The Orphan with No Name

England, 1942: ‘Will I ever find my mammy or daddy?’ She looks up, her bright blue eyes full of unshed tears, but the kind nurse gently says, ‘Sweetheart, if you can’t remember your own name, I don’t think you’ll ever find them…’

Waking up in a rickety hospital bed, the sweet ten-year-old girl with soft blonde hair and flushed cheeks is lucky to be alive. But all she can remember is the screech of the air raid siren. The nurses call her ‘Rosie’, and hope someone will save her. But no one does, and without a family, she is taken to Blakely Orphanage in Scotland under the supervision of the strict Miss Black.

The only glimmer of hope is her new friend Alice and the two lost girls decide to become make-believe sisters. They help each other through the long, hard hours with Miss Black standing over them as they work in silence, wondering if they will ever escape.

One day, Rosie watches a beautiful woman in a pretty dress and a tall, handsome man step through the gates. Her heart squeezes as she hopes they might be her mammy and daddy. But Rosie’s heart shatters when they take the hand of a little boy and leave the orphanage.

Slowly, Rosie begins to piece together the mystery of her past despite Alice telling her they don’t need any adults. But if she does find her mammy and daddy, will she remember them? And will she ever have a happy family again–or is there more heartache to come?

From the bestselling author of The Orphan Sisters comes a gripping World War Two story of a little girl who loses everything and her journey to finding a place she can call home. Perfect for fans of Lisa Wingate, Nadine Dorries and Diney Costeloe.

©2024 Shirley Dickson (P)2024 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

HORRIFIC TIMES — UNIMAGINABLE TODAY…

Such an excellent read — Shirley Dickson never disappoints. I can’t believe I was lucky enough to find this book in the sale section for less than three dollars!

I’ve read many, many books about WWI (and WWII). One thing that always strikes me is the hardships so many endured in each war — not just the loss of life, but in every area of life, with severe shortages of food, lack of heat, no safe places to stay, worried about being bombed out day and night. I can’t even imagine — by comparison, our lives today are “easy.” Each book I read affords me a better understanding and appreciation for my grandparents (who raised me); why they lived carefully and frugally, long after the war was over.

The lives of children in orphanages…unfathomable; the sudden loss of parents, being separated from siblings, never owning a single thing that belongs only to you, the lack of food, the austerity of the places they called “home,” the lack of love and affection, and the strictness of whomever ran the orphanages. This book reinforces all of it.

This story wasn’t just about sadness though. Ms. Dickson wrote a story that includes hope, kindness, love, family and healing, of overcoming.

The narration was spot-on, bringing the characters and the story to life. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Character development

I always enjoy Shirley Dickson’s books. I liked the twists with this and the use of the orphanage to tie the other books in for readers of other titles by her.

How sad it was for children to have to live in an orphanage.

There was nothing I just liked. I love Shirley Dixon’s work and I hope that she is busy riding a new book right now!

unpredictable delight

unlike most books I have read i could not predict what was going to happen most of the time. wonderful storytelling

Challenge to follow

story too repetitive, significant challenge to follow; the narration was solid. The author ia a favorite, that is the reason for purchase.