The Secret Book of Flora Lea

Although The Secret Book of Flora Lea focuses on the “Pied Piper” children’s evacuation, four categories of people were evacuated from major cities in the early days of World War II: school-age children (such as Hazel and Flora), pregnant women, women with very young children who couldn’t be left alone, and people who were ill or had a disability. September 1, 1939—the date on which the novel begins—was the instigation of the first wave of several evacuation movements. Children would leave high-risk areas like London, Birmingham, and Glasgow for more rural areas. In the first three days—September 1-3—1.5 million people were moved from their homes (“The Evacuation of Children During the Second World War,” The History Press). Each family received the Ministry of Health leaflet that Hazel details in the novel, describing what each child should bring with them.

Although the evacuation of children was strongly encouraged, it was voluntary; approximately half the families in English cities kept their children close rather than parting from them under uncertain circumstances. Those who went to the countryside experienced an entirely new way of living. Many had no prior experience with gardening or farm animals. However, not all families were kind like Bridie and Harry; there were quite a few Mrs. Marchmans, who were legally required to “volunteer” for billeting and take children they weren’t suited for. Kelty’s choice to run away wasn’t at all uncommon, and many of the parents left behind in the cities chose to reclaim their children after only a few months of relative peace. However, renewed attacks in June 1940 instigated another wave of evacuations and re-evacuations. It wasn’t until almost five years later, at the ebb of the war, that most children returned home to a very different world.