A Place to Hang the Moon

by Kate Albus Narrated by Polly Lee

Overview

For fans of The War That Saved My Life and other World War II fiction, A Place to Hang the Moon is the tale of three orphaned siblings who are evacuated from London to live in the countryside with the secret hope of finding a permanent family.



It is 1940 and William, twelve, Edmund, eleven, and Anna, nine, aren't terribly upset by the death of the not-so-grandmotherly grandmother who has taken care of them since their parents died. But the children do need a guardian, and in the dark days of World War II London, those are in short supply, especially if they hope to stay together. Could the mass wartime evacuation of children from London to the countryside be the answer?



It's a preposterous plan, but off they go-keeping their predicament a secret, and hoping to be placed in a temporary home that ends up lasting forever. Moving from one billet to another, the children suffer the cruel trickery of foster brothers, the cold realities of outdoor toilets, and the hollowness of empty stomachs. They find comfort in the village lending library, whose kind librarian, Nora Müller, seems an excellent choice of billet, except that her German husband's whereabouts are currently unknown, and some of the villagers consider her unsuitable.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"With its traditional arc, valiant young characters, and attention to culinary detail ('slices of warm bread flecked with currants and slathered with butter'), this is an assured and satisfying story."—The Wall Street Journal

★ "Both touching and genuine, the historical novel A Place to Hang the Moon speaks to the power of stories and families, both of which can be found in the most unexpected places."— Foreword Reviews, Starred Review

★ "The narrative is fresh, lively, and captivating. The characters are drawn with conviction and a good deal of empathy. Lit by wit and humanity, the novel offers a heartening story in which three resourceful children keep a secret, find what they long for, and treasure it." —Booklist, Starred Review

★ "Told in third person, Albus’s rich character descriptions and quick story pace will keep tweens turning the pages until the very end. . . . Readers will laugh, cry, and root for the three siblings as they endeavor to survive in this endearing tale."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Heartwarming . . . Albus infuses the closely bonded siblings’ search for found family with dry humor [and] affectionate and authentic-feeling characterization" —Publishers Weekly

"It's in the often crisp, often cozy detailing and the ever-so-British turns of phrase . . . that this novel claims a place among the most kid-pleasing orphan stories. The loyal bonds among the Pearce siblings and Mrs. Müller’s bottomless well of patience, ingenuity, and perfectly tailored reading lists will have readers aching to swap their own messier families, however briefly, for the Pearces’ home and hygge." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"A wartime drama with enough depth and psychological complexity to satisfy budding bookworms." —Kirkus Reviews

School Library Journal

★ 03/11/2022

Gr 4–7—It's 1940 in London, and William, Edmund, and Anna have found themselves orphaned for the second time in their short lives. With the Nazis breathing down England's neck, the children are sent, with hundreds of other children, to the countryside to live with a billet, a foster family that takes them in temporarily and protects them from the war. Their family's solicitor has advised them to be on the lookout for a family that could be a forever home for them while there. The oldest, William, has the best memories of their mum and dad and often tells stories about them to his siblings, one being that the children were so loved that they could probably hang the moon in the heavens if they wanted to. With that in mind, the three of them know that only a family that thinks the children "hang the moon in the heavens" will be the right fit. While away in the countryside, the children stay with a variety of families, some more traditional than others. With the solace of the little library as their only constant and the town librarian their only friend, the children learn to piece together a family until a real one is found. Told in third person, Albus's rich character descriptions and quick story pace will keep tweens turning the pages until the very end. Vivid details of World War II-era England are written from a child's perspective. Characters are white. VERDICT For fans of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's The War That Saved My Life, this is a highly recommended purchase. Readers will laugh, cry, and root for the three siblings as they endeavor to survive in this endearing tale.—Tracy Cronce

Kirkus Reviews

2020-11-17
Three plucky orphan siblings are in search of a mother in wartime England.

When their grandmother dies, 12-year-old William, 11-year-old Edmund, and 9-year-old Anna are left in London in the care of an elderly housekeeper. As part of the World War II evacuation of children to safety, they are relocated to the countryside, something the family solicitor hopes may lead to finding adoptive parents. However, they are billeted with the Forresters, an unpleasant family reminiscent of the Dursleys. Bullying by their hosts’ two sons, who despise them; the ever present fear of German attack; and the dread of homelessness test their mettle to the limit. The orphans long to find a home of their own, and good boy William is stressed by his responsibility as head of the small family. Edmund’s desire for revenge against the Forresters and a prank involving a snake get them evicted from their billet, and they end up in a much worse situation. They find sanctuary in the village library and a savior in the librarian, who is married to a German and therefore ostracized by the locals. Mrs. Müller provides them with moral support, a listening ear, and true appreciation and love. The classic books she chooses for them—The Wind in the Willows and Anne of Green Gables, among others—may generate ideas for further reading. All characters are White.

A wartime drama with enough depth and psychological complexity to satisfy budding bookworms. (reading list) (Historical fiction. 12-16)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176334777
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	06/22/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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