Burning Summer — Claire Rayner

Ruthie Lee is seven and England is at war. Brought back from the countryside to live with her mother and baby brother in London, she spends summer in the hot dusty streets and the warm companionship of the East End Jewish community. As if air raids were not enough, there is a shadow across all their lives, for her father has deserted from the army, there is no money coming in and soldiers are looking for him.