The Valley of Lost Secrets

Product Information

But Jimmy soon finds something that distracts him, something that makes the Valley much more frightening than the war, for hidden in a tree he finds a skull and the secrets he's determined to uncover will change Jimmy and the village forever. Jimmy understands it is for their safety, however this doesn’t prevent him from feeling isolated and resentful, while Ronnie is scared but views it a bit more like an adventure or holiday.

The Valley of Lost Secrets - LoveReading4Kids The Valley of Lost Secrets - LoveReading4Kids

Be quiet and try to look like a nice boy,’ I say, making sure the string of his gas mask box sits properly on his shoulder.

The mystery of the skull has a brilliant pay-off, and there are enough red herrings thrown in to keep you guessing until the very end. He got us some library books with pictures of fields and hedgerows with little houses dotted around. 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!

The Valley of Lost Secrets, When The War Came Home, Where The

Overall, this is a thrilling and touching story about change, family, and friendship, and also about giving people the chance – to support you, and surprise you. there was a tree at the beginning of every chapter and as the plot escalated, items were added on the tree which were clues for the solution of the mystery. I liked the mining setting and the contrast between the grime of the pits and the beauty of the mountains. On the other hand, Ronnie adapts easily to valley life and seems to adore Aunty Gwen right off the bat. And still, I admired how the author is able to incorporate all the little details that highlight the time being depicted, the months from Sept '39 to May '40, where the world was still tethering on the uncertainty of an impending potential war.Evacuees are a rich source for children’s adventure stories, examples include Michelle Magorian’s classic Goodnight Mister Tom, and Jacqueline Wilson’s more recent Wave Me Goodbye. Light on the Welsh accent, but heavy with the heart, Lesley Parr's Middle Grade debut The Valley of Lost Secrets is no less enriching and poignant as her next few books, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Book Review: The Valley of the Lost Secrets Kid’s Book Review: The Valley of the Lost Secrets

There are a few obstacles for the main character to overcome, his own bitterness at being separated from his family, the prejudice of some locals towards evacuees and bullying among the other children. 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. One of the things that I really enjoyed about the book, and I’ve noticed happening more in older children’s books, is fleshed out adult characters. Human, warm, funny, thrilling, and above all, compelling, The Valley of Lost Secrets leads the reader effortlessly into a convincing world of wartime Wales.They’re not so overbearing as to take the focus away from the children, but they have their own lives and backstories that help the world feel more realistic. Florence is a great example of how someone can really come into their own when given the chance – I think she was probably my favourite character! I liked a lot of the characters but my favourite was probably Florence because she was clever and humorous. okay wow i read this book in one week which is extremely fast for me so that tells a lot, to begin with! And for someone who loves a good mystery, the bittersweet reveal to the mystery behind the skull was so softly done, it was with an ache in my heart that I read it and how it tied in so significantly into Jimmy's own life.

The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr | Waterstones

One day, feeling sorry for himself, Jimmy takes off and finds a good climbing tree in the middle of a field.Night Mayor Franklefink has vanished from the Transylvanian Express - and it's up to you to solve the case! Jimmy was such a real and believable protagonist - his honesty, his determination, his protectiveness for Ronnie, an his developing feelings of friendship for Florence, just flowed so naturally.