The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline London
Hi, I am Simi. I love reading because it lets me travel to other places and times that I wouldn’t otherwise see. I also love to play lacrosse and hockey, and write.
The Last Bookshop in London is a heartbreaking yet hopeful book set in the streets of London during World War Two. It follows Grace Bennet, a hardworking woman who has suffered the loss of her mother, as she moves from small town Drayton to the bustling city of London on the brink of World War Two. In an attempt to find a job without a letter of recommendation, Mrs. Weatherford, the wonderful woman who has offered Grace and her friend a place to live, calls
up an old friend and gets Grace a job in a rundown bookstore with a grouchy owner. Grace, previously oblivious to the wonders of books, falls in love with the books, the bookstore and even grouchy old Mr. Evens, the owner of the bookstore who, as it turns out, isn’t that grouchy after all.
Throughout the book Grace struggles with the perils of the war, the loss of family and friends,
the destruction of precious possessions, such as books, and soul crushing hopelessness. She
also grows in ways that feel impossible; she learns compassion, she saves tons of lives both
physically and mentally, she falls in love and she finds confidence in herself.
I highly recommend this book, which is fascinating and thoughtful. It made me think about that
time with a totally different mindset. If you’re looking for an entertaining book that is also
educational and thought provoking, this is the book for you.
