Patsy Goes to England: An American Girl's Adventures in 1950s Britain

Book Synopsis: In this gentle middle-grade novel, twelve-year-old Patsy moves from Wisconsin to London in the 1950s. Will she ever adapt to the strange ways of her new home? And will she ever find a friend to share the adventure?

Twelve-year-old Patsy Donahue loves history, so when the U.S. Air Force assigns her father to London in 1954, she’s excited to move to England. What could be better than living in a country steeped in stories of kings and queens, knights and ladies, castles and cottages? Even better, her new school is in an old palace and her fellow students are the daughters of diplomats from around the world. Patsy can’t wait to begin the adventure!

But when the voyage to England turns perilous, is it a sign of rough waters ahead? In London, school meets year-round—even in the summer! The other girls are already fast friends with one another because they all live at the school—plus, they already know how to change English money and speak French fluently, and Patsy doesn’t even have textbooks to help her catch up. The little cottage that her family rents has a large, beautiful garden…but no central heat, refrigerator, or phone. And even though everyone here speaks English, she is surprised and sometimes baffled by strange new words for ordinary things. It’s all a little overwhelming…and enough to make Patsy long for her friends and family back in Wisconsin.

But as Patsy struggles to fit in, she discovers adventures and small delights that she had never expected…like spotting the young Queen Elizabeth shopping at Harrod’s Department Store, attending the ballet at Coventry Gardens, or navigating the neighborhood in a fog so thick, everyone disappears like ghosts. Mrs. Davy, the jolly housekeeper, takes Patsy under her wing, teaching her all about English customs, and Sister Mary Michael spends history class telling the girls stories of King Henry VIII…which is the best way to spend an hour at school, in Patsy’s opinion.

Still, all these adventures would be better shared with a friend. When Patsy’s parents announce that they will be moving from their little cottage to a larger house, will her wish for a friend finally come to pass?

Based on the author’s own experiences, Patsy Goes to England is a historically accurate story of 1950s England, just as old pre-war traditions are beginning to change.