An utterly heartbreaking tale of two young girls, worlds apart, who are thrown together when they have lost everything. Fans of Wives of War, Before We Were Yours and Diney Costeloe will absolutely love this poignant and moving World War Two novel.
England, 1937: After a devastating childhood at Blakely Hall Orphanage, fifteen-year-old Sandra is released. She finds work as a housemaid, finally able to put her past behind her. But the start of World War Two throws the country into turmoil, and her brother Alf is sent away to fight, leaving her completely alone.
Germany, 1939: Eleven-year-old Frieda is about to board a ship bound for England with her brother, Kurt. Life at home is perilous, with synagogues set alight and innocent lives lost to the Nazis. They have no choice but to flee, with only their identity cards and a small suitcase. But at the last moment, as Frieda stands on the deck crammed with frightened children, she spots her brother jumping off, back to land.
England, 1943: Joining the Land Army, Sandra is sent to a farm in the remote countryside where she meets evacuee Frieda. The girls are grappling with their own tragedies - Sandra fretting over whether Alf, flying a bomber in the heavens, will see tomorrow, and Frieda distraught that Kurt abandoned her, uncertain whether he is alive. All the while, they face long, terrifying nights in bunkers, huddling together as wailing sirens and distant explosions shock them to their cores.
Sandra and Frieda form a friendship that sees them through the darkest of days, but in times of war heartbreak is always just around the corner. Will the girls ever be reunited with their loved ones? And will the relationships they have fostered amidst the terror of war survive?
Readers are losing their hearts to The Outcast Girls:
'Wow. I was totally gone from Chapter 1... The story of Sandra and Freida is one I will not forget for a long time. Written with so much love While this is my first book by this author it won't be my last ' Goodreads Reviewer
'I can honestly say I loved it... Can highly recommend it.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
'Almost impossible to put down... I unquestionably loved this book.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
'I didn't want to put it down ... A beautifully written story that pulls at your heart strings. Another 5 star read from Shirley Dickson ' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars