Out of the Blackout

A stand alone novel by Barnard about a man searching for his past. As a child he was evacuated from London and when arriving at the Yeasdon Station the name he gave wasn't on their list and he didn't know his address in London and had no memory that helped find his family. A local couple took him in and raised him and, after University, he began trying to recover his past. I liked this even better than the others by him that I read earlier this year.

A five-year-old boy who calls himself Simon Thorn arrives in the English countryside, having been evacuated from London during the height of the blitz. He's taken in by a loving childless couple, the Cutheridges.

But Simon has no papers and no record of him can be found anywhere. The Cutheridges are so pleased to have a charming, amiable boy to care for, that they don't press too hard to find out the particulars of his background.

As Simon grows up, he wonders about his origins and why he had recurring nightmares for about a year after his evacuation. Eventually he painstakingly pieces together some clues and sets out to solve the mystery of his birth.

Not an ordinary mystery by any stretch, this is more of an exploration of identity, and show more the possible value of determining one's roots. Barnard has an interesting idea here and develops it fairly well. More realistic than emotionally satisfying in a dramatic sense. show less

This was a quick read and very entertaining. A young boy evacuated from London during WWII who tries to find his past. A gentle unfolding, with a nice little twist. Kept me turning pages. I was clearing off my shelves and found this. I'm glad I did.

Interesting story about a child sent to the British countryside during London blitz WW II. The child comes with no background, is raised by 'adoptive parents". The search for his real parents is the main theme of the story. Bit of a twist at the end.

The book is short and well written - perfect for a quiet evening.

Simon Thorn arrives as a child with other children who have been evacuated from London during the WWII bombing, but he has no official identity papers. As an adult, he returns to London and his dim memories of an early childhood there to unravel the mystery of his missing parentage. I didn't find this an enthralling book, but I did finish it. It is, in my opinion, a mediocre book.

a boy traces his history from London refugee to country town and back--read library copy, purchased and reread--boy discovers his real family and is glad that they sent him away into country where he found a good family.

Excellent mystery!