"Don't let the loss of your loved ones destroy the rest of your life. Mourn them, remember them with love and then gradually, gently, ease them into a secret compartment of your mind and move one."
-advice to Charlotte, from the novel
I have read many historical fictions of WWII era but this one highlighted children sent by their parents to London to keep them safe. Sadly, they do not escape Hitler's war as London becomes a target. I was not familiar with this aspect of the war, but the author is quite descriptive of the horrors and destruction of the British capitol and its effect on the citizens and refugees.
Lisa Beck is only 13 years old when she is sent by Kindertransport from Hanau, Germany to London in 1938. She is adopted by a childless couple, and they become very fond of each other. During a Blitz of Luftwaffe bombers, Lisa is injured and ends up in a hospital badly injured and with amnesia. Since she doesn't know who she is, she is given a new name, Charlotte Smith, and sent to a home for displaced children.
This would be her third home but there would end up being at least 2 more. I would say Lisa/Charlotte was a very lucky girl because in every change of residence she finds very caring people.
I found the title a bit strange since this young woman has TWO names in the course of the novel...so why would she be "the girl with no name"? It is interesting that our Page Turners read The Girl with Seven Names, a memoir of a woman raised in North Korea, earlier this year.
I rate the novel a 4. I found it a page turner but with too many pages to my liking (almost 500)!
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