<p>Heartache and hardship in London&#8217;s East End from the bestselling author of The Orphans of Halfpenny Street</p> <p>It&#8217;s the 1950&#8217;s and the orphans of Halfpenny Street have found a new home in the Essex countryside at Halfpenny House. Meanwhile back among the slum clearances of Bethnal Green St Saviour&#8217;s has now been partially given over to a home for disturbed girls though it still serves as a reception centre for local children who are in desperate need.<br/>Amongst these are Archie and his sister June. They&#8217;ve been &#8216;latch key&#8217; kids; fending for themselves while their caring but harassed and careworn mum tries to make ends meet. Now she&#8217;s been accused of theft and prison seems inescapable. Archie has no intention of letting his mum go down. He knows she&#8217;s innocent and will do anything to prove it. But can he help his mum before adoption and the authorities take him and June away forever?</p>