The Secret Sister
The Secret Sister is a WWII story of the Bevin boys, unsung heroes who served on the home front. Twins Lizzie and Ed have enjoyed a peaceful, happy life with their family in southeastern England. Even amid the war, they are relatively unaffected until the call comes for anyone with a seaworthy craft to go quickly to Dover. Thirteen-year-old Ed insists on joining his father, and the horror he sees at Dunkirk traumatizes him for life.
When the twins turn 18, Ed receives his first official letter to report for military service. But he is still haunted by nightmares of Dunkirk and is terrified of facing the blood and death of combat, so he runs away. As his reporting day approaches, the family is anxious; Lizzie secretly intercepts his mail. Ed has been selected by lottery to join the Bevin boys in the coal mines. The war brought a shortage of mine workers, and coal is critical to the war effort in making steel for planes and armaments. So, the Minister of Labour, Ernest Bevin, set up a lottery to conscript men to the mines. This means no combat for Ed, but he will not know since he is out of contact. Lizzie, realizing how easy it is to be mistaken as Ed given the right clothes and haircut, decides to take Ed’s place at the mine until he returns. This scenario tips into the farfetched, but the story will carry you onward.
Trenow does a great job of merging Lizzie’s and Ed’s story with that of the Bevin boys, who were never given the recognition and accolades that combat soldiers received and often harassed as cowards and conchies – do not miss the author’s note. This is an enjoyable, effortless read to sink into with natural flowing dialogue and a touch of romance.
