The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown - by Elizabeth Laird (Paperback)

About the Book

Based on Elizabeth Laird's own childhood growing up in post-war Britain, The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown is a warm, witty and beautiful coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of The Skylarks' War and I Capture the Castle.

Book Synopsis

Inspired by award-winning author Elizabeth Laird's own childhood growing up in post-war London, The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown is a classic coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of The Skylarks' War and I Capture the Castle.

Charity Brown's life is about to change - her family have been left a huge, rambling house by a mysterious benefactor, and her parents want to move in and throw open its doors to the needy.

Only recently back from hospital after months of isolation with polio, Charity is over-protected and lonely as the only child still at home. Her family are very religious - her sisters are called Faith and Hope, and her brother Ted is studying to be a preacher - so she's both excited and nervous at the thought of sharing her family and new home with strangers.

It's a recipe for confusion, joy and endless misunderstandings, including with the new neighbours, an Austrian family with a daughter just Charity's age . . .

Review Quotes

"Elizabeth's writing is beautifully accessible, her characters are vivid and authentic. I loved Charity's voice; as I reader, I felt very close to her, experiencing the big changes in her life, and in herself, as she grows and learns more about the world outside her religious family. It's beautifully done." --Julia Green

"The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown surprised and fascinated and delighted me, evoking so completely such a recently vanished world. I loved so many things about it: the family setting, the welcoming multicultural house and the growing up of Charity from ill child to funny, confident young person." --Hilary McKay, author of The Skylarks' War

"This family story is unusual and a delight to read - funny, caring, warm, and unerringly in touch with the anguish of adolescence." --Berlie Doherty

"a total pleasure, written with affection as well as art and never for a moment outstaying its welcome. Now something of a veteran children's author herself, Elizabeth Laird has once again come up with something truly rather special." --Nick Tucker, Books for Keeps

"Enthrallingly told, it is a coming-of-age story about discovering your own values and making your own choices." --Sunday Times, Children's Book of the Week

About the Author

Elizabeth Laird is the author of dozens of much-loved children's books, including The Garbage King, The Fastest Boy in the World, Oranges in No Man's Land and the UKLA award-winning Welcome to Nowhere. She is a winner of the Children's Book Award and has been shortlisted six times for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal.

Many of Elizabeth's books reflect her years living and working in the Middle East and Africa, but others, including Red Sky in the Morning, Jake's Tower and Song of the Dolphin Boy, are set in Britain. She now divides her time between London and Edinburgh, but still loves to travel.