The appeal of a classic boarding school story combined with upstairs/downstairs Downton Abbey-esk class divide and an intriguing wartime mystery, Helen Peters’ Friends and Traitors brings a refreshing and engaging twist to middle grade historical fiction.
It’s summer 1940. Hitler has reached the French coast and the entire country is worried about invasion. Sidney’s “posh” boarding school is evacuated to the very grand Stanbrook House. At the same time, working-class Nancy has left school to help support her family and just started as a new housemaid in the same house. The two girls couldn’t be more different and clash almost immediately.
What they don’t realise is that they have much more in common than they could ever imagine. They are both amazed by the impressive house. They are both clever girls with the potential for great things yet always seem to land themselves in trouble. They both have brothers at war who they worry about and are desperate to live in peacetime rather than war.
As each girl’s story unfolds, they are drawn together to uncover a traitor. Their loyalties are tested as they face up to their duty to do what is right. Can they put their differences aside to save the country?
Follow these links to find out more or purchase on-line:
Bookshop.org:
Amazon:
Books by Kate Heap:
Scope for Imagination 