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mercylynn's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
thepagelady's review
4.0
The Secret Letter by Debbie Rix is based on real events and has two stories in one. Magda, a German girl living on a farm with her family, courageously joins the White Rose Movement. The next character is based on the author's mother. Imogen is one of the children evacuated to the countryside by their parents. She becomes a WREN and does her part for the war effort.
It's an intriguing story of courage and love. The characters are what made me keep turning the pages in this book. I wanted to know what happened to them, especially how they were connected. We cover a large time period of their lives so you get to know each of them very well. It's a well written coming of age story that's emotional and heartbreaking.
It's an intriguing story of courage and love. The characters are what made me keep turning the pages in this book. I wanted to know what happened to them, especially how they were connected. We cover a large time period of their lives so you get to know each of them very well. It's a well written coming of age story that's emotional and heartbreaking.
katrenia's review
4.0
A good historical fiction. It took me a bit to get into the storylines, but once I did it hooked me completely. I did find the ultimate connection to be a little unrealistic, but who’s to say it couldn’t happen. I wish I could have read the historical context first as knowing the real people the author based the story on would have changed my perception.
The Audible narrator is good, except for the voice of Joy. Fortunately, she’s a minor character.
The Audible narrator is good, except for the voice of Joy. Fortunately, she’s a minor character.
susanp's review
4.0
Good read, but the characters were so immature and the history was so superficial.
krystynaandrews's review
5.0
So many twists and turns. It was definitely a page turner. I constantly was getting lost for hours in this book. The details and descriptions were beautifully done.
sarah_reading_party's review against another edition
3.0
Magda and Imogen are two girls, living normal lives that are disrupted by war. While I loved that this book was based on a true story, I was hoping and expecting that the lives of these two girls would be intertwined more than they were. The premise was interesting, but the storyline just did not measure up to my expectations. I did find it incredibly interesting to read about the German resistance, so to speak.
bcgg's review against another edition
5.0
Initially I was uncomfortable reading yet another book about the second WW. I have read a lot of them! In almost all, the Germans and the bad guys, the English the good guys and the Americans the saviours of all. But in this book, it brings out more about the people on both sides, doing what is right, and focusing on fighting cruelty and brutality.
I came to appreciate the groups like the White Rose and the Germans actually fighting against the Nazis. Against war.
I won't go into a lot of details as I don't like spoilers but there were a number of other things I learned about that I was unaware of.
All in all, a definitely more balance book about the war and more so, about the people.
I also have to give tremendous kudos for the narrator Jacqueline Quinn. She did an amazing job with the accents and especially giving each character an individual voice. That is something quite unique in audio books.
I came to appreciate the groups like the White Rose and the Germans actually fighting against the Nazis. Against war.
I won't go into a lot of details as I don't like spoilers but there were a number of other things I learned about that I was unaware of.
All in all, a definitely more balance book about the war and more so, about the people.
I also have to give tremendous kudos for the narrator Jacqueline Quinn. She did an amazing job with the accents and especially giving each character an individual voice. That is something quite unique in audio books.