Searching for Shona

by Margaret J. Anderson

Book Overview

During the evacuation of children from Edinburgh in the early days of World War II, shy, wealthy Margaret on her way to relatives in Canada trades places and identities with the orphaned Shona bound... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 039482587X
• ISBN13: 9780394825878
• Release Date: November 1989
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Length: 159 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

25 Years later and still one of my favorite books!

I read this book in elementary or middle school, I can't remember which. This book made such an impression on me that I researched it a few years ago (b/c I'd forgotten the name) and read it again as an adult. I have always remembered the description of the secret room filled with toys and reading the story again filled me with nostalgia. I am purchasing the book to put up for my young daughter to read when she gets older. This is an incredible story that I'm sure you won't regret reading.

An extremely memorable & enjoyable book

Like a previous reviewer, I also read this book over 20 years ago, but the story stuck with me. As a matter of fact, it took quite some time to actually remember the name of it so that I could purchase it for my own daughter! The suspense and plot twist at the end made this an unforgettable book for any young adult.

Memorable

I read this book when I was in grade school. That was about 20 years ago, and the story has stayed with me all this time. Two young girls from different backgrounds trade places during WWII, and the wartime adventures are just the beginning. The real lessons in friendship occur when it comes time to switch back to their original lives.

"Trading Places" during the Blitz.

It's the early years of WWII, and the Nazi war machine is about to unleash its fury on England. In order to protect their children from harm, thousands of Londoners are sending their children to the country or, if they can afford it, out of England entirely. Two orphan girls meet in a embarkation area. One girl is from an affluent family and is being sent to Canada; the other, who is from a working class background, is being sent to the country. They are both the same age, look similar to each other, and have no parents. The rich girl decides that she doesn't want to go to Canada, and strikes a deal with the poor girl to switch clothes, destinations, and identities for the duration of the war. Of course, neither of them know that the war will last for six years.The rich girl assumes the life of her poorer counterpart, and discovers a world very different from that of her own upbringing. The war ends, and she is a completly different person than she was six years earlier. Will she ever be able to go back to her former life of privilege and wealth? And, more poignantly, will the girl who has assumed her identity for six years be willing to give back that life to her and return to the working class?

Searching for Shona is a great funfilled book.

My book is called Searching for Shona, and I loved it. I liked it because it was adventurous, and full of excitement. I would recommend this to anyone who likes books that are packed with action and excitement. This book taught me a lesson about friendship. It taught me that friends would actually change places in life to make themselves happy. I hope that you readers out there choose this book as your number 1 book.