A review by romonko
The Orphan Sisters by Shirley Dickson

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book is set during the time of World II, from 1929 up to 1945 (VE Day).  It is about two sisters who are dropped off at an orphanage outside of London called Blakely Hall at the age of eight (Dorothy) and four (Esther) by their mother.  Their mother gave them no explanation at all, and left the building.  Both girls never see their mother again.  Life is difficult at the orphanage for these two little girls and living there forever changes their lives as well as their outlook on life.  When the girls reach 15 years of age, they are released from the orphanage.  When Etty leaves four years after Dorothy, the girls find each other and promise to never be separated again.  The betrayal of their mother never is forgotten or forgiven.  When the war hits, Dorothy says goodbye to her young husband as he goes off to sea, and Etty becomes involved with a man that she can never have.  The book takes us through all of the Blitz and the devastation that that caused.  Through marriage, childbirth and through widowhood, the two girls stay close until the War hits close to home.  All this time they don't know what became of their mother, until after the war ends and the secrets come out.  I enjoyed the story, and liked Etty and Dorothy, but I did think that the book was not that well-written.  Hence the three stars.  I must also note that there is nothing of historical significance about World War II or the Blitz.  It is mostly a story about two young girls who are abandoned at a young age, and how it affected their lives, personalities and their futures.