World War 1 and the work of nurses is the theme of Poppy.
It gets off to a bad start. At Airey House, the well-off ladies knitting for the troops couldn't speak openly because two parlourmaids, including Poppy, are winding wool. English servants a century ago were treated as invisible and there would have been no constraints when their betters were chatting.
Secondly, we are told Poppy left school at 14, whereas children from poor families went into service between 10 and 12.
The book improves when Poppy joins the nurses of the Voluntary Aid Detachment, nursing wounded soldiers at home and at the end of the book asking to be transferred to the Front.
There is well-researched material on the horrendous injuries men suffered and the limited medical treatment but overall Poppy runs on rather predictable lines.
Maybe the sequel will pick up the pace. Ages 12+.
