The House at Silvermore (Tracy Rees)

In The House at Silvermoor, Tracy Rees takes us to the mining villages in Yorkshire in the late 19th – early 20th century. The story is told by youngsters Josie and Tommy, who have grown up in two mining communities, and we are drawn into their life, their thoughts, their sorrows and their dreams. Through their words we feel the harshness of life in the mining towns, the pride of the families and the strength of their traditions. Tommy and Josie also experience the contrast of their life and that of the aristocratic families who own the mines, and who also have their own traditions and limitations. They don’t belong to either of these worlds, but they seize the real chances they are given and throughout the book they discover that they can set themselves free, and others with them, through love, sheer hard work, willpower and hope. I loved the writing in this book, the research that went into it, and the fact that it builds on the inner life of Josie and Tommy and takes us into their hearts. There are a few twists in the story and this is why my review would not go into more details, because the joy of this book is to be immersed in the story, the setting and the emotions of its characters. This book is another beautiful write by Tracy Rees, and it seems to leave the door open for a sequel. I certainly would love to read about what happens next for Josie, Tommy and their friends.