Little Wing: A beautifully written, emotional and heartwarming story

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North has crafted her characters so boldly, so intricately; endowed them with qualities so inherently human, you cannot help but take them into your heart. I cared for all of three. For Florence and her exile to a foreign place. For Nell and her heartbreaking search for the truth. And for Dougie and the scars that refuse to heal.

Little Wing by Freya North | Waterstones Little Wing by Freya North | Waterstones

I’m enthusiastically recommending this well-written and engaging story for readers who appreciate a strong sense of place, interesting characters, family drama, and unraveling secrets. Book clubs might enjoy this for the rich discussion possibilities. Readers from Scotland will definitely appreciate the setting!Decades ago it was easier to keep secrets. Families, neighbors, and/or friends were likely to care for unwanted, abandoned, or neglected children and raise them as their own. In addition, a great deal of shame existed for the family that experienced a teenage pregnancy. Without DNA technology, it’s more difficult to unravel the past as you question an older generation that might feel the need to keep secrets. Florence Lawson, a 16-year-old schoolgirl who dreams of being an artist, finds herself pregnant and banished to one of the most remote parts of the UK. Between the sprawl of London, suburban Essex, and the wild, unpredictable Outer Hebrides, three lives collide and interweave as questions are asked and secrets surface. What happened to Florence? Why is Dougie now so reluctant to return home? How can Nell make peace with the lies she's been told?

Little Wing: A beautifully written, emotional and - WHSmith Little Wing: A beautifully written, emotional and - WHSmith

Little Wing is a lovely read about family and the importance of place. It unfolds in dual timeframes. In 1969, a sixteen year old girl gets pregnant and is sent away to live with a relative in the Scottish Hebrides. In 2005, we meet Nell and Dougie, both in their 30s and living in Colchester and London respectively. Nell is running a cafe and dealing with her mother's early onset dementia. Dougie is a photographer who is battling depression. It's apparent that the three storylines will connect, but it's unclear how that will happen. I'm not that familiar with Hendrix's music and didn't recognise the 'Little Wing' reference, but it seems to fit quite nicely.Told from three points of view, the structure facilitates a connection with each character. We experience Dougie’s and Nell’s work frustrations and empathize with their parental relationships. I love hearing from Nell’s birth mother in her own voice through journal entries. I need to note that I appreciate this point of view printed in italics. It made the transition to her POV easy to navigate. In addition to the three main characters, I loved the portrayal of the kind and compassionate nurse in both the present and past timelines. Two timelines, two main characters and two different stories. The first timeline begins in the 1960's with a pregnant 16-year-old banished from her home and sent away to one of the most remote parts of the UK.