The runaways - Holly Webb

Written by bestselling author Holly Webb, The Runaways
beautifully captures the spirit of Great Britain during the Second
World War, weaving together themes of resilience, identity
and what it means to call a place your home.

It's London in the late 1930s, and the Second World
War is imminent. When a young Londoner called Molly hears that
the children in her neighbourhood are being evacuated, she
feels relieved. The war scares her, and living in the city means
living in the heart of danger.

However, Molly's relief is short lived because her mum refuses
to let her go, telling her that she has to stay and help with the
war effort. And that's not all - times are tough, and there's
not enough food or supplies for people, let alone pets. This
means that Molly's beloved dog Bertie is now considered
"surplus to requirement".

So Molly decides to escape.

Stowing away on a train, Molly makes it to the country,
but once there the reality of her situation dawns on her: she doesn't
know where she is or who to trust. It's not until Molly comes
across two other runaways that she starts to feel safe again.
Maybe, just maybe, with each other's help, they have a chance of
overcoming the trials put in front of them.