The Valley of Lost Secrets follows twelve-year-old Jimmy and his little brother Ronnie, as they are evacuated during the Second World War from London to the small town of Llanbryn in Wales. And amidst all these perfectly moving pieces of Jimmy's growth, is this heart-wrenching tale of a mysterious skull that he stumbles across and his deep-rooted desire to find the one it belongs to. While out exploring in the valley above the village, Jimmy discovers a human skull hidden in an old wych elm tree, and the story really takes flight.

The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr | Waterstones

About a quarter through, I noticed a secret code at the bottom of each left page (a letter instead of the page number), adding to the mystery! Jimmy and Ronnie were both such lovely characters and I loved seeing them settling in to the Welsh village where they have been evacuated to. You can feel how much love and care has gone into every word, every description, every historical fact and every character.I did wonder, as I neared the end, whether there would be any note about the boys' final home, since not all evacuees ever went home again, and if these boys would have had a home to go to after the war, the separation from the Thomases and their home in Wales would have been awful after Ronnie's formative years. A gripping mystery, overflowing with heart - The Valley of Lost Secrets is one of the very best books I've read this year.

The Valley of Lost Secrets Teacher Resource Pack Lesley Parr: The Valley of Lost Secrets Teacher Resource Pack

Naturally, that's when they run into Duff and his new gang, but it's Florence who punches Jack in the face defending Ronnie and leading to a new friendship between her and Jimmy. Evacuation wasn't easy for Jimmy but through friendship and bravery he solves a mystery that changes the lives of the villagers. Though this is a really great middle grade adventure/mystery with plenty of humor, Parr has explored some important themes in this novel, such as what makes a family and a community, forgiveness and acceptance, loss and guilt, courage and cowardice. Jimmy and his younger brother arrive in a mining town in Wale and are taken in by a childless couple, who originally only wanted to take in one boy.

The sense of mistrust from the community of these children coming in from the city is very clearly woven into the story and is as relevant today as always.