Customer Reviews

Carrie's War

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'd read Nina Bawden's "The Peppermint Pig" when I was in elementary school, but our library didn't have any other titles by her. The book listed all of Bawden's other titles, but I didn't get to read "Carrie's War" until I was in high school. It's a wonderful story, and a fascinating look into the world of one of the many children sent to stay in the rural British countryside during World War II.

Having read this book as a young girl of 11, I am looking forward to reading it to my two young children. It has been many years since I read this book, but it left such an impression, Carrie is forced to become a caretaker of her younger brother at an early age in a time of war, transported to Wales to get away from the bombing in London, it tells a tale of how she tries to find some grounding in a world turned upside down, its a wonderful book.

Nina Bawden's 1973 YA story is related with the ring of an authentic WWII memory. One of several books to be inspired by the evacuation of hundreds of London children during the Blitz, Carrie's War appears at first glance to be the experiences of Carrie Willow and her younger brother, Nick, during the long separation from their mother (and father in the Navy). Their wartime odyssey takes them, along with many other evacuees, to a remote mining town in Wales, where the land is devastated by mining interests rather than bombs.

Albeit safe, their life is far from soft in the home of the rigid and
arrogant Councillor, Mr. Evans--their reluctant host. Bullying and mean he seems to relish his role as an ogre; supercilious, stingy with his resources and self-righteous in religious matters, he expects the siblings
to toe the line and cower respectfully in his presence. No deviation from duty and gratitude will be tolerated. The only softening influence in the household is provided by his younger sister, Aunty Lou, who meekly submits to her tyrannical brother. Carrie and Nick soon grow to love her, as they secretly pity her suffocated existence.

Luckier in his Welsh billeting his fellow travelers, tall and scholarly Albert Sandwich is sent to stay at a home in Druid's Bottom--near a forest of ancient yew trees--which local reputation whispers about magical or mysterious undertones of past centuries, when the Celts practiced "the old religion." He stoutly denies that his hostess, Miss Hepzibah Green, is a witch, though she fascinates the children with
her tale of a screaming skull and its curse.

Disguised as a modest YA story Carrie's War actually proves a psychological novel, with plenty of dialogue to maintain teenage
interest, plus mystery and complex human emotions to stimulate more mature readers. Most of the book consists of detailed flashback on the siblings' sojourn in Wales. We soon realize that Carrie is now a mother of several children herself, who has undertaken a sentimental journey with them to revisit the sights which made such lasting impressions
on her 12-year-old mind some thirty years ago. Alas, Carrie is haunted by what she considers her great, immature crime: "it was all my fault," she confesses in anguish, though there was none to condemn her.
She has voluntarily shouldered a heavy burden of guilt, although her adult mind rejects the role of her impetuous, thoughtless action and a legendary curse. Then too she is torn with doubt re the role of Mr. Evans in the disappearance of his older sister's will. "Miss Heart and Mr. Head," as Hepzibah nicknames her and Albert, were united in their love and compassion for her and her mentally-challenged ward, Mr. Johnny. Carrie comes of age in this excellent and fascinating story.

Carrie's war was a good book. I enjoyed every minute of it. The most exciting part of the book was on the journey home form Mr Evans' house, seeing the house in Druids Bottom on fire.It was very tense, but it was good to know that they survived. I was glad when Mrs Evans left Mr Evans as he wasn't treating her very well. It was a good book but I found it a bit hard to follow sometimes. Mabye it was because I was not reading it daily. I would recommend this book to anyone of my age, sightly younger or mabye slightly older. I would like to read other Nina Bawden books as I think she is a great author, I would someday myself like to become an author. If you were to read this book I would suggest that you don't space it out as much as I did and you read it daily. It was an interesting read and I would recommend it to all.

Butterfly-Babe

This book was given to me (in 1973) when I was 11 by my favorite aunt. I kept meaning to read it, but never did. Thank goodness I found it in the attic. I enjoyed it very much. It may appeal to an adult more than a child, which is probably why I didn't read it when it was given to me.

Hi! this is another one of my favorite books. it is about a youg girl and her broter who are sent to live in the country durng world war two. this book does not talk about the outside war, but the personal war that carrie faces. she lives (presently) with a broher an sister, one of which is like a mouse, the outher like a lion. she makes frends, larns about crulitly, hadships, and fairnes. ths story is a wounderful book about the wounders and harships one has to go through.

Carrie and her brother Nick are sent like all the other children in England to the countryside during WWII. They leave with very little luggage, a nametag, a gas mask and a lunch. Carrie's father is fighting in the war, her mother will eventually move to the Irish countryside to live and work while her family is separated.

Carrie and Nick are sent to Wales and are picked up by a woman (Anty Lou) and her brother (Mr. Evans) to live with them. Mr. Evans is an extremely particular, pitiable, mean and cheerless man. Anty Lou has been under his thumb since she has not married. Originally Anty Lou was only supposed to come back with one child, but Carrie begs Lou that they can not be seperated and they will share a bed together and be no trouble.

Down in the valley live relations of Mr. Evans and the children love it there, there aren't so many rules, it's cheerful and fun, the food is delicious and the woman running the house is full of stories and superstitions. And of course there is the one friend the children have made, Albert Sandwich.

While reading this book you are looking through Carrie's eyes, and recalling her past. She is an adult and she has come back to visit the place she stayed during the war, what haunts her, is that she caused the ruin of the people she loved in the valley.

The story is so engaging and interesting. I read this book with a group of 9 year olds who had so many questions about being sent to live with another family, not knowing where your parents are, how they really did feel sorry for Mr. Evans, even though he was such a beast. We had great discussions with this book.

With the boring front cover and a bland excerpt on the back I thought I would just stop reading the book and throw it away after the first twenty pages. But it really surprised me and was one of my favourite books when I was a couple of years younger.

I didn't like this book because I found it very hard to understand.I also didn't think it was very interesting. Carrie was always in her own mind thinking back to the past where herself and her brother Nick were wartime evacuees. Personally I think it could have improved upon the opening few paragraphs and stated it more clearly because Carrie was continuously drifting in and out of worlds and I found this very annoying.

THIS BOOK WAS GREAT EVERY BIT EXCEPT THE END.CARRIE WAS MY FAVOURITE CHARATER BEACAUSE SHE WAS SO BRAVE.THE ENDING WAS ONLY O.K.THE BOOK WAS SHORT AND SWEET ,BUT COULD HAVE BEEN LONGER.BUT IT IS STILL WORTH READING SO DONT JUDGE IT BY A BAD REVIEW.IT WAS EXCELLENT. EXELLENT .