Book review: Crooked Heart

Lissa Evans offers a fictional glimpse into the world of childhood evacuation in 1940’s Britain that sees an assortment of characters bring heart and humour to an otherwise dire situation.

Having lived most of his life with his godmother, 10-year-old Noel is left out of sorts when he loses his ageing carer to dementia and is evacuated with his classmates from London to St Albans, finding himself landed with a morally compromised Vee, who is forever trying to make a fast buck; her self-involved son and her mute letter-writing mother.