Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #10
Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all the stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
- The hunt BEGINS on 3/14/24 at noon MST with Stop #1 at LisaTawnBergren.com.
- Hunt through our loop using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not Explorer).
- There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have all weekend (until Sunday, 3/17/24 at midnight MST)! So take your time, reading the unique posts along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books and learn new things about them.
- Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the CLUE on each author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter form at the final stop, back on Lisa’s site. Many authors are offering additional prizes along the way (like me)!
Welcome! My name is Sarah Sundin, and I write historical fiction set during World War II. My novels have won the Christy Award and the Carol Award. I live in Southern California, and my husband and I have three grown children and one darling little grandson, and we love taking our two rescue dogs on long walks. My latest novel is Embers in the London Sky. You can learn more about me and my books here on my site and on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram.
After fleeing the German invasion of the Netherlands, Aleida Martens searches for her missing child in London, where she meets BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood. During the London Blitz, they risk their lives to discover the truth about murders flaming in the ashes of the city—and find a connection closer than they imagined.
Life in London was anything but easy during the Blitz! One thing that made life challenging was rationing.
Rationing in Britain in World War II
Great Britain, as an island nation with a large population, has always relied on imports for food and other supplies. Those imports were threatened when Germany conquered western Europe in mid-1940, removing major trade partners—and as German U-boats and surface vessels sank cargo vessels bound for England from the rest of the world.
The first thing rationed in Britain was petrol (gasoline), as of September 22, 1939. Later, paper, clothes, shoes, linens, and even soap were rationed.
Food Rationing in Britain
British ration book for a child, WWII (National Archives UK)
Food rationing started in Britain on January 8, 1940. Each person received a ration book with coupons to be torn out by the grocer. The allowed amounts of all the foods mentioned below fluctuated during the war based on supply.
The first foods rationed in January 1940 were bacon and ham (4 oz per week), butter (4 oz per week), and sugar (12 oz per week). On March 11, 1940, meat was added, with each person over the age of six allotted 1 shilling/10 pence worth per week (about 1 pound), with 11 pence worth for children under six. Chicken, game, fish, sausage, and offal were not rationed.
British poster, 1940 (Imperial War Museum)
Tea—that most British of staples—was added to the list on July 8, 1940 (2 oz per week)—as well as margarine (6 oz per week) and fats (2 oz per week).
To deal with continuing sugar shortages, cakes were not allowed to be iced (frosted) as of August 5, 1940, jam, marmalade, syrup, and treacle (molasses) were rationed as of March 17, 1941 (8 oz per month), and sweets and chocolates on July 26, 1942 (8 oz per 4 weeks).
Cheese was added to rationing on May 5, 1941 (1 oz per week), and milk and eggs were allocated starting May 28, 1941. Since eggs were so scarce, most people didn’t receive their allocated one egg per week. When US Lend-Lease supplies began arriving in Britain, people began receiving a tin of skim milk powder each month (December 1941) and a tin of dried eggs every two months (June 1942).
The Ministry of Food introduced a point system on December 1, 1941. At first this applied to canned meat, fish, and beans, but later included rice, canned fruit, cereals, and biscuits (cookies).
British ad for National Wheatmeal Loaf, WWII
Bread was never rationed during the war, but the sale of white bread was banned and an unpopular National Wheatmeal Loaf of wheat and potato flour was sold instead.
British Dig for Victory poster, promoting home gardening, WWII
Fruits and vegetables were never rationed, but most were scarce, including onions, tomatoes, and oranges—onions were even used as raffle prizes! Lemons and bananas were completely unavailable. To supplement their rations, people were encouraged to plant “Dig for Victory” gardens and to raise chickens and pigs.
British poster, WWII
Overall, the rationing system in Britain provided a bland and meager diet, but it ensured that everyone had enough to eat and promoted a “we’re all in this together” mentality.
Which part of food rationing would have been most difficult for you?
Here are the Stop #10 Basics:
If you’re interested, you can order Embers in the London Sky on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook.com, Baker Book House, or at your local bookstore!
Clue to Write Down: While
Link to Stop #11, the Next Stop on the Loop: Ann Gabhart’s site!
Extra Book Giveaway!
But wait! I’m offering three additional paperback copies of Embers in the London Sky! All you have to do is subscribe to my email newsletter (sign up right here!) – or be a current subscriber. Then enter the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends March 17, 2024 at 11 pm PST. US mailing addresses only, please.
Your historical WW II novels are terrific and make me feel like I was a part of the war effort!
Thank you so much, Kimberly!
Hi Sarah, I am already a subscriber to your newsletter. Thank you for the chance.
Thank you, Alicia!
Thanks for the opportunity to win a paperback copy of Embers in the London Sky. I would like to share the story with a friend. I read an ebook copy and loved it. Your post was very interesting. Have a blessed day.
Thank you, Julie!
This is so fascinating! I knew rationing happened but the actual details are really interesting. Not sure what I’d miss most. Probably fruit and veggies 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
It’s fascinating! And it would have been very difficult.
I believe I am already a subscriber.
Thanks, Colleen! If you received an email from me today, you’re a subscriber 🙂
I enjoy your books so much! Am already a newsletter subscriber.
Thank you so much, Betsy!
I’m new to your books, but love them! Thanks for all the investigating you put into them to make them accurate!
Thank you, Jenn! I’m glad you’re enjoying the stories!
Sarah, I’ve very much loved how atmospheric your most recent novels have been. I felt like I was right in the middle of France and Denmark. I can hardly wait to read my copy of Embers to be transported to Netherlands and London. I just need a break in my editing and writing schedules so I can truly enjoy the virtual trip!
Any hints at what might be coming up next for you?
Thank you, Andrea! I’m glad you’re enjoying the stories! The next book is set in the far north of Scotland in WWII – and it involves a double agent and a naval officer 🙂
Hello Sarah, I am already a subscriber, but wanted to let you know I have read all of your novels and loved everyone of them!
Thank you so much, Sharon!
I’m not too familiar with rationing during the war, so I found it very interesting. I love your books, so that shouldn’t surprise me!
Thanks, Perrianne! I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
Sarah, I love Scotland! Sean Connery won me over to that at the impressionable age of five (that accent!). Definitely looking forward to the new book. Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely love your books!! Can’t wait to read your newest one!
Thank you, Marybeth!
I haven’t read your books before, but I want to
Thank you, Kera! I hope you enjoy them!
Love your books. I’m absolutely hooked on clean WWII novels, especially those based on true events/people.
Thank you, Anne-Marie! I’m so glad you’re enjoying them.
Already a subscriber.
Thank you, Sonnetta!
I think the no eggs would have been the hardest
It would be difficult!
This post was fascinating! It would have been so difficult to give up so much especially if you lived in the city. I think sugar would be the hardest to give up!
That would have been the hardest thing for me as well!
I was watching Foyle’s War a mystery set during WWII and an onion was offered as the raffle prize
I love Foyle’s War! We just binge-watched it for the second time. And that scene is based on real events 🙂 Onions were indeed raffled off!
I don’t need to win a copy of “Embers…” I got mine as soon as it came out. 🙂 I enjoy all of your books so much. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Gabrielle!
I enjoy historical fiction and look forward to reading your work.
Thank you, Denise!
Thanks for being part of the scavenger hunt, Sarah. I think I’d enjoy reading your books.
Thank you, Mary!
Nice giveaway, thank you!
Big fan of history!
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all 🍀
Thanks for the opportuninity. Looking forward to reading this.
Thank you, Lori!
Thanks for the insight into rationing of foods. I have seen many a movie and read many a book that included some tidbits here and there but not a complete explanation of what occurred. I love the research you do and the books you write.
Thank you so much, Phyllis! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you!
You’re welcome!
1oz of cheese per week would NOT have been enough for me! 😭😭😭
That would have been my husband’s nemesis too!
All your books are well written and full of history, which I like! Thanks for the opportunity to win a book!
Thank you, Susan! I’m glad you’re enjoying the stories!