The Home for War Orphans

Orphans of St Agnes, Book 1

By: Jenna Ness

Narrated by: Katie Beudert

Margot has spent most of her life at St Agnes' Orphanage with her little sister Lucie. She does her best to care for all the children, cradling them under the stars when Sister Helen can't get them to sleep. But she knows that when the Nazis reach the gates of Paris, the Jewish orphans will be in terrible danger. She must help them escape ...

One night, Sister Helen tells Margot she has found a rich family to take Lucie in. But there will be no safety for the other children – unless Margot can lead them to the French coast for a ship destined for America.

Margot realizes she must trust someone else with the only family she has left. But as soon as the gates of Lucie's new home slam shut, Margot knows she's made a mistake. Devastated, Lucie runs away.

Margot knows the only place Lucie will run to is the high stone walls of the orphanage. Margot is faced with an impossible choice – save her own sister or make sure that the orphans escape ...

©2025 Jenna Ness (P)2025 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

'Powerful. Suspenseful. Heartbreaking and inspiring.' (Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author of The Boardwalk Bookshop)

'[Ness] writes books that have you turning the pages as fast as you can.' (Kate Hewitt, USA Today bestselling author of The Secrets We Keep)

Loved this book!

Excitement, intrigue, human spirit, it’s all there! Wonderfully well written! I’m eager to hear the sequels.