Julia Kelly (3)

This historical fiction highlights one of the most difficult times for parents before and during WWII when children were evacuated from English cities to the countryside to keep them safe from the bombings. Raised in Liverpool by a rigidly Catholic mother and weak father, Viv Byrne becomes pregnant after briefly dating an inspiring jazz musician in 1935. Compounding Viv's mother's horror about the shame of having an unmarried pregnant daughter is that the father, Joshua, is Jewish. The mother crafts a scheme to remove Josha from Viv's life just minutes after their wedding, which he accepts. He leaves his devastated pregnant wife to pursue a music career in NYC. It's difficult to decide who is more despicable: Viv's mother for offering the bribe or Joshua for accepting it. This is a choice he will come to regret.

Shortly before WWII, Viv is forced by her parish priest and her parents to send her 4-year-old daughter, Maggie, to live in the safety of the countryside with the affluent, childless Thompsons. At the same time, Joshua has returned from his failed attempt to gain acclaim as a musician and has returned to England to train for the RAF. Their paths will cross again when they reunite for the sake of their daughter in unusual circumstances.… (mere)