“Whisperwood belonged to her and her lost sister, Flora. It was a private realm that had sprung to life between them, a make-believe world to endure through the worst of the war, a place to find comfort where little existed.“–Patty Callahan Henry, The Secret Book of Flora Lea
In 1939, 14 year old Hazel and her 5 year old sister Flora are evacuated from London to the rural English countryside. They live with a kind woman and her teenage son, who becomes a good friend to both girls. In an attempt to distract and cheer Flora, Hazel creates a game for just the two of them–a story about a magical land that only they can escape to. The girls are happy until one day Flora disappears after playing by the river, and cannot be found. Hazel blames herself for taking her eyes off Flora and it is a burden she carries long after the war ends. Twenty years later while working in a rare book shop, she comes across a beautifully illustrated book with the title Whisperwood and the River of the Stars. No one but Hazel and Flora know about Whisperwood and Hazel hopes this book will be the key in solving the mystery of what happened to her little sister.
This is a gripping tale of loss, love, and the power of family. It is a definite page turner–I was drawn into the story from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down! If you like a book with unexpected twists and turns, you’ll enjoy The Secret Book of Flora Lea.
Content Advisory: Some language, references to sex