review written by Babs Simpson & read live on the bookshow 25th Sept 2014
I LOVE THIS AUTHORS WORK. I KNOW It IS INTENDED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BUT THE
STYLE IS UNIVERSAL AND THE STORY IS HEART-WARMING AND FULL OF THE BEST AND WORST
OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR. MM HAS RETURNED TO BRYHER FOR 'LISTEN TO THE MOON'.
IT IS 1915 AND THE
WORLD WAR IS RAGING IN EUROPE. EVEN LITTLE BRYHER IS AFFECTED - YOUNG MEN HAVE
GONE OFF TO FIGHT AND ONE, JACK BRODY, HAS RETURNED HORRIBLY INJURED AND
SUFFERING TERRIBLY.
YOUNG ALFIE WHEATCROFT IS OUT FISHING WITH HIS FATHER JIM WHEN THEY HEAR A
STRANGE CRYING COMING FROM ST HELEN'S. THEY GO ASHORE TO FIND A YOUNG GIRL,
THIN, SOAKING WET, FREEZING COLD AND NEAR TO DEATH IN THE PEST HOUSE. JIM CARRIES
HER TO THE BOAT, ALFIE ROWS HOME AND MARY, HIS MOTHER, TAKES THE GIRL IN TO TRY
TO REVIVE HER.
THIS MYSTERIOUS CHILD DOESN'T SPEAK AND HER ONLY POSSESSIONS - A GREY
BLANKET WITH A LABEL SAYING 'WILHELM' AND A BEDRAGGLED TOY RABBIT MARKED
'STEIFF' - SEEM TO INDICATE THAT SHE IS GERMAN. IS SHE ONE OF THE ENEMY? A SPY
EVEN?
MARY CUTS OFF THE LABELS. ALL SHE KNOWS IS THAT A POOR CHILD IS GRAVELY
ILL AND SHE MUST DO HER BEST FOR HER.
THE ONLY WORD THE GIRL HAS BEEN HEARD TO WHISPER IS 'LUCY', SO SHE BECOMES
KNOWN TO EVERYONE AS LUCY LOST. BUT AS SHE RECOVERS HER STRENGTH, SO THE
RUMOURS START AND ALL THE FAMILY BEGIN TO SUFFER THE WHISPERS AND INSULTS THAT
SPREAD AROUND THE ISLAND. ALFIE IS BULLIED AT SCHOOL AND EVEN THE CRUEL
HEADMASTER IS GUILTY OF PREJUDICE AND UNKINDNESS TO POOR DUMB LUCY WHEN SHE IS
FORCED TO ATTEND.
GRADUALLY WE LEARN ABOUT LUCY, WHO SHE IS, WHERE SHE CAME FORM AND HOW SHE
ENDED UP ON ST HELENS IN SUCH A PITIFUL STATE.
THIS IS AN IMMENSELY SATISFYING STORY, WELL TOLD AND QUITE RIVETTING.
BRYHER IS OF COURSE BEAUTIFULLY DESCRIBED AND THE PEOPLE, WARTS AND ALL ARE
REAL. MICHAEL MORPURGO IS A VERY CLEVER WRITER. HIS BOOKS ARE FOR CHILDREN BUT
THEIR SIMPLICITY IS BEAUTIFUL AND NEVER PATRONISING.
THE STORY WINDS TO A WONDERFUL CLIMAX AND TO MY GREAT JOY, WE FIND OUT WHAT
HAPPENED AFTERWARDS. TOO OFTEN A TRIUMPHANT ENDING LEAVES ME WANTING TO KNOW
WHAT EVERYONE DID AFTERWARDS.
A LOVELY BOOK
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