''The Kidnapping of Kensington'' is a children's novel by

Richard Hough Richard Alexander Hough (; 15 May 1922 – 7 October 1999) was a British author and historian specializing in maritime history. Personal life Hough married the author Charlotte Woodyatt, whom he had met when they were pupils at Frensham Height ...

under the pen name of Bruce Carter. It was first published by

Hamish Hamilton Hamish Hamilton Limited was a British book publishing house, founded in 1931 eponymously by the half-Scot half-American Jamie Hamilton (''Hamish'' is the vocative form of the Gaelic Seumas eaning James ''James'' the English form – which was ...

in 1958 and illustrated by

C. Walter Hodges Cyril Walter Hodges (18 March 1909 – 26 November 2004) was an English artist and writer best known for illustrating children's books and for helping to recreate Elizabethan theatre. He won the annual Greenaway Medal for British children's boo ...

. The novel has also been published under the title ''The Children Who Stayed Behind''.

Plot summary

Brighton is braced for war. England’s coast has become the front line of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. Rolls of barbed wire line Brighton beach, soldiers scan the horizon, people wait nervously for an attack. When an emergency evacuation is announced, people hurry to pack up and get out, but in the panic Drake, Gillian and Sammy miss the last train. They soon discover they are not the only ones left behind. 1958 British novels British children's novels Children's historical novels Hamish Hamilton books Novels set in Brighton Novels set during World War II 1958 children's books Children's books set during World War II {{1950s-WWII-novel-stub