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melbsreads's review
adventurous
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Trigger warnings: war, antisemitism, death, racism, death of a loved one, torture, espionage, gun violence, blood, concentration camps, animal death
The second half of this was fantastic. It was gripping and tense and I really enjoyed seeing the vastly different ways in which the girls live out the war. That being said, there was absolutely no reason for this book to be a fraction under 500 pages long, and basically everything that happens before 1940 - which was a good 150-odd pages of the book - didn't contribute much to the story other than showing us the girls becoming friends. And honestly? That could have been done in flashbacks or "do you remember?" conversations.
I also ultimately found myself wishing that this were JUST Noor's story or JUST Vera's story etc etc. I honestly think I would have liked to read four interconnected 200 page novels about these four girls than one 500 page book. There were extensive time jumps and I feel like the overall plot and character development suffered as a result.
The second half of this was fantastic. It was gripping and tense and I really enjoyed seeing the vastly different ways in which the girls live out the war. That being said, there was absolutely no reason for this book to be a fraction under 500 pages long, and basically everything that happens before 1940 - which was a good 150-odd pages of the book - didn't contribute much to the story other than showing us the girls becoming friends. And honestly? That could have been done in flashbacks or "do you remember?" conversations.
I also ultimately found myself wishing that this were JUST Noor's story or JUST Vera's story etc etc. I honestly think I would have liked to read four interconnected 200 page novels about these four girls than one 500 page book. There were extensive time jumps and I feel like the overall plot and character development suffered as a result.
annie_122's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
bertielyman's review
5.0
I loved this book - it was so compelling and offered viewpoints that I have rarely discovered in other WWII novels that I have read. I adored the dynamic between the four main characters, and thought that the exploration of their friendships, particularly at the beginning but continuing throughout the book, made their eventual storylines so much more harrowing and impactful.
The only small thing I felt didn’t work for me was the split narratives between the characters - I didn’t feel it was balanced enough. But that being said, I still loved it on the whole and give it five stars!
(Also, my copy had quite a few editing (?) errors - sentences without endings and words/phrases repeated, and not in an intentional way, im sure!)
The only small thing I felt didn’t work for me was the split narratives between the characters - I didn’t feel it was balanced enough. But that being said, I still loved it on the whole and give it five stars!
(Also, my copy had quite a few editing (?) errors - sentences without endings and words/phrases repeated, and not in an intentional way, im sure!)
nonbeanary98's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
jjoany's review
5.0
Not a story for younger children- sensitive themes.
As an adult, I thought the story was poignant, beautifully weaved together with threads of history and fiction. The story is told in 4 voices: 4 girls who become women over the course of the book, travelling from English boarding school to different roles in World War 2, both in London and Paris. So many themes and topics of world war 2 are interweaved: Dunkirk, Kristallnacht, holocaust, French resistance, Nazi sympathisers, air raids, patriotism, evacuation, spies.
The only difficulty was figuring out who was narrating each chapter which could be a little frustrating, and jumping between threads of the story. The story has tragedy and loss and so is not recommended for primary school (maybe a mature year 6 might be ok with it, but it’s more suited to secondary pupils).
As an adult, I thought the story was poignant, beautifully weaved together with threads of history and fiction. The story is told in 4 voices: 4 girls who become women over the course of the book, travelling from English boarding school to different roles in World War 2, both in London and Paris. So many themes and topics of world war 2 are interweaved: Dunkirk, Kristallnacht, holocaust, French resistance, Nazi sympathisers, air raids, patriotism, evacuation, spies.
The only difficulty was figuring out who was narrating each chapter which could be a little frustrating, and jumping between threads of the story. The story has tragedy and loss and so is not recommended for primary school (maybe a mature year 6 might be ok with it, but it’s more suited to secondary pupils).
mj38012's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
naomi2012's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
olookitsapoweremo's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
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