"London, 1941. “Help me, Jack” is Elsie’s last thought as the building crashes down around her and everything goes dark. Will she ever see her big brother again?"

This is book 1 in the Runaway Series and it is inspired by true ruawawy evacuees during the war. The author does a great job if weaving joy, heartbreak, conflicts and even humor in this story. I was hooked from the start and will be looking more into this author as she was new to me.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my review.

The Lost Orphans is a entertaining historical fiction about a group of orphans who find care and love from each other. It's the best historical fiction book that I have read for a long time. I became engrossed in the lives of the realistically drawn brave and courageous characters. I am a big dog lover so I fell in love with Pippa the little dog that befriends Elsie. I found myself holding my breath more than once and reaching out for the tissues. I love how rich in detail the plot is and the children's kindness despite not always being treated kindly themselves. The plot shines with resilience and determination and I am beyond thrilled that this is just the first of what promises to be a richly textured series. If I could give this book all the stars in the world I would that is how much I valued the story.

What a great read this book by Ellie Curzon was . I was completely invested in the the story of a group of children surviving in London by whatever means they could in the middle of the war
Friends and enemies but above all loyalty run through these pages .
Excellent

Ellie Curzon's "The Lost Orphans" is a heartbreaking and thrilling historical fiction book against the backdrop of the London Blitz in 1941. It is the story of young Jack and his eight-year-old sister Elsie, who after a terrifying evacuation from London, flee a sadistic farming family only to return to discover their home is in ruins and their mother missing. Elsie is traumatized and becomes mute, infusing yet another vulnerability into their already delicate situation.

They soon find themselves part of a lively band of escaped evacuees, a makeshift family unit that is set on surviving and even assisting others in the face of constant danger from Nazi bombs. The story is proof of the endurance of children in times of war, demonstrating their courage and ingenuity.

The author skillfully weighs tear-jerking scenes with inspiring moments of strength and friendship, making for a very engaging read. Some readers may criticize the maturity of some of the child characters, but the depth of emotion and the strong plot combine to make "The Lost Orphans" an enthralling and ultimately optimistic survival story and testament to the unbreakable spirit of humankind in the face of calamity.

a compelling novel in both premise and characters. you automatically care for the characters as you meet them. and obviously with the background of war the tension and fear is already palpable.
these gaggle of orphans are all here to survive and doing what they can and must to do just that. its like a war time lost boys from peter pan. and it was just as entertaining and endearing to read. this group have lost so much. but how they come together to be there for those in need and each other is such a tender read. but these kids arent pushovers. these kids all bring something to the table and they are all becoming more resourceful the more they are pushed to be. and also watching them be there for others during that time is another courageous act on all their parts. i cant imagine being so brave even as an adult!
there are also some good adults in this book. but also, of course some really rather ugly adults too who i cant imagine being so brazen in their disgusting behaviours.
this plot had me from the start and i was immersed and fully engrossed from then on in. this didn't let up until the end. and i was angst ridden with need to find out if not just our main characters kids, but all the kids would be ok!

I enjoyed this book and its unique spin on WWII historical fiction. I found the children to be especially charming and often funny, even in their difficult situation as orphans living on the streets of London during the Blitz. At times I felt it was unlikely that a child as young as eight-year-old Elsie would speak or act the way she did, and that kept me from becoming completely absorbed in the story. Although during times of war I suppose children are, sadly, forced to grow up too fast. Overall, I was engaged, invested and eager to find out how things would end for these lost orphans and the adults who took it upon themselves to keep them safe. An enjoyable, uplifting read!

4 stars

A great book for anyone that is into war time novels. It tells the story of some children that had been sent away to the countryside to escape London bombing. They were treated badly and decided to run away and go back to England. When they arrived back things had changed and instead of going home to their family ended up being looked after by nuns which was even worse.
A great book from start to finish. One that will keep you reading late into the night,

A truly uplifting WWII historical fiction, The Runaway Evacuees Book One presents an inspiring WW2 novel, filled with hope and resilience.

Following the bombing of St. Mary's Orphanage in London, siblings Elsie and Jack escape the tyrannical Sister Benedict, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and courage.

This is a heartwarming tale of friendship and resilience, beautifully woven into one story, inspiring us to hold on to hope.

I was invested from the prologue. When the Taylor children Jack and Elsie are evacuated to the country they are shocked by the treatment they receive from the cruel farmer and his wife so decide to runaway back to London.
The city is under fire from the Nazis, when they discover their home gone. They join other orphans , safety in numbers!
The children have no fear and a determination to help others, even when bombs are going off. Do they have a guardian angel who looks out for them?

I read this book at every opportunity, it has it all, believable characters, the bravest pluckiest kids. My favourite characters were Elsie & Wyngate, least favourite was the Cooks. Look forward to the next by this author.

Pick up this novel and you will find it hard to put it down again, and when you have read it, you will find it easy to believe that you have actually been there experiencing the story yourself.

What a lovely read, lovely characters with a story of the children from a bombed orphanage who were badly treated and evacuated to the country and again treat very badly. On returning to London they became known as the children of the Blitz and how they helped people as the bombs dropped. Looking forward to the 2nd book in this coming series.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to the Publisher Bookouture for the early read.

London, 1941. Elsie and her brother, Jack have returned to the city, after running away from a cruel foster family in the countryside. They team up with some other children, and end up becoming the Blitz Kids. They are befriended by French torch singer, Lisette, who is determined to look after them.
I enjoyed this book very much. It was a fresh twist to see things through the children's eyes. I believe this is the first in a series, and I'm very much looking forward to more Blitz Kids.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is the story of a bunch of young orphans during WWII trying to find ways to survive. It is a compelling story, definitely a page turner. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Historical drama set during World War Two in London. Fantastic bunch of characters known as the Blitz Kids. Great story.

The Lost Orphans by Ellie Curzon is an entertaining historical novel and the first book in The Runaway Evacuees series which promises to be fabulous.
The action is set in London in 1940, with the occasional glimpses backwards. It surrounds a group of orphans who were bombed out. They band together as a unit, looking out for each other, and for those in need.
We see that the children are plucky and resourceful. Their bravery knows no bounds as they set about rescuing those who are trapped by the Blitz – hence they earn their name, The Blitz Kids.
Londoners were a brave bunch, full of the bulldog spirit. “No matter how many bombs Hitler sent, London carried on.” Not much stops them. They drink tea, keep calm and carry on.
There are some big-hearted characters within the novel. In contrast, there are also those who seek to profit from the misery of others.
All the characters were realistically drawn and very likable. I loved the bond that Elsie formed with a small dog called Pippa, and also with the big-hearted Mr Wyngate and Lisette.
The Lost Orphans was a thrilling adventure, full of derring do, heroes and villains. I was totally engrossed and read it in just an afternoon.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

This is my 3rd Ellie Curzon novel and it certainly didn't disappoint. It lived up to all my expectations.

A fast paced story about brother and sister Jack and Elsie, who become orphaned during the war.
They live in an orphanage run by nuns, until it is obliterated by a bomb one night.
We follow them as they join up with other orphans and form a little family of their own.

These wonderful characters were so real to me. I felt like I was there with them, hearing the air raid sirens, feeling the ground shake as the bombs fell.
I laughed and cried along with them.

Ellie has become a must read author for me and I look forward to reading her next endeavour.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I lost myself in this book, I just couldn’t put it down! A must read!
Thank you net galley and the publisher for this arc

Absolutely loved this book. Likeable and believable characters you wanted to be safe in war torn London. Funny, touching, heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure. I’ve read many stories set in WW2 but this is a first for me, from the perspective of the orphans. Young Ned’s attempts at speaking French reminded me of Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses. That made me smile. Highly recommend this wonderful book.

A gut wrenching story about friendship, courage and resilience surrounding a group of streetwise orphans during the blitz over London. They are befriended by Mr. Wyngate and club singer Lisette. Together they find the strength and character to help not only themselves but the ordinary people who are caught up in the bombings of their city.

This story was totally unrealistic but I actually loved it. It’s a story of heartbreak, loss, fear and trust. The Blitz Kids are a bunch of orphans that are just trying to survive the war on their terms. There are tons of adventures along the way which makes for a really entertaining read. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book I thoroughly enjoyed it.