The Secret Book of Flora Lea

THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA by best-selling author Patti Callahan Henry is a blend of historical fiction and the make-believe world of Whisperwood. Just prior to the Blitz, two sisters, 14 year-old Hazel and 5 year-old Flora, are evacuated to the English countryside where they find a home with Bridie Aberdeen and her son Harry. As a source of solace, they secretly share stories about animals and other inhabitants of an imaginary land and its river of stars. Despite their close bond, Flora goes missing and Hazel spends the next twenty years trying to heal and to deal with the grief and guilt. A seemingly random catalyst for change occurs when an adult Hazel find the sisters’ secret stories in print – how did the American author come to know so many private details? Hoping that she has found Flora alive, Hazel begins to make inquiries, some of which threaten her employment and future marriage. Chapters are often alternating between events of 1939/40 and 1960, allowing readers to experience those slices of British life as well the actions that impact the sisters. The writing is quite engaging and the characters are very likeable. Despite some repetition when the author keeps stressing how critical the Whisperwood stories were, the ending is a surprise. Enjoy works by Fiona Davis, Jamie Ford, and Christina Baker Kline? They are amongst the many who praised THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA; this title also was chosen as a LibraryReads selection for May 2023.