Hey hey 🙂 This is going to be a short and sweet review of a short (and sweet) story. What Child is This is only 55 pages long, I read it in about an hour. I read this one right before Christmas, which is the perfect time to tuck into this story. It’s got a few issues, but I read it for free with Prime so I won’t complain too much. If you don’t have Prime and choose to buy the book outright, it’s only $1.99 right now (not a promotion of the book and no affiliate links here, just putting it out there.)
What Child is This is listed under Mystery & Suspense, which I don’t think is an accurate description of this story. It’s also listed under Thriller. But this story is what I would consider historical fiction. The suspense mostly relates to a couple in London during World War II trying to avoid the bombing and struggling to make things work. At the story’s start, we get to know the couple, Maggie and Jack. He works at the shipyard and she’s been staying home and keeping house.
The couple previously lost a child to diphtheria (I’m not sure if they mentioned how old she was when she died.) This part of the story is somewhat glossed over, though with how short it is I’m sure she didn’t want to spend a lot of time describing their grieving. Maggie does briefly discuss how hard it is that she lost her child and how badly she wants to have another, but that they haven’t been able to.
One thing that I really dislike is how Jack and Maggie talk to each other. Jack is referred to as talking to Maggie as though she were a child. In only three chapters, I think the author uses that description at least three times. This just didn’t sit great with me since I often like to think of couples as equals. Even given that it was a different time and all that, it’s just kind of annoying.
Maggie and Jack are trying to celebrate Christmas, missing their little girl, and worrying about the bombing that seems to get closer and closer. Eventually, one hits their home and they are forced to leave. This is another instance where Jack seems to baby Maggie. She pouts and nearly freezes to death, refuses to sleep in the bomb shelter, and acts somewhat like a petulant child. We can’t say how someone would realistically react to their home being destroyed in a war but whining and pouting don’t come first to mind. Devastation, tears, shock – all of these are not close to Maggie’s mind as she is stumbling around in her nighttime slippers, trying to sleep on a park bench, and ignoring her numb fingers.
By some luck, Jack and Maggie happen to find a massive home that is largely untouched by the war and conveniently, it’s unlocked. There is even a basket of delicious food on the table. Then, like a figure from her dreams, a little boy appears.
I’ll leave the ending up to you if you choose to read it. I think this short story is worth a read because it is interesting and if you can suspend your disbelief (and have more patience with Maggie’s behavior than I did, ha) then you will likely enjoy this very much. It’s a cozy Christmas story that is quick and to the point. It is not a mystery or a thriller, but if you like historical fiction it will still be enjoyable to you.
As someone who loves historical period pieces in books and television, I did enjoy that part of it. The author does an excellent job of setting the scene and bringing you right into a chilly day in London where anything might happen.
0 Comments