The Valley of Lost Secrets

I liked this book because it is friends and enemies making friends with each other in World War Two.

i loved the suspense

Filled with mystery and suspense great book choice if you like solving mysteries

Really enjoyed this book. Historical setting with a touch of scary/sad/triumphant bits.

Spooky and awesome at the same time! Love the book and all of it's plot twists!

Funny mysterious very good

I thought this book was a kind of book that felt really real as if you were in the story. My favourite bit was when Jimmy found the skull.

What's not to like? WW2/evacuees - and in Wales? Excellent!
A beautifully told WW2 adventure with totally relatable characters. Engaging from start to finish, this book tells the story of Jimmy and his younger brother, Ronnie, who are evacuated from London to a small village in the Valleys. One day, Jimmy finds a skull hidden in a tree and suddenly the valley is more scary than the war....

This book is so wonderfully written. I really enjoyed this book and a little sneak peek into how it felt back during world war 2. When children had to be evacuated.
This is a lovely journey on how change can be scary and not what we want. How friends can become people we didn’t expect and we can make new friends with the most unlikeliest person. To never judge and to try and embrace life’s adventures.

I love how in the end they found out what happened to the younger brother

Beautifully written, I couldn’t put it down!

An accessible, nicely paced story of evacuees in Wales and a macabre discovery. It feels like an updated Carrie’s War without the weirdness. The language is sprinkled with Welsh dialect to add authenticity and there is cast of sympathetic characters and some (slightly clichéd) villains. I liked the mining setting and the contrast between the grime of the pits and the beauty of the mountains. Perfect for 8, 9, and 10 year olds.

Good

With war as a backdrop this story follows a group of children evacuated to the Welsh countryside. The characters are well developed, I learnt lots about the surrounding adults, not everyone behaves well or is immediately likeable. I found this a touching story about change, family and friendship, although there were some darker moments, the conclusion brings everything together at the end. A well-rounded mystery.

I really like this book because it’s a really cool mystery.

another incredible read
cannot be beaten

A great story of family and friendship set in Wales in 1939. Evacuation wasn't easy for Jimmy but through friendship and bravery he solves a mystery that changes the lives of the villagers.
This novel made me think of an old favourite of mine, Carrie's War and I enjoyed this tale just as much.
I would recommend to colleagues and pupils alike.

A very good World War II book. I would definitely recommend!

This is a fabulous book. Lots of opportunities for developing historical understanding as well as tackling some larger themes, e.g. abuse and loss, in an age appropriate and empathetic manner. Would highly recommend.

This is such a good book full of mystery and adventure.

A good read. it was a fiction book based on the second world war (WWII). I would recommend this book.

.

I really love this book!! It's one of the best ever! It's brilliant!

A fast-paced and emotionally-gripping story of two brothers, evacuated to the Welsh valleys during WW2. It follows their journey to reflect on home, make new friends, uncover historical truths and comes with some strong moral messages. Perfect for Years 5 and 6.

It was scary but full of action and mystery

This book was fabulous because there were plenty of secrets revealed, and lots of cliffhangers.
I liked a lot of the characters but my favourite was probably Florence because she was clever and humorous.
I would recommend it to any 8-12 year olds that like adventures and secrets.

It is a great book. It is set in WW11 and is about a boy who is evacuated and finds a skull in a tree and sets off on an adventure to find out the truth about the village he lives in. My favourite character is Florence because she shows girls can do things just as well as boys. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a book you can’t stop reading.

Really good read, very educational about the war. Discussion of true friendships and standing by people who treat you fairly. Good twist at the end, with page numbers having letters on so a code breaker to crack! Looking forward to reading another of Lesley Parrs books.

I loved this book. It was both funny and sad. It’s 1939 and a boy called Jimmy and his little brother Ronnie are evacuated to Wales, where they’re taken in by the Thomas’. While Jimmy misses everyone, Ronnie quickly settles in. One day, Jimmy goes walking in the valley. He spots a tree and when he looks inside, he finds human bones! Whose are they? Helped by their new friend, Florence, they try to discover who the bones belong to...

A fantastic new book based on a small group of evacuees who arrive in Wales from Islington at the start of WW2. It is a beautiful story that has equal measures of heartfelt emotion and gripping mystery when the main character Jimmy finds a skull hidden in a tree outside of the village. The way the characters and their bonds develop through the book is wonderful. I was truly hooked and would highly recommend.

Loved this story set in Wales during WW2. A mystery to solve whilst seeing friendships develop. My favourite character was Florence - her experiences really shaped her personality.
I’d recommend this book to those who like historical fiction with a mystery to solve.