Book: Dear Cedric . . .Based on a true story of WWII by Patricia Mashiter Cooper

categories: Book, Fiction, War, History, Memoir, True Story, Child Evacuees, Survival, WWII

Patricia Mashiter Cooper

about this book: Dear Cedric ... is a unique memoir about children sent away from home to escape the blitz raging over key cities in England. In 1940 a six-year-old girl is squirrelled away in an evacuation school deep in the heart of Shropshire. "the war will be over very soon and then you can come home," her parents promised her. The "very soon" lengthens into five long years. The book chronicles, with heartbreak and humour, the adventures and misadventures, challenges and triumphs, and tragedies and angst that face the author, her friends and fellow classmates during those years of separation from their families.

Sixty years later, I [the author] revisited the old Manor which had housed Normanhurst School during WWII. The then owners were most welcoming and allowed me to roam all over the house and grounds. Very little had changed and they were surprised when I entered one room and picked out a squeaky floorboard, and showed them a small gouge in the wainscotting in the shape of a fish – still visible.

Dear Cedric ... is based on first hand accounts of my World War II experiences culled from my own memory, the obligatory weekly letters home, the memories of other pupils, and vintage photographs. More than 70 years have passed and WWII has taken its place in the history books but the interest in those who lived the history is alive and well. There are still many survivors who will relate to the experience and younger generations are fascinated to learn what really happened to their grand- and great-grandparents. I have already presented at a couple of elementary schools, and was thrilled that the children were so interested and wanted to read Dear Cedric ...

The cover is fashioned as a collage of the old photos and letters, which my mother had kept.

Reviews have been most positive and can be viewed on Amazon, GoodReads and my website.