Rebecca's Reads (www.rebeccasreads.com) August 2005

The Secret Shelter is an engaging & authentic look back at a time I can still remember. Sandi LeFaucheur has created such a vivid child's eyeview of a desperate time that it brought me to tears. It is a time when ordinary people, with both happy & sad home lives, did extraordinary deeds, when love shone like the Sun through the clouds of war, & death & danger fell from the sky.

For ages 10 & up. Outstanding, & perfect for (great) grandparents to show (great) grandchildren what it was like.

The Historical Novels Review - February 2005

The author does a good job of recreating war-time England, taking her readers back to an era of terror and privation. ... Fast pace and well-plotted story. ... Youngsters with an interest in history will likely enjoy this intriguing read.

School Library Journal--January 2005

LeFaucheur has written a real page-turner, somewhat akin to Jane Yolen's The Devil's Arithmetic (Viking, 1988), and the resolution of the story contains some imaginative twists.  Even minor characters are well developed and interesting, and the historical facts are woven seamlessly into the story.  Excellent for "what if" discussions.

Canadian Materials--Volume XI, Number 8

Author Sandi LeFaucheur employs time travel to excellent effect in her novel, The Secret Shelter. By plopping three regular, modern-day kids into the harsh realities of World War II, LeFaucheur does a great job of making other modern-day children wonder, "What if that happened to me? How would I cope?" Rather than trying to have contemporary students experience what the war would have been like through a school history textbook, LeFaucheur makes air raid shelters, bombings, blackouts, wartime schooling and food scarcities all the more real and tangible for today's young readers. Sophie, Marina, Quigs and their teacher, Mr. Schmidt, are soon taken in by a kindly woman, Esther Quigley (who turns out to be a relative of Quigs), whose husband is away at war. Their friendship with Esther, as well as the acquaintances they make with other local residents, plunges them even more deeply into 1940s-era London. Well researched, the book features an excellent flow of dialogue, and its constant wartime dramas are leavened by a good dose of humour throughout.

In the Hills - Winter 2004

Sandi LeFaucheur strikes just the right chord throughout this page-turner of a tale, as well as skillfully delving into complex issues of loyalty and loss.  Highly recommended for young readers aged ten and up.

Bookwire

Sandi LeFaucheur has a sure winner with 'The Secret Shelter' - a moving story that is brought to life, with a writing style, language modulation and visualizations that are simply great. The story and her personal background are so close-knit, that one does not find it hard to believe the events and happenings imagined in the book. The book is intriguing in the least and spellbinding at best.

I'm not going to divulge the many twists and turns the story takes but I can say this: you just cannot read 'The Secret Shelter' without having a lump in your throat.
BookWire Review
November 5th, 2004 

This review is courtesy of Penge Forum.  The link to the original article is: 

http://www.communigate.co.uk/london/pengeforum/index.phtml

New Fiction: The Secret Shelter

A time-travel fantasy for readers aged 10 upwards set in 1940s Penge & Beckenham by Sandi LeFaucheur, who formerly worked in the area but now lives in Canada.

As part of a school project on WW2, a group of schoolchildren excavate the old air raid shelter under the lawn in front of their school. To add to the realism they have made replica identity cards and gasmasks. But they are not prepared for realism to become reality when they emerge from the shelter into 1940s England and the terror of an air raid. How will they explain their presence? Where will they live? What will happen if they change the timeline by keeping their friend's pilot great-grandfather from going on a mission on which they know he will be killed? What has all this to do with the mysterious WW2 survivor Mr Martin who was with them at the start but now seems to have vanished? More importantly, will they ever get back to the 21st century?

With an eye to historical accuracy, the author tells of their adventures in the autumn and winter of 1940, including details of the hardships of wartime life. Adults familiar with this, if only from documentaries, may find that all this tends to drag out the early parts of the narrative. Probably this will be less of a problem for younger readers. Those who actually lived through the war years may appreciate the nostalgia.

The action takes place in and around Penge and Beckenham. But can you work out which school (the blocked-off air raid shelter is still there) and where the children find to live?

From a younger reader: The Secret Shelter is an amazing book which kept me hanging on right until the very end. This book made me feel just how scary the war must have been. Kiri Darwin

The publication date is 30th September, but the book can be ordered from Amazon UK now, ISBN 0974648140. Watch this space for details of local sources.

From Amazon.ca

A thoroughly enjoyable read. The story is a gripping account of real life during World War II, especially as seen through the eyes of young people. It has a good mix of characters and an element of fantasy which adds to the adventure. This book pulled me in and made me want to keep reading. I would recommend it for both young and older readers.  (5 stars given)

From Amazon.com 

Time Travel Made Easy (4 stars given)

Well researched, The Secret Shelter provides insight into the lives of those who struggled through the Blitz. I especially liked the time travel concept and how the three modern-day kids had to learn to deal with the bombs, scarcity of food, and blackouts.

This book would be a great introduction to some of the realities of WWII. And it's was much easier to digest this information while being entertained by likeable main characters. I learned about barrage balloons (who knew?), air raid shelters and how the women and kids in a close knit community in South London coped with unimaginable burdens.

I believe The Secret Shelter would be a great read for teens as well as those a bit younger. It's a part of history that shouldn't be forgotten.