Her ambition was always to become an actress. After three years of study at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, she spent two years at Marcel Marceau's L'école Internationale de Mime in Paris. From there she launched into a professional acting career and spent a few years touring all over the country - from Scotland to Devon and then Yorkshire - working in repertory companies, taking any part she could. Michelle's worst stage part was playing Orinoco in The Wombles musical. All this time she had been secretly writing stories. When she was 24 she became interested in children's books, and decided to write one herself. Charlie's depiction, by contrast, is a delight. A four year old boy coping with the introduction of a sister, grandmother and father he never knew he had, as well as the (to him) inexplicable disappearance of his 'Uncle' Harvey. He doesn't adapt well to these changes, and is written in the same sympathetic way as the beloved children of Little Wierwold in Goodnight Mr. Tom. Also, what was the point of Ivy's character? Other than being a sort of parallel of Peggy, she didn't add anything to the start of the story, and then later we hear her melodramatic tragedy and then we never hear about her again. What was all that about? Oh and finally, there were way too many characters either being referenced or introduced at the start and it took me ages to remember who anyone was. Despite Lance and the little cabin, Rusty is still desperately lonely. Her unhappiness is compounded by the news that Beatie, who has always complained of 'ruddy indigestion', has died. Rusty and Peggy go to Devon for the reading of Beatie's will. Beatie leaves Rusty her collection of woodworking tools and leaves Peggy the house, with the condition that she's not to sell it for seventeen years and, if she does choose to sell it after that time, that she only sell it to a woman. These terms mean that Peggy cannot be forced by Roger to sell the house or put it into her husband's name, making her independent if she chooses to be. Rusty and Peggy spend the weekend in Devon and start to get to know each other a little better. Rusty discovers that her mother is actually fun and adventurous and that they surprisingly have quite a lot in common. This covers a topic that I don't think many people are familiar with: British children who were evacuated out of the UK during WWII and sent to live in other countries for safety, in this case, America.

Back Home by Michelle Magorian - Penguin Books Australia Back Home by Michelle Magorian - Penguin Books Australia

The main issue I had was that Rusty mostly came across as a spoilt brat. Because she has spent the war in America, she is horrified by how poor the people in Britain are and looks down on them for it. Kinda hard to get behind a hero who acts like that. There seemed to be a theme of hypocrisy throughout the novel, particularly shown by Rusty's hatred of English patriotism and snobbery, while being arrogantly patriotic and snobby about America. Hypocrisy isn't a very fun theme. Also, the hypocrisy of Rusty thinking her mother wasn't ladylike because she was a mechanic and Peggy thinking her daughter wasn't ladylike because of woodwork never rang true for me.

I couldn't remember how the story ended, though, so reading it felt new to me. Even though I remembered the main part of the plot, I found myself engrossed in the story and wanted to see what would happen next. And, to be honest, I returned because I've spent too long without reading a Michelle Magorian. She's one of those writers who simply is and always will be there in my life and her stories are ones that I return to when I need comfort, or when I just need to remind myself of what can happen when people are really good at what they do. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Everyone's idea of a smash-hit first novel: full-blown characters to love and hate, moments of grief and joy, and a marvellous story that knows just how to grab the emotions Guardian

Back Home - Michelle Magorian - Google Books Back Home - Michelle Magorian - Google Books

Michelle says” It would be brilliant if it could be released on CD so if anyone wants one perhaps they could request it from the BBC? The Honourable Beatie Langley The Devon landlady of Peggy and Charlie, Beatie is a warm and welcome presence in the story. Kind, open minded, cheerful, perceptive and generous, Beatie gave away all of her curtains and many possessions to help the war effort – material was in short supply – and happily shared her rambling and leaky-roofed house with several women who were serving in the forces. Beatie, while never openly saying so, clearly knows about Peggy's home situation and after her death she leaves Peggy her house on condition that Peggy can't sell for 17 years nor can the house be held in a man's name, thus giving Peggy a way to escape her marriage if she wants to by preventing Roger forcing Peggy to put the house into his name. Beatie shows how some people adjusted well with proper British spirit to the trials of war. She dies of her "ruddy indigestion" which is likely to be stomach cancer.This is a great book. It might take a little while to get into, but you'll love it more and more as you read. Carnegie Medal Award". 2007(?). Curriculum Lab. Elihu Burritt Library. Central Connecticut State University ( CCSU). Retrieved 2012-08-04. But it doesn’t fell like home. Rusty’s mother is like a stranger, her little brother doesn’t know her and why does the food taste so bad? Rusty just can’t get used to the rigid rules and rationing and her strict new boarding school. Perhaps because I read this later in life, but I found it did not have the same aplomb as Goodnight Mr. Tom. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable and resonant read. Having grown up half-and-half in America and England, I found Rusty's struggles at once heart-warming and slightly forced. Here at Lovereading4kids we urge parents and children to try out the wonderful writing, experience the roller-coaster of emotions you’ll get from reading a Michelle Magorian novel. We’re confident you’ll be swept up into a time and place that should never be forgotten.