CHAPTER SUMMARY
The Secret Book of Flora Leaby Patti Callahan Henry

Chapter 6-10 Summary

Chapter 6: Operation Pied Piper

In September 1939, as Germany invades Poland, Hazel Mersey Linden and her younger sister, Flora Lea Linden / Dorothy 'Dot' Bellamy, learn they must evacuate London as part of Operation Pied Piper. The news comes directly from the government, a consequence of the looming war. Hazel, worried, seeks comfort in her father's Grimm's Fairy Tales, but the story of the Pied Piper terrifies her, solidifying her resolve to protect Flora by creating their own, safer stories and highlighting The Power of Stories and Imagination.

The next morning, the girls tearfully say goodbye to their mother, Camellia Linden, and join a procession of children marching to the train station. The chaotic scene underscores The Impact of War. Wearing identification tags, the children embark on a disorienting journey to Oxford. Hazel comforts Flora, promising her a "river of stars," a seed of their secret world. At the crowded station, Hazel realizes the weight of her responsibility for Flora's well-being, emphasizing Sisterhood and Family Bonds. They eat the food their mother packed, and Flora pockets a note from her. They are then told they will be taken to the town hall to be chosen by local families.

Chapter 7: The Whiskey Stain

In March 1960, Hazel's boyfriend, Barnaby Yardley, examines the stolen book, Whisperwood, and its original illustrations. He recognizes the art as the work of Pauline Baynes and insists Hazel return the items immediately, warning her of severe consequences. Hazel, desperate to understand how her private story exists as a published book, resists.

Tension escalates, and Barnaby accidentally knocks over his whiskey glass, staining two illustrations. One depicts a cottage similar to their home, and the other shows two girls hiding in a hollow tree. The whiskey stain symbolizes Hazel's messy adult world intruding upon her innocent childhood memories. A knock at the door intensifies Hazel's panic, and she hides the evidence, driven by fear and the theme of Guilt, Blame, and Forgiveness. Barnaby peeks through the window and announces, "A bobby."

Chapter 8: A Letter to a Ghost

The policeman is at the door for a noise complaint, bringing immense relief to Hazel and Barnaby, which quickly turns to passion. Afterwards, Hazel's mind floods with memories of Flora, Oxford, and a boy named Harry Aberdeen, highlighting Truth, Memory, and Secrets.

Hazel recalls the painful events of 1956, when a detective named Aiden Davies informed her and her mother that the skeletal remains of a young girl had been found in the Thames. Though the police believed it was Flora, Hazel and Camellia refused to accept it, clinging to the belief that Flora was still alive. This memory reinforces the novel's exploration of Grief, Loss, and Hope. Determined to find answers, Hazel calls the American publisher of Whisperwood, posing as a journalist to ask about the author, Peggy Andrews. The publicist reveals that Ms. Andrews is twenty-five, extremely private, and has no phone. He gives Hazel a mailing address. Realizing a direct confrontation is impossible, Hazel sits down and carefully composes a letter, striking a tone of respectful curiosity, hoping to coax the truth from the woman who has stolen her story.

Chapter 9: The Choosing

Back in September 1939, the evacuated children are marched to the town hall. Despite the grim circumstances, Hazel feels a flicker of hope. Her knapsack strap breaks, and a kind boy helps her gather her belongings. At the town hall, the children are lined up to be chosen by local families. Hazel wraps her coat around Flora, determined they will not be separated.

She watches in fear as a woman selects another girl. The boy from the street appears with his mother, Bridgette 'Bridie' Aberdeen. Harry points Hazel and Flora out to his mother. Bridie is hesitant, but Flora insists they can share a bed. Charmed by the girls and encouraged by her son, Bridie agrees to take them both. Flora proudly tells Mrs. Aberdeen that Hazel tells the best stories, sealing their fate. The Aberdeens represent kindness and safety in a room filled with fear.

Chapter 10: Scotland Yard

The next morning in 1960, Hazel wakes to an empty bed and a phone call from her boss, Edwin Hogan. He informs her that the Pauline Baynes illustrations for Whisperwood were stolen and that he has involved Scotland Yard. Trapped, Hazel lies, claiming she knows nothing about the theft.

Edwin mentions he can't find another employee, Poppy, and Hazel's guilt deepens, terrified that an innocent person will be blamed for her crime. After the call, she feels sick, realizing the situation has spiraled out of her control. She finds a note from Barnaby, who had to leave early. Before meeting him, Hazel mails her letter to Peggy Andrews. This act is a turning point; she understands that if she is to find any truth or resolution, it cannot be built on a foundation of lies. She resolves to face the consequences of her actions, but first, she must seek the truth about Whisperwood.

Key Events

  • The Evacuation (1939): Hazel and Flora evacuate from London to Oxford.
  • The Choosing (1939): The sisters are chosen by Bridgette Aberdeen and her son, Harry.
  • The Theft (1960): Hazel steals the first edition of The Secret Book of Flora Lea and its illustrations.
  • The Damage (1960): Barnaby accidentally stains two illustrations with whiskey.
  • The Investigation (1960): Edwin reports the theft to Scotland Yard, forcing Hazel to lie.
  • The Letter (1960): Hazel calls the publisher and writes to Peggy Andrews.

Character Development

  • Hazel Linden: She is fiercely protective in 1939, creating stories to shield Flora. In 1960, she is haunted and impulsive, driven by unresolved grief. Her theft and lies reveal her desperation, while her decision to contact Peggy Andrews shows her determination to uncover the truth.
  • Barnaby Yardley: He is Hazel's moral compass, urging her to do the right thing. However, his accidental damage of the art and his subsequent passion with Hazel show that he is also drawn into her emotional chaos.
  • Flora Lea Linden: As a child, Flora is innocent, vulnerable, and reliant on Hazel. Her questions and her brave declaration that she and Hazel can share a bed highlight her trusting nature and the strength of her bond with her sister.
  • Harry Aberdeen: He is kind, confident, and perceptive. His connection with Hazel and his insistence that his mother take in both sisters establish him as a key figure of hope and safety.
  • Bridgette 'Bridie' Aberdeen: She is warm, stylish, and kind. Though initially hesitant, her compassion wins out, and she provides the girls with a safe haven.

Themes & Symbols

Themes

Symbols

  • The Pied Piper: Represents Hazel's fear that children can be led away and lost forever, mirroring the evacuation and foreshadowing Flora's disappearance.
  • The Damaged Illustrations: Symbolize the corruption of a pure memory, with Hazel's secret world intruded upon by the realities of her adult life.

Significance

These chapters establish the dual-timeline structure and the central mystery: how did Hazel's private story become a published book? They depict the trauma of the girls' evacuation and contrast it with Hazel's adult life, shaped by that past.

The introduction of Barnaby, Harry, and Bridie sets up the primary relationships that will drive the narrative. Hazel's theft and her decision to contact Peggy Andrews ignite the plot, launching her on a quest for truth.

Analysis

Patti Callahan Henry uses the dual timeline to create dramatic irony and emotional resonance. The reader witnesses the fear of the 1939 evacuation alongside the guilt-ridden actions of 1960, highlighting how the past fuels the present crisis. Hazel's theft is an attempt to reclaim her stolen history.

The use of fairy tales underscores the theme of storytelling as both a means of survival and a source of conflict. Barnaby serves as a foil to Hazel, highlighting how deeply she is still affected by her past. Their relationship is tested, suggesting that Hazel's quest for the truth about Flora may jeopardize her hopes for a future with him.