For Those Who Are Lost: A Novel

(Paperback)

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One woman's split-second decision on the eve of World War II will tear a family apart...

On the island of Guernsey, as WWII looms, many islanders make the heartbreaking choice to ship their children to safety in England, not knowing when (or if) they will be reunited. Acting on faith, Ava and Joseph Simon reluctantly send their 9-year-old son Henry and four-year-old daughter Catherine with their children's teacher Helen, who will escort them to the mainland.

But Helen's sister Lily is fleeing an abusive, childless marriage, and, just as the ferry is about to leave, she convinces her sister to let her take Helen's place so that she can make a new start for herself. It is Lily who takes the children to England, and it is Lily who lets Henry get on a train by himself. But Lily has always wanted a child, and she's unable to let Catherine go. So she decides to walk the other way, taking Catherine with her in her arms. That split-second decision impacts the lives of everyone long after the war ends.

Perfect for readers of Sold on a Monday, For Those Who Are Lost is at once heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and uplifting.

'This richly layered story about losing, finding and forgiving unfolds when a Nazi threat to an innocent island off the coast of France is imminent. Desperate action is taken and children are sent into the unknown where destinies are altered. Then the isolation and pressures of a tedious war beget heartaches and heroes. For Those Who Are Lost is riddled with secrets and sins for the sake of survival. Kudos to Thomas for a poignant and compelling read.' Leah Weiss, bestselling author of If The Creek Don't Rise and All the Little Hopes" Leah Weiss, bestselling author of If The Creek Don't Rise and All the Little Hopes

'Julia Bryan Thomas has ensured that readers of For Those Who Are Lost will never forget the children of Guernsey displaced during World War II. This is a captivating and complex story about family, about deception, about flawed characters in inconceivable circumstances, and about the power of love to both damage and heal.' Kelly Mustian, author of The Girls in the Stilt House" Kelly Mustian, author of The Girls in the Stilt House

'For Those Who are Lost is a surprisingly suspenseful novel, fraught with the tension of intersecting lives in impossible circumstances. The literary momentum pulls the reader forward at an ever increasing pace toward a poignant ending.' Audrey Blake, USA Today bestselling author of The Girl in His Shadow and The Surgeon's Daughter" Audrey Blake, USA Today bestselling author of The Girl in His Shadow and The Surgeon's Daughter

Reviews

"For Those Who are Lost is a surprisingly suspenseful novel, fraught with the tension of intersecting lives in impossible circumstances. The literary momentum pulls the reader forward at an ever increasing pace toward a poignant ending." -- Audrey Blake, USA Today bestselling author of The Girl in His Shadow and The Surgeon's Daughter

"A sure bet for readers of personal war stories and those who want to know, 'What about the women and children'" -- Booklist

"Julia Bryan Thomas has ensured that readers of For Those Who Are Lost will never forget the children of Guernsey displaced during World War II. This is a captivating and complex story about family, about deception, about flawed characters in inconceivable circumstances, and about the power of love to both damage and heal." -- Kelly Mustian, author of The Girls in the Stilt House

"This richly layered story about losing, finding and forgiving unfolds when a Nazi threat to an innocent island off the coast of France is imminent. Desperate action is taken and children are sent into the unknown where destinies are altered. Then the isolation and pressures of a tedious war beget heartaches and heroes. For Those Who Are Lost is riddled with secrets and sins for the sake of survival. Kudos to Thomas for a poignant and compelling read." -- Leah Weiss, bestselling author of If The Creek Don't Rise and All the Little Hopes

"Thomas's extensive research realistically conveys life under Nazi occupation: harassment, isolation, medicine and food shortages, and constant fear of reprisal or impressment in a camp. Ava worries constantly about her children. One scene is particularly poignant as she picks up smooth rocks at the sea as Catherine does the same in Cornwall, not knowing why she collects rocks. And when the war ends, what then I could empathize with the richly drawn characters, their grief and guilt. This is Thomas's second novel (see also Penhale Wood) featuring a grieving mother searching for truth. What a compelling story of love, courage and forgiveness. Highly recommended." -- Historical Novel Society

Author Bio

Writing as JULIA THOMAS, she is the author of The English Boys, a Library Journal Debut of the Month novel, and Penhale Wood, which earned starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Library Journal. She lives in Oklahoma.