London, 1939. The Blitz, or the Battle of Britain, is gearing up as World War II hits the civilian population of England. And the stage is set for Crooked heart: a novel, by Lissa Evans, which tells the story of nine year old Noel Bostock, a solemn, bookish orphan who, after the death of his beloved godmother Mattie, along with the other children of London, is evacuated to escape the German bombing.
Sent to the countryside, Noel is reluctantly taken in by Vee Sedge, a 36 year old widow. A small time con artist always looking for the big score, Vee’s benevolence is driven by the small stipend she receives from the government for housing an evacuee. ( Vee is one of those people who if it wasn’t for bad luck would have no luck at all). She also cares for her mother, who spends all of her time writing letters of advice to Prime Minister Churchill and members of his cabinet, and her adult son, who is indifferent to everything and everyone. Into this chaotic world, Noel takes on the role of savior, aiding the hapless Vee in her life of crime and in so doing, shows her another way to live.
This unlikely set of characters make for an amusing and, in the end, heartwarming story, full of extraordinary situations which Charles Dickens would be proud of.