which focuses on the very real historical issue of children becoming orphans and how this both effects them and the truamatic elements to their lives once this happens. This however has and added element for 'Rosie's' story that she has experienced amnesia so was unable to remember who she is but this just added to the emotional aspects for her story. The author has completed a wide range of research which has allowed her to create these very vibrant characters and descriptive locations.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and author Shirley Dickson for the advanced reader copy of this book. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

In the universe of Historical Fiction, the vast majority seem to take place during World War II. It’s hard to find a story anymore that has a unique perspective. However, similar stories can also bring about different depths to the same subject.

In The Orphan With No Name by Shirley Dickson, the author covers the topic of orphans during the second World War while also managing to take on society’s norms at the same time.

Polly lives in South Shields, England during the war. A factory bombing has already killed her mother, and her father, injured during an earlier campaign, is trying his best. One night the air raid sirens howl, and he sends Polly on ahead of him to the shelter.

A little girl awakens in a hospital with a head injury and no memory of who she is. The nuns giver her the name Rosie after her rosy cheeks. She has injuries that will heal, but the biggest problem is that she has no memory of who she is. When no one comes looking for her and she has to leave the hospital, she is sent to an orphanage in Scotland.

At first, Rosie feels isolated from the other orphans. Couple that with a headmistress who is often cruel, and it’s not a pleasant experience for a child who has already lost so much. As time goes on, Rosie and Alice become friends. Alice was left on the doorstep of the orphanage when it was in South Shields and has been there all her life.

The story of an orphanage with an evil headmistress is a bit of a cliché. However, the author manages to comment on the society that created this situation. It’s important to remember in this day and age what it was like before women had access to birth control and men were able to love ‘em and leave ‘em. The reader knows Alice’s background as the book goes on, but she doesn’t. Alice only knows the woman who was supposed to love her and make her feel safe left her on the doorsteps of the orphanage. She doesn’t understand that and it makes her angry. She also has a hard time getting close to anyone. Much like adoptees, she keeps waiting for the people she cares about to abandon her; to prove to her the idea that’s she’s so unlovable even the woman who gave birth to her didn’t want her.

The author gets this right not just with Alice, but with all of the children at the orphanage. They want to have hope, but it’s hard when the world seems to reject them. It’s only when the American soldiers, away from home at a nearby air base, want to shower them with affection that they seem to come out of their shells. Fortunately, that is also the time when the headmistress has an accident, and one of the other teachers takes over.

Miriam Balfour has her own reasons for sticking close to the orphans, and has been afraid to go against the evil headmistress and lose her job. Once she takes over, though, things change. Instead of focusing on discipline and order, Miriam allows the children to express their curiosity and prepare them for the outside world. Her life hasn’t been easy up until this point, and when she finds herself falling for one of the American airmen, she wonders if the future can be any different.

I enjoyed this story not only as World War II fiction but also as an adoptee who has experienced many of the same feelings the orphans go through. Our society created a scenario where children were often unwanted and parents who couldn’t or wouldn’t take care of them sent them to orphanages. In some cases, women wanted to mother their children even after the father left, but would be shunned by society as a single parent, and the child treated poorly as well. We’ve changed in the decades since then, but some people would like to take us back to that time. All children deserve to be wanted and loved.

In The Orphan With No Name is a good book. If you’re looking for a World War II thriller, this isn’t it. This covers a part of our society that was mostly people on the fringes. They create their own world that gets better and works for them, but it’s also one we should be worried about coming back.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an ARC copy of The Orphan with No Name by Shirley Dickson.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and this novel did not disappoint. Set during WWII in Britain, the story follows a young girl who, after surviving an air raid, loses her memory and her father. With her mother already gone, she wakes up alone and disoriented, eventually finding herself in an orphanage. The orphanage, however, holds its own secrets, making it a place where both danger and hope coexist. The protagonist forms an unlikely friendship that becomes her anchor, offering moments of light and connection as she navigates her quest to regain her memory.

Shirley Dickson beautifully captures the emotional depth of the era, balancing heartbreak with resilience and hope. The vivid descriptions transport you to war-torn Britain, making you feel the tension and uncertainty faced by those living through it. The characters are well-developed and endearing, especially the protagonist, whose journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

If you enjoy historical fiction that dives deep into the human experience during wartime, The Orphan with No Name is a must-read. It’s a compelling story of survival, friendship, and the quest for identity. Shirley Dickson's storytelling is both poignant and captivating—perfect for fans of emotional, character-driven narratives.

I took a while to get through this book, it was hard hitting and sad, you couldn't help but feel for the orphan and her friend Alice. There are multiple twists as we watch the girls grow into women in their own right.

An enjoyable and heartwarming novel set in WW2. The characters are well-defined, and the storyline is well-told and will hold your attention. Overall, a good read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I do love a book that is set in war time. This book even though it is made up I am sure did happen a lot during war times. Far too many children left as orphaned. Sadly for this girl she lost her memory. This was a good read however towards the end I found it jumped about too much into the future all of a sudden then it took a while to catch up. Still a good read

Oh my. Wow. I read a lot of world war 2 fiction, it's been one of my favourite genres since I was old enough to pick my own books from my mums collection. And yet Shirley has managed to bring something completely new to the table.

Poor little 'Rosie', I was desperate to scoop her up and love her. And I haven't hated a fictional character as much as Miss Black for a long time.

An Orphan With No Name is a heartbreaking, and heartwarming, emotional rollercoaster of a book which will have you reaching for the tissues.

Lost Memory

The time is the blitz in England during WWII. A young girl is found injured in a shelter that has collapsed. She wakes up in a hospital and cannot remember her name, her family or anything that happened.

When she is in the hospital the nurses name her Rose. When it is time for her to leave and she still has not regained her memory and no one has come forward she is sent to an orphanage in Scotland.

In the Orphanage she meets another young orphan named Alice with whom she becomes best friends. Mrs. Black the lady that runs the orphanage is very strict and not very compassionate with the girls. When she falls and cannot continue the young Mrs. Balfour takes over the running of the orphanage. Mrs. Balfour has a secret, no one knows.

The orphanage is better under the management of Mrs. Balfour, but Rose still cannot remember anything about her parents. Her friend Alice is always sad because she was left on the orphanage steps and know neither of her parents.

Will Rose ever regain her memory and find her family and will Alice ever find a home?

I really enjoyed reading this story it was a good story and I would recommend it.

I received a copy of the book for free. The review and the words are my own.

Amid the bombs dropping in England in World War II, a young girl is stripped of her memory.

Author Shirley Dickson delivers a heart-twisting tale in The Orphan With No Name. Rosie Ward wakes up in a hospital with a concussion and no memories. She is sent to an orphanage that had been evacuated to the Scottish countryside.

The author effectively communicates the fear Rosie experiences not only because she has no idea who she is, but the orphanage atmosphere is terrifying under the iron fist of the mistress.

Young Rosie’s story unfolds alongside the perspective of Miriam Balfour, one of the orphanage teachers. Bound by a secret, Miriam is wooed by an American airman.
Regaining her memory could change everything for young Rosie, restoring her name. However, little does she realize the impact it could have on her new friend, Alice.

The Orphan With No Name shines a spotlight on the plight of orphans during World War II while showcasing how families can be formed out of tragedy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Orphan with No Name by Shirley Dickson. This was a good read but an emotional one. It will definitely pull at your heartstrings. At times I found it to drag on a little but I persevered through and got to a better part. A 3.5 rating from me that I have rounded up to 4.

The Orphan with No Name is a wonderful heartwarming story perfect for fans of historical fiction.

Set against the backdrop of WWII focusing on the children who ended up separated from their families and far from home, in this case Polly ends up in an Orphanage in Scotland with no memory and no idea if her family are even alive. Its her that she meets Alice and an unbreakable bond is formed.

This is an emotional story about friendship and found family.. My heart was broke for the children in the orphanage, living through air raids & bombs is hard enough but having no idea where your family is or are they even alive is unthinkable.

This was a beautifully written story with great characters, a really great read.

Shirley Dickson is one of my favourite authors of this genre and I was delighted to hear she had a new book out. This was an emotional and at times heartbreaking read but in spite of all the hardships there are some happy moments as well. I found this book to be a delight to read and finished it in one sitting. There are a couple of twists and I did guess the outcome quite early on but it certainly didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book.

The Orphan With No Name by Shirley Dickson is a journey through the heart and soul of an evacuated child (Polly aka Rosie) who does not remember her real name. The air raid shelter in which she had taken refuge had taken a direct hit and she was one of only a few to survive, with many injuries, without her memory, without her parents.

The nurses named the girl Rosie and when she was suitably recovered, evacuated her to Scotland, under the "care" of the tyrannical Miss Black. The ordeal of the orphangae is made bearable by her new friend Alice, and together, they traverse each day, supporting each other and dreaming of, and fearing their future

Heart rending, full of drama and action as well as tension and suspense, this is a novel of tenacity and fortitude from an avacuated childs perspective in WWII.

Highy recommended and 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Shirley Dickson for this ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

The Orphan With No Name is a fabulous historical fiction read! I loved the multiple POV. The plot points kept me engaged and interested so it felt like a fast paced read. There was never a slow moment or any unnecessary scenes that can cause a book to drag.
The tension during the bombings was palpable. The characters were entertaining. There are thrills, romance, heart wrenching moments of grief and regret and heart warming revelatory conversations throughout.

I have posted this review on Amazon, Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6851265243

And Instagram

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This arc was shared with me by Bookouture for a book review tour.

A lovely heart warming story about a little girl that forgot her name and ended up in an orphanage. It is during the war and children were sent away from the inner cities where the bombings were more often. Will she get her memory back and find her family again.
A must for those who love a nice easy read.

The Orphan with No Name by
Shirley Dickson.
I did like the cover. I enjoyed this book. I got into it straight away. This was an easy read. Read in two sittings. I did feel for Alice. I wasn't sure about Miriam. I did like George. I liked how he and Miriam were together. Miriam grew on me. I did like how Mary and Alice were good friends. I did love the ending.

The Orphan with no name provided an insight that I hadn’t read before. We meet Polly and her Father in the middle of the war. Polly soon wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of her past. In this novel we meet several characters who all struggle with their past in one way or another. This is an uplifting and inspiring story of how you can over come your struggles and move forward to a better future. I enjoyed the third person point of view and the multiple POV chapters where you gain insight to each character. The ending tied everything up perfectly and left the reader with a sense of completion.

This book was a great book about found family. As much as it hurts to read about orphaned children during WWII, there’s always some special camaraderie between the women who run the orphanages and the children in their charge.

Rosie is a sweet young girl who is separated from her father during one of the many bombing raids in England. She doesn’t remember anything about her former life, including her name. She is left in under the charge of the Blakely Orphanage. While she’s there she makes a lifelong friend in Alice, and burrows into the heart of Miss Balfour, one of the women who works at the orphanage.

My heart hurt for Rosie. I can’t imagine what it’s like to not remember who you are, especially as a child. I loved to see the bonds she made with the other children in the orphanage. In some ways, children are so resilient.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

A great story set during World War Two. Polly Pearson lives with her Dad after her Mum died during a raid. For her Dad’s birthday he takes her to see Dumbo which she loves. As they leave the cinema the sirens go and her Dad struggles to get to the shelter as he was injured in Burma and walks with a stick. Unbeknownst to him her Dad passes Polly over to a warden to get her to the air raid shelter quickly and this is the last he will see of her. Polly ends up in hospital with among other things a head injury which causes her memory loss. Will she ever get back her memory or to her beloved Dad. An emotional read that I definitely recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own

A very heartbreaking,but enjoyable read. Although set in London during the blitz, I find that the war is more of the setting to out Rosie's stories.