With the war raging on across Europe, so many lives lost. As the bombs flew across the dark night sky, no one on the ground was safe. When one of the bombs hit the town many were injured and taken to a hospital. Polly’s dad told her to run to the shelter and he would find her. Polly woke up in the hospital and her injuries were severe. She didn’t know who she was and the nurses named her Rosie Ward. Because her family couldn’t be located the hospital transferred her to an orphanage in Scotland. Rosie wonders if her family will ever find her. She meets Alice Blakey and there is an immediate connection. They decide to become make believe sisters. Their only hope to survive this horrible time in their life is to stick together. Will Rosie ever find her father again or is this the only life she will ever know?

The Orphan with No Name, written by author Shirley Dickson is a heart wrenching tale of family, new friends and survival. This was a horrible time for people and the children suffered the most. With many of them being separated from their families they lost all hope. This story rips at your heartstrings and will leave you totally emotional. You will definitely need Kleenex so keep the box close. I enjoyed this story, even though parts were difficult to read, it gave me hope for Rosie and Alice. I only wanted the best for them and was hopeful that they would finally get the one thing they wanted, family. Dickson immediately pulls the reader into the book and makes it an unputdownable page turner. Dickson is a phenomenal storyteller and I enjoy her books. I highly recommend this exceptional historical fiction.

This is a riveting story that had all the feels. We meet Polly, a young girl who survives an air raid during WWII. She is separated from her father and loses her memory. She winds up in an orphanage, trying to figure out who she is. It is a difficult adjustment with a headmaster who is an unpleasant woman, although management changes. Polly makes a friend at the orphanage, Alice, who is someone who can get into trouble but has a good heart. Polly starts to regain her memory and things start to happen and her situation changes, finding out that her father is still alive.
While it can be a bit unrealistic at times, the story is heartwarming and the characters memorable.
I look forward to reading other books by Shirley Dickson.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

When one of the nightly bombs hit the shelter that ten year old Polly was in, waiting for her Daddy to join her, many died. And when she woke up in hospital, badly injured, she couldn't tell anyone who she was. Her memory was gone and there was no family to find her. Eventually, the little girl the hospital staff had named Rosie Ward, was taken to Scotland to an orphanage. She had been told her memory could come back at any time, but Rosie felt alone until she made friends with Alice Blakely, another orphan who had no family.

It was 1942 England, when Rosie had lost her identity and as the orphans flourished under the new mistress, after the other, who was cruel and mean, retired, they wondered about their futures. When an orphan reached fourteen, they had to leave. And Rosie knew Alice wasn't far from turning fourteen - she didn't want to lose the friendship - the sistership - the two girls had gained. Would Rosie's memory return? Did she have anyone left of her family, and why hadn't they searched for her?

The Orphan with No Name is another exceptional historical novel by Shirley Dickson which I thoroughly enjoyed. Heartwarming, emotional and heartbreaking, the children in the orphanage tugged my heartstrings. What a sad life these children had, especially when they were cared for by a tyrant. All they wanted and needed was love. I've loved all Shirley Dickson's historicals, and this one was no different. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

Welcome back, Shirley Dickson! It has been so long since the author has released a book I had begun to wonder where she'd got to. But the latest book has arrived to deliver a wonderful yet heartbreaking tale that will warm you from the inside out and keep you snuggled until you turn the final page.

I have read all of the author's books and I love how she incorporates something or other into each of her books to link them without being a series. In this case, it is Blakely orphanage, which evacuated to Scotland after the orphanage itself suffered a hit in an air raid.

The story begins in South Shields once again as we meet the little girl who survived an air raid when so many others were killed but her injuries meant that she had no memory of who she was, her name or where she came from. The nurses called her Rosie and after being shifted from the children's ward to the women's ward, Rosie is sent north to Scotland to Teviot Hall where Blakely orphanage now resides. The journey is both unfamiliar and frightening as Rosie watches South Shields disappear from view and into unfamiliar territory.

At he orphanage, run under the strict hand of Miss Black, Rosie befriends the spiky Alice who herself was a foundling left on the doorstep of the old Blakely orphanage almost 14 years before. The orphanage is the only thing Alice knows but she is approaching the age where she will soon leave to go into domestic service. With a huge chip on her shoulder, Alice is unruly, spiky and argumentative at almost every turn. But Rosie brings a calmness to Alice and the two become inseparable make believe sisters.

Rosie dreams of recovering her memory and finding what became of her parents and why they never came looking for her, which is a bone of contention with Alice who harbours nothing but resentment for the woman who abandoned her on the cold doorstep without a second thought.

The two girls are unlikely friends and while they all suffer under Miss Black's harsh rule, kindness soon comes to the orphanage. First, in the way of the visiting American airmen who wish to sponsor the orphans and then in Miriam, Miss Balfour, who has been with the orphanage for many years. When an accident sees Miss Black housebound to recuperate, the orphanage gets a new lease of life under Miss Balfour's caring hand. But there is always the shadow of Miss Black's imminent return.

This is a moving tale from start to finish in Shirley Dickson's trademark way and I couldn't put it down until I turned the last page, reading it in one day. It is naturally predictable but in a good way and ends with that feelgood sense you have when finishing a wonderfully emotional story.
I hope it's not another three years before Shirley Dickson brings out another as I love her books and can't wait for the next one. If you like Lindsey Hutchinson, you will love Shirley Dickson.

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

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

The Orphan With No Name is a sweet story set during WWII. I loved the special friendship between Polly/Rosie and Alice. Brought up so many beautiful aspects of true friendship- making each other better and stronger together. The story was a little choppy in its flow and I had to go back and reread sections to piece the parts together. I loved the character of Miriam and her journey as well. Wish her journey had been more complete and clearer in the story line. Overall, a nice read.
Thank you NetGalley for the book. The review is all my own with honest thoughts.

Set in England in 1942 during WWII this is the story of 10-year-old Polly. Polly lives with her disabled father following her mother’s death. After a visit with her father to the cinema, the air raid sirens sound and they run for the shelter however her father sent her on ahead as he is slower than her. Polly wakes up in hospital, her memory gone, and the nurses name her Rosie Ward. When no one comes to find her she sent to an orphanage in Scotland. This isn’t the sort of book I normally read however I really enjoyed this one, it’s well written and a compelling story with a wonderful main character in Rosie/Polly.

Briefly, life in the orphanage is hard. Miss Black who runs the orphanage works the children and metes out punishment for any small infraction of her rules. Although it takes some time, she eventually makes a friend in Alice, who seems forever in trouble with Miss Black. Luckily for them Miss Miriam Balfour also works at the orphanage and she tries to look out for the children, particularly Alice who she feels is treated very unfairly.

As Rosie’s memory seems to be coming back in tiny snippets it’s clear that Alice is hoping that she doesn’t regain her memory and leave her for her family. This is understandable as Alice, left at an orphanage as a new born baby, feels like she’s finally found herself a family in Rosie. A moving story about children orphaned by the war who ended up in homes where treatment was harsh, and I’m sure some were worse than this one. There are some good twists to the story, although I had guessed some of them, but that was fine. A very emotional story but with a feel good ending and I felt very satisfied when I put the book down.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The story is set in 1943. After the death of her mother, Poppy who is ten, and lives with her father who is disabled in South Shields.

Then an air raid happens and she’s sent to a shelter by her father and he will come afterwards. But the shelter gets bombed and she wakes up in hospital, doesn’t know what her name is or where she’s from. Finding out her father isn’t there, she thinks that maybe he was killed.

At the hospital, she’s given the name of Rosie Ward, then she’s sent to Blakely Orphanage up in Scotland, the person in charge is Miss Black, and she’s not liked by no one and very harsh.

This story is about the children and what they go through in a different place with no family and people who aren’t pleasant.

If Rosie hadn’t made friends with another orphan, and Miriam hasn’t shown her kindness, maybe her life would’ve been so different.

I recommend this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

i knew it would be an emotional read but man that last chapter had me in bits....

when rosie ward came to... she was in a hospital with no memory.... it was where she got her name rosie for her bright smile and rosy cheeks and ward as she was on a ward....

but soon as nobody came to claim her she was sent to an orphanage somewhere in the bowls of scotland to stay safe until someone came to claim her

this is a heart wrenching read as we get to know a few of the orphans and meet alice and the housekeeper miss balfour as their lives are played out for us to read... but what a read.... and what an ending...get the tissues ready.....

will be keeping an eye out for more from this author

An enjoyable read based in 1943 which gives you an insight into how children were affected during and after the war years when they became orphans. Based on Rosie who couldn’t remember her past and was placed in an orphanage - very sad in parts but having met Alice the girls form a strong friendship. A few twists and turns in their relationship as they discover who their parents were. A heartwarming story full of emotion.

ARC Review

The Orphan with no name
By Shirley Dickson
Publish Date: Sept 19, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and BookOuture for sending me a copy to review. #theorphanwithnoname #netgalley

The Orphan with no name takes place during WW11. Polly loses her mother to a factory bombing then after seeing a movie with her dad the building is bombed and Polly loses her memory. With no memory of who she is and no one looking for her she is placed into an Orphanage and renamed Rosie.

This was a heart warming read. I absolutely loved Rosie’s and Alice’s friendship and the bond they formed. Some of the twists surprised me and I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed the happy endings ❤️

I really enjoyed this book about a little girl called Polly who gets injured in the bombing and when she comes round in hospital she has no memory of who she is it any thing about herself.She is then taken to an orphanage as nobody reports her missing where she becomes friend with a girl called Alice .This story tells what happens to Polly and Alice and Miss Balfour who runs the orphanage. Once I started this story I couldn't put it down.. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookature.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Orphan With No Name’ written by Shirley Dickson in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

It’s 1943 and following the death of her mother in a factory, ten-year-old Poppy is living in South Shields with her disabled father when they’re caught up in an air raid. Poppy’s father sends her into a shelter while he follows but the shelter is bombed and when she regains consciousness in hospital she’s unable to remember her name or where she lives, and as her father hasn’t come looking for her she guesses he’s dead. The nurses name her ‘Rosie Ward’ and she’s sent to Blakely Orphanage in Scotland that’s controlled by the strict and unlikeable Miss Black.

‘The Orphan With No Name’ is the emotional story of a ten-year-old child who’s the victim of bombing in WWII and is placed in an orphanage so far from her home that she doubts anyone will think to look for her there. The story isn’t about those brave people who fight for their country but about the children who struggle in a strange and often unwelcoming environment with no parents or family willing or able to take them in. If it wasn’t for Rosie making friends with another orphan Alice, and the kindness of Miss Miriam Balfour who’s temporarily in charge of the orphanage, her life would be unbearable. This is a lovely story of friendship, hope and survival, that’s kept my interest from the first page to the last.

If you are a fan of World War 2 historical fiction centering on the children left behind you won't want to miss this book. The reader is transported to the bombings in England and the aftermath. We see pictures of the damage. We see pictures of the injuries. We see pictures of death. What we don't see is what happens to the children left behind when all of their family is gone or they can't find a relative.

The Blakely Orphanage has been moved to safety in Scotland after Sir Henry opened Tevoit Hall for their use. The reader learns of the struggles as the children try to accept what has happened. In the beginning the orphanage is run by a horrid woman. She is the ipetome of "seen and not heard." The story reminds me that we shouldn't put today's values on yesterday's history. But was hard reading about the things the children were expected to do.

The children are lucky in having Miriam as the second. She has a heart. She wants them to be children. She has a secret that left me in silence when it was first revealed. Thanks to her, the reader learns much about the children. MIriam's kindness shines as she helps Rosie (Polly) regain her memories.

Rosie was caught in a bombing in South Shields. The shelter took a direct hit. Many were killed. Polly survived but her memories did not. My heart broke for a little girl that lost everything. Tears flowed as a Sister seemed to care about numbers over the patient. Polly may have been given a new name of Rosie Ward but she is soon pushed out and taken to the orphanage at Tevoit Hall.

The Orphan with No Name had many mind blowing moments. I didn't expect the twists but I loved them all. The story has numerous happily ever afters making all the horrors of war a little easier to stimach.

This book is about a girl named Poppy who lost her father in a raid when the war is in full swing. She lost her memory due to an accident and doesn't know who she is, where she comes from or where she belongs. She is taken into a orphanage because nobody claims her to be theirs. You will read about Poppy's life but also about Alice and Miriam. It is written from several pov's.

When I read about this book I thought about the book 'Before We Were Yours' it was also mentioned in the description that it was a similar read. I did remind me of that book, but this was more a young adult version of it. Yes, it was well written, it did make me feel sad for Polly, Alice and Miriam. I was also invested in their story, and wanted a happy end for them all.

But it missed a bit of depth. Some chapters were a bit to long-winded and it felt like things were repeated. It was also a bit predictable, I was right about every 'plottwist'. The last chapters had me like 'Why didn't she say anything sooner?'

To end with a bright note, Shirley Dickson let me see another side of the war I never thought about, one where children were left behind and orphanages were needed.

This is the first book I've read by Shirley Dickson and I'm so glad that I found her. I will certainly be looking for her other books after reading this gem.

What an absolutely terrible ordeal for Rosie to go through. Losing her memory, not knowing who she is, where she's from and then no one looking for her.
To be injured and alone, frightened and unsure and then to be sent far away to an orphanage that is run by a mean headmistress.

I loved watching the friendship grow between Rosie and Alice, and shed a few tears throughout for both of them. Miss Balfour was another favourite, as were all the other orphans.

I won't give anything away, except to say that I loved the epilogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

Set in the UK during the second world war, The Orphan with No Name is an emotional novel about love and loss, friendship and trust, survival and second chances.
A very easy and enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and author for letting me read this book in return for my honest review.

An emotional WWII homefront story of tragedy and the family we make. Polly can't remember her name or her past when she's injured in a bombing so she's renamed Rosie by the nurses who care for her. Life in the orphanage could have been bleak- it wasn't easy- were it not for Alice who had been a founding. It's Alice who pulls her through the darkness. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This might feel a bit saggy in the middle but keep reading for a very nice ending.

4 stars, Lost and Found

THE ORPHAN WITH NO NAME
by Shirley Dickson

England, 1942

War has come to England. A ten-year-old girl has been left in a bomb shelter by herself. The hospital she is taken to after a bomb hits the shelter and she is left with injuries, and she doesn't know who she is, nor if she has surviving parents. the ladies working there have named her Rosie.

Rosie is taken to an orphanage while the authorities search for any relatives. Rosie meets Alice, an acerbic girl with a chip on her shoulder. They eventually become friends.

This is not the typical WW2 novel. It isn't about fighting or picking a side, it's about survival and family-yes I know an orphan's family sounds odd, but it's true. There is a story within a story here.

The book lost somewhat of my interest near the middle, but when I came back to it and there was a good finish.

I received a complimentary copy of #TheOrphanWithNoName from #netgally #bookouture I was not obligated to post a review.

#historicalfiction #WWII #Orphans #love #loss #shirleydickson

The Orphan with No Name really tugs on your heart strings, this book had me totally gripped right from the start. Not my usual reading genre, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Polly and her dad find themselves split up when the bomb hit, and when Polly awakens she has no memory of who she is. The nurses name her Rosie and she's moved to an orphanage in the Scottish Highlands. Scared and not sure what's going on, Rosie befriends another orphan Alice, who tells her they don't need adults anyway.. but will Rosie finally remember her past and find why no one came looking for her?

This really is a sad read.
All actions have consequences. Each key player in this story must face the past if they want a better future.
War is unforgiving in who it affects.
Amnesia plays a key role in this story. With so many victims killed and injured from German bombings, mass confusion led to many mistakes.
A bright part in the story is how Miriam finally brought life and laughter to an orphanage.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.