'Letters from the lighthouse' by Emma Carroll

When Olive's older sister, Sukie, disappears in a London air raid, Olive discovers a strange coded message in Sukie's coat and realises her sister is involved in something dangerous. This mystery hooked me into the book right away - I had lots of theories and I desperately wanted to know if any of them were right.

Olive and her brother, Cliff, are subsequently evacuated to a Devon seaside town. All the while, Olive is trying to decode Sukie's message. As the book progresses, lots of other mysteries emerge - why has Ephraim the lighthouse keeper got so much food in a time of rationing? Why aren't Olive and Cliff allowed in Queenie's cellar? Everyone seems to have secrets and Olive (and we the readers) want to know what they are!

This book explores important issues that are as relevant today as they were during the Second World War. It would be a great book for anyone interested in the historical period, and is also perfect for anyone thinking about issues of displacement and persecution. But, at its heart, it's a mystery novel and anyone who loves a bit of intrigue would enjoy this story. I'm proud to say one of my theories was right - although there lots of things I got wrong. See if you can do any better!