YOU READING GROUP

This month’s choice. By John Koski

THE STORY

On the day that Britain declares war in 1939, Mary North walks out of her Swiss finishing school and volunteers to do her bit. The spirited 18-year-old hopes for something that befits her status as the privileged daughter of an MP – an attaché to a general, perhaps, or even a spy. She ends up teaching misfit children in London, the ones nobody wants to take as evacuees. Against the odds, she quickly becomes committed to the job and is good at it.

The unlikely role brings her into contact with education administrator Tom Shaw, himself only 23. The two fall in love, but their seemingly blissful affair falters after Tom’s best friend Alistair, who has joined up to fight, returns on leave. The compelling drama which follows unfolds against a backdrop of struggle, destruction, defiance and the ever-present threat of indiscriminate death, with overtones of racism and class entitlement. It is an intensely moving story, told with compassion and tempered with humour, about lives that are changed for ever and relationships that are tested to the limit.

THE TASTER

‘War was declared at 11.15 and Mary North signed up at noon. She did it at lunch, before telegrams came, in case her mother said no. She left finishing school unfinished. Skiing down from Mont-Choisi, she ditched her equipment at the foot of the slope and telegraphed the War Office from Lausanne. Nineteen hours later she reached Victoria, in clouds of steam, still wearing her alpine sweater. The train’s whistle screamed. London, then. It was a city in love with beginnings.’

THE AUTHOR

Chris Cleave was inspired to write Everyone Brave Is Forgiven by the wartime experiences of his grandparents, to whom the novel is dedicated. At one time, his grandfather was assigned the thankless task of looking after Winston Churchill’s son, and his grandmother taught children in London during the Blitz. Chris writes exclusively about whether we could still summon the wartime spirit today at youreadinggroup.co.uk, where you will also find suggested topics for your own book club discussion.

Beautifully written, funny, gut-wrenching and, above all, honest ELIZABETH BUCHAN