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Cover of The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan HenryThe Secret Book of Flora Lea
New · Fiction, Fantasy, War

The Secret Book of Flora Lea

by Patti Callahan Henry
2023 · 355 pages · Fiction
Reserve shelf
≈ 9 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

In 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and her little sister Flora are evacuated from London to the countryside during the war, where Hazel tells Flora stories about a magical land. Then Flora disappears. In 1960, Hazel, now working in a rare bookshop, finds a book that tells the story she made up for Flora, and sets out to find her.

Why it's worth reading

It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's a moving novel about sisters and stories.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It deals with a child's disappearance.

By the numbers

63.3Must-Read Score
  • Readers46 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller33 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

On our reserve shelf: it's well reviewed, but isn't currently a prize winner, a lifetime bestseller or a book everyone's talking about, so we don't rank it. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Goodreads Choice (historical fiction) finalist (2023)

Reads as

Epic, Adventurous

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

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Quick answers

Is The Secret Book of Flora Lea worth reading?

It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. Its Must-Read Score is 63.3 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is The Secret Book of Flora Lea about?

In 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and her little sister Flora are evacuated from London to the countryside during the war, where Hazel tells Flora stories about a magical land. Then Flora disappears. In 1960, Hazel, now working in a rare bookshop, finds a book that tells the story she made up for Flora, and sets out to find her.

How long does it take to read The Secret Book of Flora Lea?

About 9 hours (355 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after The Secret Book of Flora Lea?

If you liked it, try The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles, Homecoming by Kate Morton or The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.