The Child on Platform One

By: Gill Thompson

Narrated by: Lucy Paterson

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

Inspired by the real-life escape of thousands of Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Europe on the Kindertransport trains to London, the new novel from the author of The Oceans Between Us, Gill Thompson. For listeners of The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, The Choice by Edith Eger and Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly.

Prague, 1939. Young mother Eva has a secret from her past. When the Nazis invade, Eva knows the only way to keep her daughter, Miriam, safe is to send her away - even if it means never seeing her again. But when Eva is taken to a concentration camp, her secret is at risk of being exposed.

In London, Pamela volunteers to help find places for the Jewish children arrived from Europe. Befriending one unclaimed little girl, Pamela brings her home. It is only when her young son enlists in the RAF that Pamela realises how easily her own world could come crashing down.

©2019 Gill Thompson (P)2019 Headline Publishing Group

The child on platform one

This is the first audio I’ve listened to by Gil Thompson. I loved this book and could hardly wait to listen to it. Not only was the book amazing but the narration was excellent! I am now on a quest to find more books by this author!

Story good enough but where are the feelings?

I feel like this story missed my heart. I usually feel something for the characters in a story like this but I didn't find myself inside a single one of them. I could admire them, I could appreciate them, I could be surprised by them (occasionally) but there was something missing. Here's a mother who breaks the family taboo of acting against her husband's wishes. We learn that he is angry and that her decision which was hard has now damaged her relationship with the man she married. We don't explore her despair. Here's a little girl sent across the channel and although we hear that she was missing her parents, we don't experience her angst. Here's a British woman feeling a bit constrained in a marriage to a good man but we don't explore her feelings (we're told about them) of constraint and desire for purpose. For me, it just missed the mark slightly.

Wonderful historical novel

I was totally captivated by this gripping story, well developed characters and the excellent narration!

Wonderful Historical Story.

This is a tender and sweet story during WW11. The characters feel so real and you can't help but fall in love with them.

Excellent story

Very well written and nicely performed! Beautiful story!! Kept me on the edge of my seat!

Well done, Well written

I really enjoyed listening to this somewhat sad book, which reveals so well the trsgediescand triumphhscof life.

Great War novel

The story was great, but I found myself a little bored towards the end. The narrator was a bit boring like she couldn't wait to get it done.

Love this book!

I love how the book keeps you guessing all the way to the end. The way it’s told from different points of views and how you’re completely submerged in the story.

Tragically engrossing

A spellbinding look into the lives of normal , every day people, who fall prey to the Hitler machine. Obeying laws, loving your neighbors, being generous, working for community.. all that means nothing when you are tagged as “disposable”.

Too slow

For me, the story is just too slow and too fragmented., I just can't get into it.