Nineteen Steps

August 1, 2023
Inspired by her own family's experiences during the Second World War, actor Brown's debut novel, co-authored by McGurl, is centered on the tragic 1943 Bethnal Green air-raid shelter incident that left 173 men, women, and children crushed to death on a darkened stairway--the single greatest loss of civilian life in Great Britain during WWII. While war rages in their East End neighborhood, 18-year-old Nellie Morris and her tightly knit family make the most of rationing, blackouts, and almost nightly trips to the air-raid shelter, supporting one another and their neighbors during the darkest times. Nellie falls in love with an American airman, but tragedy intervenes, and she seeks comfort in the arms of a family friend. Soon, she is faced with an unexpected choice, and her path to love and happiness is anything but smooth. Heartfelt and warm, with quietly heroic characters that embody the innocence of first love and wartime patriotism, Brown's debut is sure to be popular among readers who enjoy novels that bring lesser-known notable events from the past to life.

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October 1, 2023
A tale of love, war, and tragedy in 1940s London. Brown's debut is touted as being inspired by events that affected her own family, but just about anyone who has seen a movie about World War II could probably have written a similar novel; the story and tropes are all too familiar. Set in the Bethnal Green neighborhood of London, the story follows young Nellie Morris, who works for the mayor's office. Nellie, who lives with her parents, brother George, and adored little sister Flo, navigates wartime scarcities and endures the frequent air raids with as much grace as she can muster with German bombers screaming overhead. She does have fun hanging out with her childhood friends Babs and Billy, the latter of whom is not-so-secretly in love with her. But when the sirens howl, laughter is forgotten as the whole neighborhood flees to the Underground station to wait out the bombs. The tedium and terror are interrupted when Nellie meets Ray Fleming, a handsome American airman, who tells her tales of his native Michigan, and suddenly her hopes and dreams for the future blossom. But a shocking tragedy upends their romance, and Nellie must confront hard questions of civil and personal responsibility. Brown is best known for playing the telekinetic Eleven on Netflix's hit series Stranger Things, and her fans are likely to reach with excitement and hopeful generosity for this coming-of-age story. But it is inexpertly written, its major tragic scene confusing and poorly described, and the characters never transcend the paper-thin clich�s with which they were constructed (plucky young woman; handsome Yank; asthmatic, nobly suffering friend). Though it seems likely to be a hit, the novel lacks the depth to elicit real emotion. Poorly drawn characters and clich�s abound in this familiar story of WWII.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 9, 2023
Stranger Things star Brown sets her emotionally layered debut in 1942 East London, where 18-year-old protagonist Nellie works as an assistant to the mayor of Bethnal Green and struggles to keep her tight-knit family and friends safe during nighttime bombing raids by the Nazis. Through her municipal work, Nellie possesses secret knowledge that the 19 steps at the entrance of a nearby Underground station (one that serves as an air raid shelter) would pose a series of safety hazards if met with a large crowd (lack of handrails, proper lighting, cement reinforcement, and more). When a panic at the station prompts a devastating accident, the catastrophe proves intensely personal for Nellie. The memorable cast comprises Nellie’s parents and siblings, her best friends (one of whom holds romantic feelings for her), and a dashing love interest­—an American pilot named Ray. Brown’s narrative, which is based on real events, effectively balances the danger and deprivations of war in a city under siege with the joys of family, friends, and romance. This highly charged historical romance offers intimate insight into WWII London and the challenges of overcoming loss. Agent: Alyssa Reuben, WME.