The Child Without a Home by Ann Bennett

The Child Without a Home Reviews

• 
  Pam

  I had no idea about the wolfe orphans. This story was about two children who witness the death of the their mother and aunt as they tried to escape Prussia. It bounced between current day with a story of a woman whose grandfather died and she wanted to know more about his life before leaving Poland to join the english airforce. I couldn't put it down once I started.
• 
  theliterateleprechaun

  ALL. THE. STARS.
  
  Ann Bennett’s absorbing, five-star historical fiction brings to light the forgotten orphans of WW2. You’ll be emotionally wrung out, yet absolutely spellbound, reading about the Peters siblings, twelve-year-old Agnes and her eight-year-old brother, Dieter, who became ‘Vokietukai’ or ‘Wolfskinder’ – wolf children.
  
  Bennett exposes the great expulsion and flight of the East Prussians in January 1945, where tens of thousands of Germans moved west from Konigsberg fleeing from the advancing Soviet Army. This German territory bordered the Baltic Sea and is known today as parts of Russia, Poland and Lithuania.
  
  Having faced unimaginable loss, these two children hopped freight trains, walked for miles in harsh winter conditions, stole food, slept in ditches and barns, and ended up feral, roaming the woods because they simply had nowhere else to go. When the East Prussian villages they’d lived in became targets of the ‘scorched earth’ policy, and people were nervous helping them due to repercussions, the only alternative for the ‘Little Germans’ was to go to Lithuania to find food. You’ll read of their survival, and while it was horrifying, it was a better option than the fate awaiting them if they made it to the Baltic.
  
  I love to learn as I read and appreciate an author who can write about a forgotten event in history and bring it to life without whitewashing the horror. Be prepared for a heartwarming story that’ll have you reaching for your tissues as much as searching Google to find out if Agnes and Dieter’s experience was possible. Bennett has a gift for bringing the readers into her story and helping them understand the extent of desperation and hunger. As you turn the last page, you’ll know more about the fall of East Prussia and the impact it had on the civilian population: it altered the Peters family, stole Agnes and Dieter’s childhood, and robbed them of their innocence. Told in dual timeline, Bennett seamlessly ties together a present-day narrative set in Cambridge with Freya Carey who is trying to piece together her family’s history after her grandfather dies.
  
  This breathtaking and absolutely engaging story about the need for courage and loss of identity as the price of wartime survival needs to be on every historical fiction lover’s TBR list come January 28, 2022.
  
  I was gifted this advance copy by Ann Bennett, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
• 
  Milatra

  The best book of the year so far!
  You will forget that you need to do any work, household chores or just have a cup of tea. Let the whole world wait while you enjoy reading this wonderful book that will not let you go for a minute!
  The unforgettable Agnes's story shows the life of orphans during the war, what difficulties the children faced, how they survived.
  I loved this book and am sure that many readers who are interested in the History of the World War 2 will read it with pleasure. I will recommend the book to all people who prefer reading historical fiction.
  Thank to Ann Bennett, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
• 
  Beccabeccabooks

  It seems like every time I read WW2 historical fiction, I walk away learning something new. In Ann Bennett's incredibly captivating The Child Without a Home, the great expulsion and plight of East Prussia in January 1945 is exposed. With their men forced to fight in a war that they didn't believe in, women and children were often left with no choice but to abandon their homes and livelihood, trekking in the harsh winter climate for days or even weeks, hoping to gain passage to safety. Sadly, many adults didn't survive the journey, leaving their children abandoned and orphaned, stealing their childhoods and erasing their identies in the process.
  
  Siblings Agnes and Dieter were amongst these children, the 'Little Germans' or 'Wolfeskinder' as most ended up hiding in forests, shying away from enemy forces. Day after day, they risked entering neighbouring villages, begging or stealing food, with some 'working' for farmers. Either way, conditions were less than kind: empty bellies, clothes that had seen better days, less than adequate shelter and absolutely no-one suitable to take charge of the horrendous situation.
  
  Still, Agnes eventually settles in Cambridge and this is where we meet Freya in the present day. A post graduate student, she moves next door to the now elderly Agnes and strikes up a friendship. To Freya, her new neighbour reminds her of her deceased grandfather, who served in the Polish Airforce at the beginning of the war. Like her grandfather, Anges refuses to talk about the harrowing past, choosing to keep everything close to her heart.
  
  Agnes's story is anguishing, brave and inspirational that happens to have a beautiful end. She's one gutsy character: underneath that prickly exterior lays a kind and caring soul that has experienced far too much. The weight of the world certainly is on her shoulders, all beginning with the promise she made to her mother- to always look after her brother.
  
  Whilst I couldn't get enough of Agnes's point of view, I found it hard to connect with Freya. It's just her problems seemed small in comparison to Agnes's ordeal. I'm still not even certain that the romance struck up with goofy Irishman Finn was warranted, however how sweet it was.
  
  Whilst I wish that Agnes and Freya's connection was much more than just a painting and that the conclusion was less rushed, this was still an educational and meaningful read. I've already bought a couple more of Ann's books and I look forward to diving deep into them.
  
  4.75 🌟
• 
  Federica

  As much as I loved the part of this book that is set in the past, the horrific story about Agnes and her family during the end of WW2, I unfortunately struggled with the part set in Cambridge in the present. Not because it is less interesting or anything, it is actually nice to reconnect with Agnes and find out what happened to her, but I couldn't connect with Freya at all, I don't know exactly why. Maybe it was the contrast between the terrible conditions in which Agnes was compelled to live that made, in comparison, Freya's problems seem shallow.
  What I really loved, though, is the writing style: beautiful, emotional and deeply moving.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Annette

  This historical novel is written in a dual timeline. It didn't take too many pages to draw the reader into this captivating, heart-wrenching story.
  
  The early timeline takes place during World War II. Agnes succumbs to tragedy, losing her parents and her aunt's family. Only Agnes & her brother, Deiter, survive to witness daily atrocities, the loss of many lives at gunpoint with no regard from the enemy for human beings.
  
  In the present day, Freya moves to Cambridge to continue work on her thesis. While studying, the noise from next door disrupts her train of thought. Agnes, the elderly neighbour, turns her TV volume full blast. Reluctantly, Freye addresses the problem by going next door. Agnes, at first, is unfriendly, but eventually, they form a friendship where Freya is intrigued by Agnes's past.
• 
  Thelma

  Two stories that move between present and past, between the present moment and WW2 between Prussia and Cambridge.
  
  Freya is devastated after her grandfather passed away, she is looking for answers but at the same time is trying to move on with her career, but things are not as easy as they seem and once Freya meets her news neighbor she will understand more of what she is looking for.
  
  The stories of Agnes a young girl trying to survive the war, determined to follow her mother wishes to care for her younger brother when everything around them is making it impossible to survive, the germans, the red army, and the displaced people trying to find food all around.
  
  A great friendship is formed, Agnes, Freya, and Finn a neighbor who has been very kind in helping Agnes for a while. The past stories of Agnes were very sad I really had a hard time reading everything she and her brother went through it was always someone trying to undermine their progress or sabotaging everything they had gained, there was no love no kindness, or any consideration even for kids. is like the war made everybody cold and didn't have a once of empathy.
  
  Eventually, the two stories intertwine and make great sense of what was happening during those days of WW2 for Agnes and Freya's grandfather.
  
  Agnes was a very strong heroine, she was smart, kind and did everything she could to help her brother and others around her. I was amazed at how strong she was but it also made me sad the burden she was carrying in her heart, as she felt responsible for whatever he brother went through a promise she felt very responsible to fulfill.
  
  I also love how Freya grew up with the friendship of Agnes, I felt she became more mature, more grounded than when she arrived in the neighborhood.
  
  One of the things that I really liked was when finally Freya spoke to her brother, they really were making too much of a deal of what happened in the past with their grandfather. I felt like Agnes was right there was no time to waste and to make things balanced again between them especially after learning about Dimitri
  
  This wasn't an easy ready, I cried and felt sad and anxious most of the time but it was a good story
  
  Overall it was a good story and entertaining.
  
  Thanks to Netgalley and Bookoture for sharing this digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
• 
  Kristin Haynes

  I fell in love with this little story. It managed to tell a story about WWII from a perspective I never considered. Such a pleasure to read.
• 
  Janilyn Kocher

  What a terrific story! Freya, Agnes, Finn, Deiter, and all the other characters leap off the page. This novel is based on a little discussed time during WWII; what happened to East Prussians, especially the children during the waning days of the war. I was completely entranced with the story. I have read memoirs Of this genre and the novel fits right in with the historical facts. It’s a great addition to the Paucity Of information about the area and it’s people. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
• 
  Shirley McAllister

  Agnes's Story
  
  Agnes's story of survival in East Prussia and her escape to England is a sad, heartbreaking story but an amazing story of survival and the love of a sister for her younger brother.
  
  As East Prussia is being evacuated by the German's before the advance of the Red Army of Russia, many families left to go to Germany or Denmark to escape the Russian Army. Agnes, her mother, her small brother Dieter and her aunt joined the refugee's. Agnes's father had already been taken and forced to fight for the German Army. Along the way Agnes and Dieter are left alone with no one to help them. It is up to Agnes to keep Dieter safe.
  
  This story is a story of great determination and fortitude of a young girl only twelve years old. The situations they encounter, the horrible things they see, the hunger, the cold of the winter and their will to survive is a page turning story.
  
  The Second story of Freya in later times in Cambridge was not as interesting. I would have liked to read a whole book on Agnes's story that of her father, her aunt, her best friend and even her friends in Lithuania . It was not a bad story, I just really liked Agnes's story so much more.
  
  The story of Agnes and Dieter and Freya and her Grandfather is a story of facing the past and finding a way to forge forward and leave it behind, not to be forgotten, but to be left in the past.
  
  The WWII part of the story was so much worth reading the book. Every time I read something on this war I learn something new and interesting. I had no knowledge before of the evacuation of East Prussia before the Red Army and the trials that those refugees faced.
  
  I did enjoy the book and I enjoyed the ending it was a good ending for the book. I would recommend this book.
  
  Thanks to Ann Bennett for writing a great story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
  
• 
  Renita D'Silva

  Oh this one is beautiful. Heart breaking. Poignant. Just wonderful. Written with such heart. This author is just amazing and this book is Wow!
• 
  Hannah Lightfoot

  I can’t decide on a rating for this book. Set in two time periods with very different vibes. The story of Agnes and her brother is a 4+ star read but I felt the modern day, as it often is with this style of book, a let down and barely a 3 star. Overall a good read.
• 
  Priya

  Wooooowwwwwww!!!!!!
• 
  Jacquie

  The Child Without a Home
  by Ann Bennett
  
  Dual timeline - World War II - England - East Prussia - Orphans - Brothers & Sisters - Forgiveness - Bravery - Survival - Family Secrets - Lost Countries - Children - Lithuania - Wolf Children
  
  Heart-wrenching World War II novel about East Prussian orphans - "wolf children" - stuck between the approaching Russian Army and the menacing German Army. A young girl tries to keep a promise to her mother to protect her younger brother, no matter the cost. Tragedy after tragedy follows. What a terrible, heart-breaking time to be alive.
  
  I was gifted this advance copy by NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
• 
  Emma Crowley

  It’s been two years since I have last read a book by Ann Bennett and in that time I had forgotten just how much of a great author she is. The Child Without a Home is her new novel and, as with the previous excellent books I have read by this author, I was completely sucked in from the very beginning. I always think based on the covers of the books that they will be family sagas and then am always pleasantly surprised by the depth of the stories. This new story proved to be no exception and as it was a dual timeline story (which is my favourite kind of read) going between the past and the years of World War Two, I found myself fascinated by the events that were unfolding. Both elements to the story were as strong as each other and it moved seamlessly from one to another. Although I found myself engrossed in the present that I didn’t want to venture back to the past and vice versa when the change occurred again. So that to me is the sign of a strong and riveting book that can hold my attention and leave me always wanting more.
  
  In the present day, Freya is returning to Cambridge to continue work on her thesis. She had left for some time away following the breakdown of her relationship with Cameron. The brief glimpses we get of Cameron make you soon realise that Freya was much better off without him. I loved that Freya’s focus of study was history even though the topic that she was studying wasn’t grabbing her attention but the seeds of a more interesting story were scattered in front of her if she was willing to nurture them and watch them grow. Freya moves into a new flat and soon meets her neighbour Finn. They have a slightly uneasy friendship at first. I think Freya wasn’t that willing to be open to men of any kind given her recent experiences despite how nice Finn seemed to be me but I sensed that could all change. But Freya and relationships were not the dominant theme of this book and I am glad in the way this was handled because this isn’t a romance story at all. Instead when Freya meets another neighbour Agnes then the real plot of the book starts to be developed.
  
  Agnes lives on her own and is in her 80‘s. She is cold, prickly and defensive. Deep down you could tell if she had someone who was willing to be there for her, and show her some care and attention, then she had a story that was worth sharing. That she had suffered an awful lot and been through such emotional and physical turmoil which has lingered long in her mind. Freya is wracked by guilt that her brother Matthew left on bad terms with her for an assignment for his job. Their grandfather had recently died and she had expected to be left some of his belongings, primarily a chest which contained details and items from his time as a Polish RAF pilot. An argument had ensued between Matthew and Freya and she hadn’t wanted this to happen at all. Will learning of Agnes’s story, when she eventually opens up to Freya, help her reconcile with Matthew?
  
  It’s not just the argument that has Freya’s mind in a spin. It’s the way her grandfather had never forgiven her for something and the fact he refused to talk about what happened to him during the war. There are so many emotions running through Freya’s head and it’s easy to see she needs to find some sort of resolution in order to move on with her life and continue working on her thesis. As she spends time with Agnes and grows closer to her the picture of a castle in a woods that hangs on the wall of Agnes’ house starts to have a significant meaning. A powerful, haunting and soul destroying story emerges and despite the tough subject matter re. Agnes and what she endured I found myself utterly compelled by what I was reading. In hearing Agnes’s story of the past it really starts to help Freya make sense of the present and future and perhaps she can set about the right path she needs to venture on.
  
  It was evident there was so much research done by the author in order to make Agnes’s story as authentic as possible. I felt I was on an endurance journey with her where events lurched from one bad scenario to an even worse one. Agnes’s grew up in a little village in East Prussia. I had never read anything about this area of Germany before and it made me realise how much ordinary German citizens suffered as a result of the war also. Especially as the Russians edged ever closer as the German defeat was on the horizon. It was a harrowing, dangerous, cruel and heart-breaking story that unfolded and I thought there was so much injustice and loss that befell Agnes and her younger brother Dieter. Agnes’s story is mostly set during the winter of 1944/45 and my god the freezing temperatures and deep snow made the situation 100 times worse. I felt the cold echoing from the pages and this only intensified the hardships Agnes and her family were enduring. It was all so hard to read about and I can’t even comprehend what the people of Prussia were going through knowing they had to flee as the Russians were advancing. For if they stayed the consequences didn’t bare thinking about.
  
  You forget as you read about Agnes’s story that really she was only a child herself who had to grow up overnight. Her father is conscripted to fight for the German’s and she is left with her mother and brother. Food is next to impossible to find and even though they go to stay on their Aunt’s farm digging through the snow to find sustenance is just such a heart-breaking image. What shines through about Agnes is her bravery, strength, grit, courage and determination. She seeks every opportunity going to try and provide for her family. It’s like she takes on the role of her father in his absence and she is hopefully that nothing bad will happen to her mother, aunt and brother if she can keep finding food.
  
  Agnes’s story is painful to read about but is an important one to be told in order to honour the sacrifices and bravery of so many at the time. Of how so many were lost but yet there were those that came through it. But what they experienced affected their lives forever. What was witnessed could not be unseen and the suffering and loss will never make up for the regret Agnes lives with. She made a promise and broke it, through no fault of her own, and in the present day it eats away at her. You can’t help but think she is being too harsh on herself but that is the type of woman she is.
  
  There are so many twists and turns to Agnes and Dieter’s story, I felt like I was on a rollercoaster. At some points you see a glimmer of hope and then that hope is dashed, and you think god what else can the author possibly throw at them? How are they still standing and going strong in the face of such horror, adversity and hardship? It was one thing after another, and I thought oh god they desperately need a break. I don’t think I can cope with much more of this but then as I neared the end of the book and I was reflecting on what I had read, I came to appreciate that the hardships had to be there. For this is what the people endured for six long years and for Agnes and her family the worst came towards the end with the Russians as a new enemy. War stole their childhood and robbed them of their innocence in the most horrific of ways and showed how the consequences of the Nazi regime and the Russian invasion were so absolutely devastating for so many ordinary innocent people. The Child Without a Home is a brilliant and unputdownable read. It’s deeply emotional and filled with characters that will linger on in your mind long after you have read the final word.
• 
  Dustybookjackets- Mil

  One of the worst periods in human history is shown in this stunning, terrible portrayal of survival.Two young children are torn away from everything and everyone they knew and left to fend for themselves using only their wits and fortitude. The little girl is required to honour her vow to her dying mother to protect her younger brother.
  
  The overlooked World War II orphans are highlighted in Ann Bennett's captivating, five-star historical fiction. When you read about the Peters twins, Agnes, 12, and Dieter, 8, who turned into 'Vokietukai' or 'Wolfskinder' - wolf children - you will be emotionally exhausted but utterly enthralled.Tens of thousands of Germans fled from Konigsberg into the west in January 1945 as the Soviet Army advanced, as Bennett reveals in her account of the massive expulsion and flight of the East Prussians. The Baltic Sea was the boundary of this German area, which is now a portion of Lithuania, Poland, and Russia.
  
  After experiencing unspeakable loss, these two kids boarded freight trains, travelled great distances in bitter cold, stole food, slept in ditches and barns, and eventually became wild, roaming the woods because they had nowhere else to go. The Little Germans had little choice but to travel to Lithuania in search of food after the East Prussian villages where they had previously resided became targets of the "scorched earth" strategy and locals were reluctant to assist them out of fear of the consequences. You'll hear about their survival, which was horrible but was still preferable to what would have happened to them had they reached the Baltic.
  
  I value books that bring history to life without minimizing its brutality and the author does just that.Prepare yourself for a touching tale that will leave you inconsolable. Bennett has a talent for drawing her readers into her story and illuminating the depth of hunger and despair. You'll learn more about the collapse of East Prussia and how it affected the civilian population.For example, it affected the Peters family and took Agnes and Dieter's children's youth and innocence. Bennett effectively connects a present-day tale set in Cambridge with Frey Carey who is attempting to piece together a dual temporal story of her family history after her grandfather dies.
  
  A wonderful, breath-taking story. This narrative will engross readers who enjoy history. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  
• 
  Paige

  The only reason this book gets two stars rather than one is that it had such an interesting premise and brought me new information and perspective of the Eastern front that I hadn’t considered before. If not for that, I would honestly rate this zero stars if I could. This book dragged on and on, often times stating rather than showing development and was just so slow and infuriating at times with how much it repeated itself or just didn’t make sense. Examples include the following quotes:
  
  “The meager supply of food they'd brought was running low, so Agnes often gave some of hers to Dieter. It frightened her that Mother barely touched her own portion, often handing part of her meal to Hannah or Dieter. Agnes knew that she and Aunt Hannah were doing everything they could to get them through this and that it fell to her to look after Dieter and keep him distracted from the horrors that faced them at every turn.” - We already can tell from Agnes and Aunt Hannah giving their shares of food to Mother and Deiter that they are doing what they can to get them through this. We do not need it spelled out. It’s completely unnecessary and makes the book drag on longer than needed.
  
  “As they reached the edge of the dock, the cart in front of them was just starting out on the ice, following the long line of wagons that had already stepped off into the unknown, onto the track that was carved into the ice by the carts and wagons that had gone before it, crossing the ten kilometers of ice that lay between them and the port of Danzig.” This is a stupidly long run-on sentence that makes no sense to me.
  
  Every. Single. Time they talk about the hardships a character went through, a different character almost immediately says “Poor, poor [name].” Every time.
  
  In conclusion, do not read this book. It comes off as someone desperate to reach a word count, repeating themselves endlessly with just slightly different wording. The only reason I trudged through it was to see how it ended. It also had a stupid, unrealistic ending. Usually that wouldn’t bother me but it felt ridiculous. Again, DO NOT READ THIS!!
  
• 
  Caroline|Page~Turners

  East Prussia, 1944, Agnes is just 12 years old when everyone in her village is forced to fight for the Nazis while all the women and children are forced to leave their homes. But when tragedy strikes her family, Agnes and her brother Dieter, are completely alone. Agnes takes care of her brother the best that she can. Cambridge, present day, Freya is devastated at the loss of her grandfather. Not only did he raise her but, she loved hearing his stories of when he was a pilot in World War Two. Now he is gone and so are his stories. Soon, Freya meets her new next door neighbor, Agnes and there is something very familiar about her. Agnes has stories of her own and some of them, if told would change everything Freya knows about her own family. This book was so captivating, I was on edge while flipping through the pages as fast as I could, to find out what was going to happen. I felt a connection with Agnes, and I admired her courage, determination, and will to survive. Her bravery and dedication to protecting her younger brother was truly heartwarming. This was an emotional, heartbreaking and engrossing read. I loved this story and it is a must read for every historical fiction fan.
  
  Thank you Ann Bennett for such a wonderful story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved that it was a time slip novel. The storyline of 1944 and present day was really amazing and kept me totally interested. The connection to the characters was really heartwarming. I enjoyed this story from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend it.
• 
  Barbara Schultz

  3 + Stars
  Historical fiction about the forgotten orphans of WWII
  Story follows a dual timeline.
  Cambridge Present Day: Freya Carey who is tracing her family’s history after her grandfather dies.
  East Prussia 1944/45: As the war is coming to an end Twelve year old Agnes Peters and her eight year old brother Dieter are alone.
  
  Story opens when Freya is moving into her new apartment in Cambridge. After unpacking, she has some homework to do. However, she cannot consecrate as the neighbor’s TV is so loud.
  She tries to continue; finally decides to go ask the neighbor if they would please turn down the TV.
  The neighbor is elderly and hard of hearing. She grumbles but does turn down the TV. As Freya is leaving she notices a picture on the wall similar to one her grandfather had. Additionally he hears a dialect similar to her grandfather’s. Yes this elderly woman is Agnes ~ thus the story begins.
  
  There is no doubt this is an emotional story. I have read many WWII stories and usually find them depressing.
  This is a very interesting story.
  
  Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
  Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 28, 2022
  
  
  
• 
  Ann Boytim

  4.0Set in East Prussia 1944 and present day Cambridge, England.
  12 yr old Agnes sees horrific changes when war comes to her village. Left with her young brother after her father went off to war and her mother killed Agnes is on the run and is frightened for her life. Agnes promised her mother she would always look after her younger brother but tragedy separates them.
  Present day and Freya is sad as her grandfather has just died and they had had harsh words and Freya regrets what happened and that she had pushed her grandfather to tell of his past life in WWII but this history is gone forever. Freyea is a graduate student at Cambridge and has now moved into a new place to live and a young neighbor wants to be friendly but Freya is gun shy of relationships after a bad breakup with her boyfriend. In the house next door lives an old lady who at first seems grouchy but Freya and Agnes make friends and Agnes opens up about her life before she came to England. Agnes is ill and dying but not before she tells Freya of her life fleeing the country she loved and how she lost her only brother.
• 
  Lori Sinsel Harris

  Agnes and Dieter's story is heart-wrenching. The terrible things endured and brought upon the innocents of the world because of the consequences of war re unspeakable. The time and lives wasted because of the fanatical meanderings of one man is so out of our realm of understanding as to almost be believed to have been a fictional story. So sad that is was anything but.
  :The Child Without a Home" shines light on the high cost of WWII, not just to those who experienced it first hand, but to generations who came after.
  A highly readable novel, bring the box of tissues and set aside some time, once you start reading you won't want to stop.
  Thank you to Bookouture and Net Galley for the free ARC, I am giving my honest review in return.
• 
  Bobbi Wagner

  I enjoyed this emotional historical story. This is a newer author for me which I enjoyed her writing style as well as her attention to details that gave her story a realistic feel. I found this book to be well written and fast paced. I enjoyed being pulled into the story by the characters who made the story easy to read. They are connectable and made the story pop. This is an enaging story that is hard to put down. A story that takes place during WW2 and is inspirational and full of courage. I really enjoyed the growth of the plot which kept me turning pages fast. This is worth the pick up. I highly recommend this book.
• 
  Leona

  The child without a home is a wonderful historial fiction book. From the very first page I was completely captivated by Agnes story. The story is told in dual timeline, 1940’s East Prussia and present day Cambridge. I have to admit to enjoying the past story slightly more . I was completely enthralled by Agnes life and all she went through. This story was so well written I could honestly picture in my mind all she went through so clearly. There were times this book brought me to tears and I had to pause my reading for a while before continuing. This really shows what a well written and emotional read this was. I absolutely loved it.
• 
  Lisa

  Loved this book and a really amazing and unexpected ending. I honestly had a hard time following Freya's story, I was more intrested in getting back to Agnes' story. I honestly couldn't even follow Freya's side of the until the last 2 chapters of the book. I would definitely recommend this book. I did pull out a map a couple times to kind of follow the travels of Agnes and Dieter. I couldn't of imagined going through what they did as young children.
  I think It would of been more intriguing story if there was a connection between Agnes and Freya's Grandfather though.
• 
  Marnie

  Agnes and Dieter are children in East Prussia during WWII. Germans by birth, they must escape the Russian invasion of their homeland. Their father is drafted to fight and the family must survive in oppressive conditions.
  The story timeslips to the present in the UK where Agnes, in her 80s, is the neighbor to Finn and another grad student. They take Agnes under their wings and keep track of her. A famous pianist post war, Agnes has a story to tell. As she warms up to them, she shares her WWII story.
  Thanks to Bookouture for providing me an ARC in exchange for a review in my own words.
• 
  Nicola “Shortbookthyme”

  Reading The Child Without a Home was a deeply moving and emotional experience. A duel timeline historical fiction of Prussia at the end of World War II and modern day England. You will feel so many emotions reading this story.
  A story about how the past has the power to change everything and reveal long kept secrets.
  Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
• 
  Rachel Bustin

  This is the first book I’ve read by Ann Bennett and I was utterly amazed at how the book drew me in. What a fantastic author! The characters are rich in depth along with the plot and dual timeline. With some dual timeline books you get lost along the way, but not this one!
  
  It’s completely authentic and well researched. I’ve read many historical fiction books and this is right up the top with the best. You will be engrossed, saddened, and on an emotional rollercoaster.