'Moving and authentic' Dinah Jefferies
'Vivid, heart-rending and so, so beautiful' Jenny Ashcroft
'A beautiful, tender and fascinating story' Sinead Moriarty
'Deeply moving. Be prepared - have handkerchiefs on standby at the end' Antonia Senior, The Times
'An inspiring novel about the power of determination, courage and unity' Woman's Own
China, 1941. With Japan's declaration of war on the Allies, Elspeth Kent's future changes forever. When soldiers take control of the missionary school where she teaches, comfortable security is replaced by rationing, uncertainty and fear.
Ten-year-old Nancy Plummer has always felt safe at Chefoo School. Now the enemy, separated indefinitely from anxious parents, the children must turn to their teachers - to Miss Keny and her new Girl Guide patrol especially - for help. But worse is to come when the pupils and teachers are sent to a distant internment camp. Unimaginable hardship, impossible choices and danger lie ahead.
Inspired by true events, this is the unforgettable story of the life-changing bonds formed between a young girl and her teacher, in a remote corner of a terrible war.
Shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards for Popular Fiction Book of the Year
USA Today bestseller
Published in the USA and Canada under the title When We Were Young and Brave.



![Keyes, Marian IRISH FICTION Marian Keyes: My Favourite Mistake [2024] paperback](http://chaptersbookstore.com/cdn/shop/files/keyes-marian-marian-keyes-my-favourite-mistake-2024-paperback-57321903227219_{width}x.jpg?v=1726966934)
![O'brien, Edna IRISH FICTION Edna O'Brien: The Country Girls Trilogy: The Country Girls; The Lonely Girl; Girls in their Married Bliss [2019] paperback](http://chaptersbookstore.com/cdn/shop/files/o-brien-edna-edna-o-brien-the-country-girls-trilogy-the-country-girls-the-lonely-girl-girls-in-their-married-bliss-2019-paperback-58983845134675_{width}x.jpg?v=1726724463)
![Grace-Cassidy, Caroline PREORDER FICTION New Caroline Grace-Cassidy: A Merry Little Irish Christmas [2025]](http://chaptersbookstore.com/cdn/shop/files/grace-cassidy-caroline-caroline-grace-cassidy-a-merry-little-irish-christmas-2025-9781471420177-1197415847_{width}x.jpg?v=1760385917)
![Kelly, Cathy BARGAIN IRISH FICTION Cathy Kelly: The Wedding Party: The Number One Irish Bestseller! [2022] paperback](http://chaptersbookstore.com/cdn/shop/files/kelly-cathy-cathy-kelly-the-wedding-party-the-number-one-irish-bestseller-2022-paperback-57741909557587_{width}x.jpg?v=1727832008)
![Hayes, Mccoy Felicity BARGAIN IRISH FICTION Felicity Hayes-Mccoy: The Keepsake Quilters: A heart-warming story of mothers and daughters [2022] paperback](http://chaptersbookstore.com/cdn/shop/files/hayes-mccoy-felicity-felicity-hayes-mccoy-the-keepsake-quilters-a-heart-warming-story-of-mothers-and-daughters-2022-paperback-57789481976147_{width}x.jpg?v=1748520935)