When We Were Young & Brave: A Novel

""Gaynor's story of courage andstrength will make you believe in the heroic spirit in each of us."" —Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were YoursThe New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home sets her unforgettable new novel in China duringWWII, inspired by true events surrounding the Japanese Army’s internment ofteachers and children from a British-run missionary school.Their motto was to be prepared, but nothing could prepare them for war. China,December 1941. Having left an unhappylife in England for a teaching post at a missionary school in northern China, ElspethKent is now anxious to return home to help the war effort. But as she preparesto leave China, a terrible twist of fate determines a different path for Elspeth,and those in her charge.Ten-year-old Nancy Plummer hasalways felt safe at Chefoo School,protected by her British status. But when Japan declares war on Britain and America, Japaneseforces take control of the school and thesecurity andcomforts Nancy and her friends are used to are replaced by privation, uncertainty andfear. Now the enemy, and separated from their parents, the children look to their teachers – to MissKent and her new Girl Guide patrol especially – to provide a sense of unity andsafety.Facedwith the relentless challenges of oppression, the school community must rely on their courage, faith andfriendships as they pray for liberation – but worse is to come when they aresent to a distant internment camp where even greater uncertainty and dangerawait . . .Inspired by trueevents, When We Were Young and Brave is an unforgettable novel about impossible choices andunimaginable hardship, and the life-changing bonds formed between a young girland her teacher in a remote corner of a terrible war. Read more