The Secret Book of Flora Lea: A Novel

The stories of Whispernwood, a place springing from the imagination of a young Hazel Aberdeen bring comfort to her younger sister Flora when the reality of WW Ii overwhelms them both. This land also has a profound effect on their livess and guides them to a devastating truth that lay buried for twenty years. Written with believable emotional reaction to tragedy as well as the joys of childhood.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea's premise intrigued me, as did the description of the Whisperwood story and novel. Not having read Patti Callahan's work since the illustrious Once Upon a Wardrobe, I was eager to give this one a try. For the most part, Patti didn't disappoint. And even the one fairly big flaw in the book pushes the story more into 3.6-3.7 territory. First off, I want to give Patti major kudos for making yet another World War II story unique and dare I say special in a saturated market. The story of London's child evacuees is somewhat familiar depending on whose books you read, but Hazel and Flora definitely stand out among their counterparts. Their determination to stay together, how they come to billet at Bridie Aberdeen's, their use of Whisperwood as a coping mechanism, and their overall experience all feel tailored to them. These elements contain twists and turns, emotional arcs, and "pops of color," as it were, not seen in stories like theirs (e.g., The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Once Upon a Wardrobe, split time WWII novels from authors like Pam Jenoff or Melanie Dobson). Patti's characters are both three-dimensional and uncomfortably relatable. Sometimes the discomfort comes from the unwise choices they make, since these are reminders of how vulnerable we all are to such choices. But for me, the discomfort, the rawness, the aching vulnerability, came in less obvious moments. For instance, I ached for Hazel as she explored, grappled with, and denied her growing love for Harry. I ached for Bridie as she struggled with the disappearance of her husband, her spiritual beliefs, and her place in Binsey--because she never truly seemed as wanted and loved as she deserved. Yet never were any of these characters victims, even little Flora when she went missing. No, these characters are strong, and not just strong in the face of war. They are strong in their autonomy, their compassion, and their interdependence. They are strong in both their goodness and their sins, their wisdom and their foolish moments. I truly enjoyed spending time with each of them. While most characters leave me wanting "more," I closed their story knowing I had enough and they had completed a journey with me. I also loved the settings of The Secret Book, and as I've said before, settings don't often win brownie points from me. This one though, really popped off the page. Binsey is as enchanting as Narnia or the Kilns, but it's a place all its own. I had no trouble believing this was the place Whisperwood was meant to exist, the one and only place you could find shimmering doors. I loved the small elements of ancient Catholic and Celtic culture within Binsey too, such as the treacle well and the chapel and the festival of St. Margaret. I wanted a bit more of these, especially how they interwove with Christian culture and a true love of Jesus (I'll get to that more in a minute). Finally, I appreciated Patti's interwoven mystery behind Whisperwood, its origins and its travels. Throughout the novel, I enjoyed guessing how Whisperwood came to be a bestselling series and who found or stole the tale from the Linden sisters. Those guesses didn't lead anywhere, which again, I'll get to. But the mystery itself was a lot of fun, and as someone who doesn't read a ton of mysteries, I don't get to say that very much. Plus, the mystery involved a book and a story, and as you might know, if there's a book inside a book, I'm usually sold. Now, unfortunately, on to The Secret Book's weak elements, the ones that push it into 3.6-3.7 territory. The first and most egregious is the solution to the Whisperwood issue. That solution, at least for me, comes completely out of left field. That is, I buy the idea behind Dorothy Bellamy's role in the story, at least to a point. And I buy the idea of Frances having a part in it, to a point. But the surrounding details were so convoluted, I was unable to keep up my suspension of disbelief. Without spoiling anything, trauma or not, I don't for one second believe Frances could've gotten away with what she did, in the absence of something like total, decades-long, retrograde amnesia. (Which, by the way, is extremely rare and would've been way too soap opera-like for this story). A bit more on this: I'm still unsure I understand where Peggy, Maria, and Linda Andrews fit into all this. I mean, intellectually, I "get it." But considering Hazel, Flora, Dot, and Frances' roles, the Andrews family feels extraneous and unneeded. And unfortunately, because of that, the idea of Whisperwood being a bestselling series no longer works. It's a real shame, because that idea provides a great reason for Hazel to revisit the story and find closure for the loss of her sister. But the Andrews family "somehow" finding the story through a traumatized sister and aunt, Linda angsting and crying over "stealing" it while claiming she didn't...I mean, for me, the entire thread fell apart. Finally--and this is something I've noticed with some of Patti Callahan's other work. I don't think Patti can decide whether she wants to write Christian or secular fiction, so she ends up with this strange hybrid. Now, sometimes this works, like when Bridie acts as a Christ-follower but also respects Celtic culture and explains the origins of the word "pagan." But other times, when a book billed as Christian has F bombs and several scenes of premarital sex, it doesn't work. I wish Patti and her publishing team would make up their minds about which market she's aiming for, and tailor any hybrid elements accordingly. Because no, spirituality need not be in readers' faces, but if it's there, it should be a bit clearer, I think. And yes, there should be lines that Christian books don't cross. Anyway, with all that said, The Secret Book of Flora Lea is still a strong one. It isn't perfect, and as I said, the ending was kind of a turn-off for me. I'm unsure if I'd read this one again. But I will recommend it for discerning and mature readers, especially if you're like me and enjoy stories within stories, or those with a fantastical connection.

Excellent — a must read! I adored this wonderful, multiple-layered tale of family, first-love, loss, remorse and forgiveness that all ties into a heart-wrenching, unsolved mystery. Set in two time periods; -in the current time a mysterious book shows up at a rare book store linking our main character Hazel to her sister who for 20-years has been missing, presumed drowned at the tender age of five. Going back in time to 1940 during WWll, Britain required all children to leave the city of London naming this endeavor Operation Pied Piper. Sisters Hazel 14, and Flora 5, were evacuated to the countryside where they were chosen to live in the caring home of Mrs. Aberdeen and her son, Harry. This is when and where Hazel created the magical world of “Whisperwood” to calm her frightened little sister. This is also the year Flora disappeared on the banks of the River Thames. Patti Callahan Henry has created a very SPECIAL story that gives her readers a phenomenal, MAGICAL escape into another era.. it’s then and now, where you will find inside these pages that the power of love IS an incredible thing. Hazel never gave up on finding Flora.. and there’s several surprising twists that bring something truly HEARTWARMING 💫 into the storyline.. even perhaps a second chance at the impossible. I’m still thinking about this book and want to read it again. I can’t recommend it enough or this author! ♥️🤩 5 stars — Pub. 5/2/23

The book holds your attention from beginning to end. The mystery and sadness of war and how it weaves through homes and families. Very entertaining.

This was my first book by Patti Callahan Henry. I really wanted to love it. The book cover is gorgeous and I read a lot of hype leading up to its publication. I read a lot of WWII novels so it was interesting to read about Operation Pied Piper. In 1939 Hazel and Flora Lea Linden are sent to the hamlet of Binsey to live with Bridgette Aberdeen and her son Harry to avoid the danger of possible bombing in London. Fourteen year old Hazel makes up stories about a magical land called Whisperwood for her little sister Flora Lea. They don’t share this with anyone. Patti’s writing style is very lyrical and beautiful but for me it sometimes got too flowery and over the top. Binsey and it’s surrounding area are described in such idealistic terms one wonders why the sisters even need an imaginary land to escape to. Harry takes Hazel on a walk to explore the countryside and it’s the most beautiful walk she has ever been on! The emerald trees! The shining River Thames! Fora Lea goes missing from this idealistic setting and is never seen again. In 1960 Hazels works in a rare book shop when she comes across a book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars by American author Peggy Andrews. It bears an uncanny resemblance to the stories she used to tell her lost sister. I struggled to understand exactly what Peggy Andrew’s book was supposed to be. Patti refers to it as a fairytale and what little we get of it’s content makes it sound very simplistic like a book for preschool children. Why would a recently published children’s book be of interest to a rare book store? Anyway Hazel wants to know if her beloved sister might still be alive but the eventual resolution seems wildly implausible to me. It’s a lovely read as long as you can suspend disbelief.

I enjoyed this book and story. I found it to be somehow different in the way it was told, a very sad and serious subject matter through the wonder and magic of a fairytale.

I loved Patti's book "Once upon a wardrobe" so bought this. It was OK but from the start I knew what was going to happen. (can't say anymore without spoiling it). Well written but I had to skim it just to find out the ending cos that's all that matters really. Patti is a really good writer but this was not really for me. I will read other books of hers "Becoming Mrs Lewis" is my next read. Please don't let me put you off of Patti's books, she is good but this one not my favourite.

This novel is simply superb. I didn't want it to end. It is exquisite in revealing the wonder of the imagination, the realm within our souls where all manner of story can be created and sometimes lived. But it's also a story of sisterly love, of loss, first love and the desperate need to believe in the seemingly impossible. Two sisters, Hazel and Flora Lea Linden are relocated to Binsey, a small town just outside Oxford, as part of Operation Pied Piper which was Britain's oddly-named program for moving children away from the threat of the German bombing in WWII. The sisters find home with Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry. Bridie is a whimsical type of person and cares for the girls encouraging their imaginations and helping minimise their fears for their mother left in London. Hazel, fourteen, helps Flora, only six, to put aside the trauma by telling her a wonderful fairytale, with the fabulous title, Whisperwood. It's a secret tale only known by the sisters. So Hazel believes. Fast forward twenty years to 1960, we meet 34 year old Hazel who continues to grapple with the loss of her sister, presumedly swallowed up by the fast moving torrent of the River Thames that flows through the township. Hazel is unable to forgive herself, believing she is at fault for leaving a napping Flora alone while she has cuddles with Harry. Hazel works at a rare bookshop and happens upon a first edition Whisperwood with original illustrations. As we all would do, Hazel turns her life upside down to discover all she can about the author of this book. Is her sister alive? It's riveting page turning reading. It's brilliant and I was especially surprised by what Hazel eventually discovers. I really enjoyed how the author portrayed Hazel. She's living with a shadow hanging over her that has limited her life choices. Not forgiving ourselves can do this. Watching the author develop Hazel through the story was brilliant and how she re-discovered herself was marvellous to read. With a fine cast of supporting characters, Callahan Henry brings us a story that will linger long in my heart and oh, wouldn't it be fabulous to see on the big screen. I was very fortunate to receive an early ebook copy via HarperCollins Australia via NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review. My pre-ordered copy arrived on release day (thanks Amazon.com.au) and I'm excited to read it again.

I thought this was a lovely book, about the disappearance of a child during the Second World War when children had to leave home in London and be separated from their parents for safety's sale- the story is magical, whimsy, and extremely touching. I would recommend this anytime.

I think the book is very well written. There wasn’t a boring moment!

Loved this book, so well written! Made me think about my grandmother who was in London as a teen during the Second World War and some of the things she must have struggled with. This is a beautiful story and I must say I cried in the last few chapters.