"The Secret Book of Flora Lea" by Patti Callahan Henry by USO OVBC

ovbc2024q1 — 2023-12-19 16:03:30 UTC

USO Indo-Pacific and USO Europe | Middle East | Africa will host our monthly Overseas Virtual Book Club! discussing "The Secret Book of Flora Lea," by Patti Callahan Henry on January 11th at 2000 JST on Zoom.

Stay up to date with the Overseas Virtual Book Club by joining our Facebook Group: USO Overseas Virtual Book Club

Register here:

https://register.uso.org/4111BMB7/4a3I8XJUPC

#usoovbc #usoreading #bookclub

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ovbc2024q1 — 2023-12-19 16:11:05 UTC

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Introductions

ovbc2024q1 — 2023-12-20 06:53:40 UTC

Since we're spread out across the world, please share your location (without sharing your exact address) on the padlet map! ** Feel free to share a quick bio in the thread, and/or directly on the padlet map (link below). -- What's your name? How do you identify (pronouns)? Where do you live?

USO OVBC Intros

Current Reads

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What are you currently reading?

Book Recs

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Any book recs to share with us?

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About the Book

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Facebook

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Twitter

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USO OVBC: 2024 Book Picks

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Child Evacuees in the Second World War: Operation Pied Piper at 80

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"the evacuation of over 1.5 million people from urban 'target' areas, of whom 800,000 were children. Contrary to popular memory, these evacuees did not just come from London or England, but from cities like Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, too."

The grim truth behind the Pied Piper

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The Evacuated Children Of The Second World War

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Evacuees of the Second World War | Operation Pied Piper

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How Children's Lives Changed During The Second World War

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10 Ways Children Took Part In The First World War

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The Children’s Overseas Reception Board

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The Children’s Overseas Reception Board (CORB) was a British government sponsored organisation. The CORB evacuated 2,664 British children from England to escape enemy bombing during July and September 1940. The children were sent mainly to the four Dominion countries, Canada 1,532, Australia 577, New Zealand 202 and South Africa 353.

‘Children’s Ship’ City of Benares

ovbc2024q1 — 2023-12-27 12:11:09 UTC

City of Benares = A steam passenger ship built in 1936 on the Clyde in Glasgow for the Liverpool based Ellerman Line. She was the line's flagship - the largest, most modern and attractive vessel in the firm’s fleet..Torpedoed in the North Atlantic, more than 600 miles from land, with 90 evacuee children on board, the City of Benares sank with deplorable loss of life.

"Goodnight Children, Everywhere" (Vera Lynn, 1940)

ovbc2024q1 — 2023-12-30 18:14:08 UTC

Most London children were evacuated to the countryside after the Second World War began in earnest--Vera Lynn recorded this morale-boosting song early in 1940 for the dispersed kids (and their parents back in the city).

DQ 1

ovbc2024q1 — 2024-01-03 11:09:37 UTC

Hazel and Flora Lea's childhood experience was inspired by Operation Pied Piper—a real life event in British WWII history in which over three million children were evacuated from their homes to live with volunteer families throughout the English countryside. Were you familiar with this piece of history prior to reading the novel?

DQ 2

ovbc2024q1 — 2024-01-03 11:10:34 UTC

Hazel takes great care of the rare books while employed at Hogan's Bookshop, wearing white gloves and logging items meticulously. In passing, the owner, Edwin, has mentioned the enormous value original illustrations can add to a book. What is revealed about Hazel's character in the decision to take the copy of Whisperwood and the River of Stars along with the illustrations? What about when her initial denial of taking them is factored in?

DQ 3

ovbc2024q1 — 2024-01-03 11:10:52 UTC

When Hazel makes the phone call to Peggy Andrews seeking information about the book, she gets an unexpected answer about the origin of Whisperwood and the River of Stars. What does this broadly say about the creation of storytelling and mythmaking? Can someone ever own a story?

DQ 4

ovbc2024q1 — 2024-01-03 11:11:07 UTC

Bridie Aberdeen, as a character, is presented as extremely warm and nurturing yet with some eccentricities. The town gossips about her practices and the "mysterious" disappearance of Henry's father. What was your first impression of Bridie? Did that change at any point during the book?

DQ 5

ovbc2024q1 — 2024-01-03 11:11:26 UTC

Hazel and Flora's mother had several opportunities to take her daughters back to London but ultimately made the decision that they were safer and better served in Binsey with Bridie and Henry. Do you have a positive or negative opinion of their mother? Would you have made a different choice?

DQ 6

ovbc2024q1 — 2024-01-03 11:13:18 UTC

Only through an honest conversation years after the fact do Hazel and Henry discover their shared guilt over what happened to Flora. Would that silence have lasted as long if Hazel and Henry were older when Flora first disappeared?

DQ 7

ovbc2024q1 — 2024-01-03 11:14:08 UTC

Barnaby is supportive of Hazel's desire to reach out to Peggy Andrews and even encourages her to get in touch with Dorothy Bellamy, thinking a reporter may be able to help, yet he eventually struggles with Hazel's never-ending quest and its effect on their relationship. Does Barnaby's ultimatum change your view of the character? Did Hazel take her quest too far?

DQ 8

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How did you feel about the reveal of Dorothy Bellamy's past? Did Dorothy's Aunt Imogene have justification in her decision to remove the child the way she did?

DQ 9

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How do the specific time periods—World War II and 1960—affect the way in which the case of Flora's disappearance was handled? Would the outcome have been different if set in present day?

DQ 10

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At the end of the story, Dorothy (Dot) is coming to terms with two versions of herself. What are the broader implications of childhood memory? Why do we so clearly remember some things and not others, regardless of importance? Can you think of your earliest childhood memory?

DQ 11

ovbc2024q1 — 2024-01-03 11:15:28 UTC

Hazel's character displays many different emotions in the decision making throughout her life—hope, fear, guilt, love. Which one do you think is the dominant driver? Would it be the same if you were in her shoes?

DQ 12

ovbc2024q1 — 2024-01-03 11:15:42 UTC

The Secret Book of Flora Lea weaves an ode to stories and, ultimately, how we carry them with us throughout our lives. Is storytelling a universal way for humans to connect? How has storytelling affected your life?

Seek out a map of England and chart the train journey of Hazel and Flora from London to the real-life village of Binsey in Oxfordshire.

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This is a link to an interactive map.

Enjoy a tea service: a selection of English breakfast, Earl Grey, or green tea with sugar and milk options on the side. Add to it some tea biscuits or scones with butter and jam as a food option.

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As children, Hazel and Flora become enraptured with the story of Whisperwood. In the spirit of the novel, share a memorable book or story from your childhood.

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Best Reads

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What what were your best reads in 2023?

Books in 2024

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What is your first book of 2024? Any book releases you're interested in/excited about this upcoming year?

Character Descriptions

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Book Summary

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Discussion Questions

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ovbc2024q1 — 2024-01-11 12:09:23 UTC

Another book about the child evacuations during WWII

Classic scones with jam & clotted cream

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How To Make Scones | Jamie Oliver

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