War Child (1939 - 1945) (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781068211713)

War Child (1939-1945) is Dione Venables' poignant memoir growing up in World War II from the moment Britain declared war, to the celebrations of VE Day. Told through the authentic voice of her younger self, Dione takes readers through eight vivid chapters, each offering an unique perspective as she is chivvied across London in an often futile attempt to shield her from the war's reach. Through the eyes of a spirited nine-year-old (who emerges five years later as a war-weary 14-year-old) readers witness the war not only as a global conflict but as a deeply personal journey of survival. War Child explores the collision of three wars: the global one outside, the domestic turmoil within her family, and the private, inner war of identity and adolescence. With each collision, a piece of her childhood is lost forever, sometimes violently. Above all, War Child is a very candid tale of resilience, demonstrating that you don't have to be a hero to be heroic - you only have to choose not to be a victim.