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46th out of 130 books
—
16 voters
Searching for Shona
During the evacuation of children from Edinburgh in the early days of World War II, shy, wealthy Margaret on her way to relatives in Canada trades places and identities with the orphaned Shona bound for the Scottish countryside.
Paperback, 159 pages
Published
November 18th 1989
by Random House Books for Young Readers
(first published 1978)
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The premise is unusual and appealing, and I remember being haunted by it as a child. (Two orphans being evacuated from England during the war decide to switch places.) Re-reading it as an adult, I wish the book had done a lot more to show us how Marjorie felt about her fake identity as Shona, and how these feelings changed over time. After the book jumps forward five years, Marjorie's thoughts don't seem to have changed at all.
I loved this book when I read it at 10 years old. The teacher was having trouble finding me books that really interested me, I wasn't into Noel Streatfield or anything about girls at boarding school or ballet schools. I think it was because it was a life I knew nothing about and it was about life during World War 2 something I'd heard about through the family and tv.
I appreciate that although this is a book geared towards middle school age children, the author still put forth the effort to write this story in a professional and elevated manner. I find many books geared towards kids tend to write down to that level instead of lifting the kids up with literary prose. This books was sweetly written and a touching story.
I loved this book as a kid; it always stuck with me, and I wanted to read it again. I ordered a copy on Amazon, paying 1 cent for it. So, my used copy arrives (a paperback). It's signed by the author! She autographed it and dated it for 1991, and signed it: "For Stephanie." What a great coincidence!!!
I really enjoyred rereading this book.
I really enjoyred rereading this book.
This book is truely amazing, you noe I read it when i was in grade three, now im 19 years old and im still looking for it i want to understand it mush better because it still haunts me and the story is just too amazing. Its a strange story both too weird and too interesting.God bless the author
A fun story about a rich orphan and a poor orphan who switch places during the war with the intention of finding each other when it is over in order to return to their own lives. The mystery behind Shona's past makes the book even better!
I am relieved to find that this book actually exists. It always kind of freaked me out when I was a kid and I was beginning to think it was just a strange recurring nightmare. Most disturbing, perhaps, is the strange way "Shona" is spelled.
Loved this book which I read as an adult. Can't believe they never made a movie or Wonderworks from it. The plot did not go where I expected. Loved it.
a young adult book written in 1978. Story of 2 English girls who were being sent from England and decided to switch places. fast fun read
I remember this being a favorite book when I was maybe 12. I'll have to reread it to see if I still like it.
Another one of my favorite books from my childhood.
This was my childhoods favorite book! LOVED it
My favorite book from childhood.
While the ending was rather odd and abrupt, I loved this story of two orphans who switch identities at the beginning of WWII. Instead of going to Canada to live with distant relatives, Marjorie lets Shona go in her place, and instead starts a new life in the Scottish countryside. At the same time that she's assuming Shona's identity, she's investigating her past, which is linked to an eerie painting and an old, abandoned house down the road. Anderson creates a perfect blend of mystery, history,...more
Beautiful and sad tale of two British girls,both orphans, who change places on an evacuee train during WW2. One is rich and the other is poor. The story follows the rich girl who passes as the poor girl and lives out her life with two ladies in the English countryside. This is an important look at the lives of evacuee children during WW2.
I was given this book by my Aunt Darlene when I was maybe in 3rd grade. It was the first World War II novel I read, and since then I was hooked. The book has moved with me several times and finally I reread it last night. It's a sweet story and I recommend it to all readers.
Historical Fiction set in World War 2.
This story about exchanged identities and a mystery of Shona's past creates a coming of age story that haunted me years after I first read it. I've read this book several times because of the powerful ending.
This story about exchanged identities and a mystery of Shona's past creates a coming of age story that haunted me years after I first read it. I've read this book several times because of the powerful ending.
Jun 04, 2013
SoundofSilence_BookFan
added it
May 08, 2013
Emma Sawyer
is currently reading it
Jan 22, 2013
Lexie
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: searching for shona!WW2 - 2 girls, one rich, one orphan switch places before evacuation from london [s] | 4 | 29 | Nov 05, 2012 12:04pm | |
| Hauntng Story | 2 | 4 | Jun 17, 2012 11:26am |
