Children's & YA
March 2011
MAVIS'S SHOE
by Sue Reid Sexton
About this novel: Mavis’s Shoe is the dramatic and moving story of Lenny Gillespie, a young girl who lives through the bombing of her town during WW2. Feisty and resolute by nature and not given to suffering fools gladly, it is left to Lenny to search for her mother and beloved sister Mavis who she loses in the mayhem of survival. This is a strong character-driven novel about the trauma of war and its effect on the family. In this passionate well-told tale of Lenny’s extraordinary courage and determination in the face of danger, the reader can expect a wide range of emotions: fear, grief and anger as well as courage, laughter and joy. Lenny confronts the things she most fears, the things she saw during the bombing and that no-one should ever see. She pleads with adults to help her and tries to behave the way she ought, but finally in frustration is forced to return to the disaster area alone, leading to the book’s dramatic conclusion. This novel is an ideal resource for teachers, set as it is in wartime during one of the most tragic events in Scotland’s history. Viewing the horror of the Clydebank Blitz from the unique perspective of a child allows for plenty of exploration around the subject of war. Written to present the universal experience of being bombed, it has relevance to the historical past but also to current world conflicts. Entirely historically accurate, it also paints a realistic picture of the home front of the time. Mavis’s Shoe is ideal for both young adults and adults of all ages. A teacher’s pack for the book is available from the Scottish Book Trust. The Clydebank Blitz: On the nights of 13 and 14 March 1941, the shipbuilding town of Clydebank suffered the worst destruction and loss of civilian life in all of Scotland during the Second World War when over 4,000 German bombs were dropped on the town. During the bombing raids most of Clydebank was destroyed (only 7 houses remained undamaged out of 12,000) and more than 500 people died (many estimate this number to be much higher), while over 600 were seriously injured and many more maimed by blast debris.
