I sat reading this book in utter disbelief. We are all aware of the horror of the camps during WW2 but not the disturbing graphic details of life within. It is a disturbing account, and I am overawed at the dedicated staff who meet the challenges with compassion and patience. In this novel, we discover how the children fared after release when they were cared for at Lingfield House. Each child has different issues. The displaced children are young, ill, psychologically disturbed, Jewish or orphans. Most of them are too young to explain their circumstances and feelings, and the staff can only monitor their extraordinary behaviour for clues to help normalise them. Initially, they lived at a pinnacle of fear and lived out their earlier experiences of camp life through play. They display alarming regulations such as fear of dogs, violence and covetous behaviour with food. Music and drama play a large part in their healing. The stories of Samuel and Julius were particularly heartbreaking, amongst many others. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

this is the true story of children brought from Europe to try to recover from the horror experienced during the Second World War.
The children came to live in Lingfield House, under the care of other survivors of the Holocaust and they both learn how to deal with what happened during those terrible years.
Definitely recomend reading this book. it gives a whole new perspective of how they all learnt to cope after the war

The Children of Lingfield House is the true story of children brought from Europe to try to recover from the horror experienced during the Second World War. These were children so young that many had no memory or experience of life before concentration camps, had never known a safe adult and had only ever been able to rely upon each other. These were children who didn't know their own names or birth dates, had never seen toys or known any animals other than the fierce dogs used to control and terrorise them in the camps.

The children came to live in Lingfield House, under the care of other survivors of the Holocaust and both adults and children are constantly learning how to begin to recover from the traumatic events they have endured.

Although I knew about Windemere and the Windemere Boys, I had not heard of Lingfield House before. I have read extensively about World War II and I am surprised that the stories of these children and the adults who cared for them are not more widely known. There were several horrific accounts of things that I had never heard of before, such as the despicable treatment of some of these children by doctors, once they had arrived in England.

I would highly recommend reading this book. I will most definitely be searching for more information about the incredible children and carers whose stories have so bravely been shared here.