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The Valley of Lost Secrets

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The Valley of Lost Secrets

By: Lesley Parr
Narrated by: Iestyn Arwel
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Bloomsbury presents The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr, read by Iestyn Arwel.

A page-turning mystery about bravery and brotherhood among evacuees in the Second World War, from an prize-winning author.

September 1939.

When Jimmy is evacuated to a small village in Wales, it couldn’t be more different from London. Green, quiet and full of strangers, he instantly feels out of place.

But then he finds a skull hidden in a tree, and suddenly the valley is more frightening than the war. Who can Jimmy trust? His brother is too little; his best friend has changed.

Finding an ally in someone he never expects, they set out together to uncover the secrets that lie with the skull. What they discover will change Jimmy – and the village – forever.

A perfect book for readers of 9 and over who love Michael Morpurgo's stories.

'Beautifully told. This appealing book is about losses healed, lies uncovered, cruelty defeated and goodness rewarded' – The Sunday Times©2021 Lesley Parr (P)2021 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Action & Adventure Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Historical Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Mysteries Mystery & Suspense Village War Military
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Critic reviews

With echoes of Carrie's War, and Goodnight Mister Tom, Parr brings her own fresh voice to what already feels like a wartime classic. This story is quietly brutal and brilliantly heartfelt. I absolutely ADORED it.
Evocative and heartfelt, The Valley of Lost Secrets already reads like a classic. A celebration of kindness and friendship at a time of upheaval, it's gripping, heart-breaking and yet full of hope. I loved it with all my heart
An evacuee story with all the makings of a classic.
A story of friendship, love, loss and belonging; of looking at people deep past their exterior, and of the love and pain in a human heart. There’s a cracking mystery at the centre of it, but it was the Welsh backdrop and Jimmy’s journey to acceptance that stayed in my heart long after I’d closed the book.
A gripping mystery, overflowing with heart – The Valley of Lost Secrets is one of the very best books I’ve read this year.
What a wonderful book. A brilliant debut – warm and tender, simple in the best way, historical fiction with a light touch.
Lesley Parr’s The Valley of Lost Secrets (Bloomsbury), follows Jimmy in wartime, evacuated with his brother to a Welsh mining village, as he slowly acclimatises to his new surroundings. But when Jimmy finds a hidden skull, he unearths a secret that has haunted the community for years. Atmospheric, direct and gripping, with a superbly assured narrative voice, this book is woven through with powerful themes: grief, belonging and making peace with the past.
An absolute triumph of warm, tender-hearted, timeless storytelling – Lesley Parr has created a story that feels like it has always been here… and one that I'm sure will still continue to be read many years from now.
The Valley of Lost Secrets vividly evokes the uncomfortable reality of being an evacuee in a new place very different from home, as experienced by 12- year-old Jimmy. This warm, sensitive story celebrates the Welsh community at its heart, but also shows the complexities of living in a small mining town where everyone knows everyone else. I particularly loved the way Lesley describes the landscape and its people. The story moves along at a compelling pace, the historical background is lightly touched in, the characters are memorable. And the ending is truly satisfying.
All stars
Most relevant
Excellently written book. Really cared about what would happen to the characters. Loved the relationships between them and how they developed.

Beautiful poignant story

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I came across this by chance on Audible, having never heard of the book or author. Both me and my 8 year old son thoroughly enjoyed it. It has interesting and believable characters and a great story. I see its only newly released in print form as well and hope it becomes a best-seller.

Great first novel

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A brilliant middle grade Second World War book with a mystery running through it. In the same vein as Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden and Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian.

Middle grade historical fiction with a mystery

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I have listened to over 500 books on Audible and never written a review before, but felt driven this time.

“Makes you laugh and makes you cry” is something you often see in reviews so will not say it. But if you have laugh muscles and tear ducts then prepare to stretch them. This wartime story of evacuees from Islington to the South Wales valleys is brilliantly written, is full of superb characters, both good and bad, and surely must become a children’s classic. As a adult, you have an inkling as to what is coming at the end but it still hits you somewhere deep inside.

If you loved Goodnight Mister Tom then you will love this too but I think this is even better. You get to the end and just want to know what happens to these characters after the story finishes.

Any criticisms? Just one. The reader, who is otherwise excellent, cannot pronounce the word mask in the way that a child from Islington would. I know because I was one.

Just wonderful

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I listened to this audio book, with my 8 year old, over a few weeks whilst driving to and from after school activities. We’ve loved every second of the story with the narration really bringing the characters to life. I thoroughly recommend this title.

Fantastic Story with Fantastic Narration

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