The Runaways

Written by bestselling author Holly Webb, The Runaways

beautifully captures the spirit of Great Britain during the Second

World War, weaving together themes of resilience, identity

and what it means to call a place your home.

It’s London in the late 1930s, and the Second World

War is imminent. When a young Londoner called Molly hears that

the children in her neighbourhood are being evacuated, she

feels relieved. The war scares her, and living in the city means

living in the heart of danger.

However, Molly’s relief is short lived because her mum refuses

to let her go, telling her that she has to stay and help with the

war effort. And that’s not all - times are tough, and there’s

not enough food or supplies for people, let alone pets. This

means that Molly’s beloved dog Bertie is now considered

surplus to requirement .

So Molly decides to escape.

Stowing away on a train, Molly makes it to the country,

but once there the reality of her situation dawns on her: she doesn’t

know where she is or who to trust. It’s not until Molly comes

across two other runaways that she starts to feel safe again.

Maybe, just maybe, with each other’s help, they have a chance of

overcoming the trials put in front of them.