Josie Under Fire: The Historical House: The Historical House

Historical House #5

by Ann Turnbull

1941: London is being bombarded during the Blitz, and Josie finds it hard to understand her brother's decision to be a conscientious objector. But when she goes to stay at No.6 Chelsea Walk with her cousin Edith and is drawn into tormenting one of her new classmates, Josie learns what it means to stand up for her own beliefs. Ann Turnbull’s previous novels have been shortlisted for several awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the Whitbread Children’s Book Award.
"Dramatic stories with a real sense of atmosphere." - The Guardian

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Middle Grade, World War II

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2004

About the author

Ann Turnbull is an English author of numerous books for young readers, including No Shame, No Fear and Forged in the Fire. She was born in Hertford, was brought up in southeast London, and now lives in Shropshire, England.

Reviews

[Daisy May Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a lot of love for the Historical House series - a group of novels focused around a specific house in London. The books are written by some stunning authors: Adele Geras, Ann Turnbull and Linda Newbery, and very much worth a look. It's a massively underrated series and I really enjoyed this article this article written by Adele Geras which went 'behind the scenes' of the series and elaborated on where it came from.

Josie Under Fire is lovely. Set in the turbulent time of World War Two, Josie's gone to live with her cousin Edith whilst her mother cares for her invalided grandmother. Josie's hoping that this could be a fresh start in a place where nobody knows the truth about her brother, a Conscientious Objector.

Turnbull's created such a gloriously believable character in Josie. She's vividly realistic and realistically flawed. But you root for her. You do. It's hard not to be moved by Josie's journey in this book - particularly when she realises that bravery comes in many forms. There's no mistake with this title having parallels with the phrase 'courage under fire'.

I massively recommend this series for the under twelves - and girls in particular. These are books where girls are brave and scared and strong and weak - and real. I love them. And I love Josie.

[Wendy Bamber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up while tidying and got drawn in pretty quickly! Part of a series centred around the inhabitants of a house in London, this one describes Josie’s short stay with her aunt and cousin during the Blitz. Josie’s brother Ted is a conscientious objector and therefore Josie is shunned by everyone at home, so this is a chance for her to make new friends where nobody knows about him. Her cousin’s friends bully a girl in their class, and fearful they will all find out about Ted, Josie doesn’t so much as join in, but doesn’t do anything to help. When a secret about the bullied girl comes out and the bullying intensifies, Josie knows she has to do more than do nothing. This is a really enjoyable look at wartime Britain, disturbing descriptions of bombing aftermath but the same everyday troubles of girls trying to make friends. Middle grade fans of Jacqueline Wilson and post-Alice Miranda etc would enjoy this whole series, others are also based around historical events and the place of girls and women.

[:))))) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t normally pick up children’s books/ middle grade novels, but this was an unexpected pleasant surprise. I thought the author so creatively wove in the shocking facts about the Blitz and war during everyday life. I was particularly shocked in the beginning when the Aunt is about to go out and takes her essentials: here coat, her bag and her gas mask. Those two words were placed there so nonchalantly, a careless after thought, signally this to be part of their everyday routine. But as someone in the western world who hasn’t experienced war, these words struck me. I also loved the message of the book as well. As Jordan Peterson says, knowing that you are a monster, for most people that means being a moderately bad person, which is very different to being a terrible person. So knowing you are capable of inflicting harm and as Ted and Miss Rutherford say, and yet you choose and make a conscious effort to empathize with that person and not do what others did to you. And be able to stand up for what you believe in. It was simply captivating and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A job well done!

[Izzy Quigley · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion, this wasn’t my favorite book. I liked the idea, and there are some well written parts, but overall, it was kind of in the middle. It’s definitely for younger readers. The characters were well rounded but overall, it was a mild book. A good book makes me stop and stare in disbelief at the words I just read, feeling as if I was in the book, and this one failed to do so. However, it may be because I was reading Lucy Strange’s Our Castle by the Sea (now that was a GOOD book) at the same time, so I might have to go back and read it again, but as I said, it was kind of mild.

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series took a nose dive with this one. My biggest issue is that I can't stand these draft dodger sympathizer stories. While Ted wasn't technically a draft dodger (and I did appreciate him taking responsibility for his decision), that was more or less the idea. The message being that whatever you decide is awesome so long as you stand up for what you believe in. Usually standing up for your beliefs is a great message, but not all beliefs and decisions are admirable. Something that was illustrated pretty well when Josie comes to the realization that her decision to not join in with the bullies wasn't cutting it. Apparently Josie is wrong for standing by and allowing an innocent girl to get bullied, but Ted deciding not to fight in a war, where children are being slaughtered by the thousands, is awesome. Because 'wars are bad'.

I also didn't care for the fact that there's no satisfactory resolution to the kid's bullying Alice. Josie feels really bad about it the whole book, she finally decides to stand up for her at the end, and miraculously manages to convince her spineless cousin to say she'll apologize, but it never actually happens. It just ends with their good intentions. After being little monsters for basically the whole story. And please tell me why we need to see the 12 year old girl swearing in a 1941 historical kids novel?

[Issy McNamee · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good book about the war and about a little germ.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic story there was great scenes in the book

[Isobella Watkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was all-right it is set in the old times . I really recommend it so definitely pick it up

[Shayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it it was so good I thought it was just going to be rubbish but it wasn't so definitely pick it up

[Fearne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book about the 5 kids and it's probably nearly my mist favouritest story/books of all time and I definitely recommend 😜 for 6-17 I love it so so much ❤️

[Kassia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie under the fire 🔥 is a good book I really would recommend this 📚

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good illustration of standing for what you believe, for what is right, and rising above peer pressure.

[Faith Fawcett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always loved to read wartime stories and this was no exception. The characters all felt very real and I couldn’t put it down!

[Elisabeth Lovelace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big history nerd and these books really portray it well.

[Isobel Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about the war for Y4/5 children.

[Milana · Rating 4 out of 5]

i actually really liked it, couldnt put it down. I really love how its the same house but a different author and story each time

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little story or hope and friendship, set against the backdrop of WW2

[Amalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love the "Historical House series." Josie Under Fire by Ann Turnbull (the same author of Mary Ann and Miss Mozart) is the 5th book and is set in London during the WW II (1941).

One thing I noticed when I began this book was, No.6, Chelsea Walk, the imaginary house in the series, is in fact based on a real house in London. The bombing of the local church and some other significant events during the Blitz indeed had taken place in 1941.

Josie (Josephine Bishop) is sent to live in Chelsea with her cousin Edith by her parents for her safety. She is glad to start her life here from the shame that has haunted her family since her brother Ted is found to be a pacifist. Ted is is old enough to join the army, but strongly objects to fighting.

Here in a new school with new friends, Josie is ready to start a new life but soon it comes to an end when she learns the family secret of timid Alice Hampton, who is being bullied by her new friends. Josie faces a dilemma: to stand against Edith and other children bullying Alice, if so, will Edith tell everyone her own secret.

I felt this novel gives a number of massages to young readers about bullying, being bullied, discrimination and the conventional idea of bravery and heroism is put into question. It makes the reader to question: "how much do we really understand ." This novel also brings a familiar character from "Polly's March," the forth novel of the series. A good novel to read for both children and for the adults.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie Under Fire by Ann Turnball, set in World War Two London, is about a girl called Josie. She is staying with her cousin Edith and aunt Grace for a few weeks whilst her mother cares for Josie's grandma, who has just broken her hip in the blackout. Josie hopes that staying with Edith will be a fresh start, as she is starting a new school where no one knows her family.
Josie's brother Ted is a pacifist. He is old enough to join the army, but storngly objects to fighting. Josie feels embarrassed of her brother, and ashamed. She tries hard to fit in at her new school, even if that means joining in with the bullying of Alice Hampton, so similar to what she had to withstand from classmates in her previous school.
But when Ted comes to visit Josie and turns out braver than Edith's pilot brother Peter, Josie realises that patriotism and bravery come in more than one way, and diasater turns her into a better person.

I really liked Josie Under Fire, because there was lots of feelings, historical facts, and description in a easy quick read. I would rate it 4 stars.

[Infamous Sphere · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have loved the hell out of this book when I was a child. The Historical House series came out too late for me to enjoy in my childhood but the second I saw this book in the library, reprinted, I snapped it up. "YES another one of this series! The library must be purchasing all of them!" So far the only one the library system doesn't have is Girls With Courage by Adele Geras. Unfortunately since I read the Polly one (Girls For The Vote) a while ago, I can't remember if Polly's surname was Rutherford and whether she's Miss Rutherford or not, but it's implied. The idea of the interconnected stories appeals to me so much.

This isn't the best WW2 story I've read but it's very good - and I think it might have been the only children's one I've read that features conscientious objecting, so extra points for that.

[Gretchen · Rating 1 out of 5]

The "Historical House" series is about a house in London that survived many natural and man made disasters and occurrences; and its inhabitants, all young girls, over the years. This series had the potential to be great, but fell very flat in its execution. None of the characters are very believable, and hardly change throughout the book. The storyline in each story is very predictable, which, I admit, is one of the drawbacks of historical fiction, but there are many ways one can spice up history. This book fails to suffice for an audience over the age of 12.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great historical novel for girls, describing the experience of being in London during the Blitz in 1941.
Josie ends up spending several weeks with her aunt and cousin in Chelsea, and in addition to the regular school and friendship troubles, the reader learns about bomb sites, rations, air raid shelters and the like.

This would be a good read when covering this topic at school.

[Shajila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable! The characters did feel a bit flat, but I'm assuming this is for 8-10 year olds and I think they'll enjoy it. Great for getting a feel of london in the war - schools, bomb shelters and the key theme was bullying and is it ok to be a pacifist- really interesting! I understand the author has more of these sorts of books and I will definitely check them out.

[Twina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book, a sweet story. It touches on concepts from other perspectives. It is definitely for 8-10 year olds who haven't fully learnt about the war. This book gives a vague description to new learners. The characters are vaguely described. Overall it was a moderate book with both it weaknesses and strengths. To a new learner about WW2 this is a must read book.

[Olivia Yoxall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite good .The war in this story was so well described and I felt as if I was there . But there was no point to the story all it was was a little girl called Josie and she goes to stay with her cousin and aunt . It was boring because all she did was go to school .

[Mared Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book in the historical house series!!! =D it was like reality. AMAZING!!

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i did enjoy the book. It was the first history based book that I have read and I think it was great at informing pepole about what it was really like for a child in those times.

[Jemimah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Ann Turnbull is a very good children's writer. Boldly speaking, I can't say the same for her teenager's books. :-D

[Dian Turner baldwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

amazing story...really good to realise the thoughts and feelings of children in the blitz.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, but a different take on WWII, set in England, a girl dealing with the fact that her brother is a Conscientious Objector.