Our Street

Victor Pemberton

1944 north London. Fifteen-year-old Frankie Lewis feels as if the war will go on forever. But one night in the blackout his life takes an extraordinary turn. Whilst playing a vindictive prank on the German-Jewish widow who lives nearby Frankie finds himself hauled across her doorstep into a world of books and culture. Fascinated by Elsa's stories of life before the war and her late husband - a British officer - young Frankie becomes good friends with Elsa helping her out in her shop and confiding his troubles to her - from his crush to his sister's unwanted pregnancy. So when Elsa suddenly dies of a heart attack Frankie is devastated. He is almost as shocked to discover that Elsa has left her shop to him - a legacy that her brother-in-law is determined to deny him...>