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marshacasner's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
roseleaf24's review against another edition
5.0
Newberry Honor Book
I really enjoyed this World War II story. Lily is heading to her Gram's house on Rockaway Beach, excited for the summer. But she finds out quickly that the war has changed everything. Instead of her friend, Margaret, she has Albert, a skinny boy with an accent who didn't know how to swim. Together, they make it through the summer and work through their losses and their hopes.
I really enjoyed this World War II story. Lily is heading to her Gram's house on Rockaway Beach, excited for the summer. But she finds out quickly that the war has changed everything. Instead of her friend, Margaret, she has Albert, a skinny boy with an accent who didn't know how to swim. Together, they make it through the summer and work through their losses and their hopes.
reikista's review
3.0
Lily is excited to be going to her Gram’s house on the shore in Rockaway, to see her friend Margaret and feel free this summer. But Margaret’s father moves the family to Detroit where he will work on an assembly line building bombers, and Lily’s father will be going to France to support the Allies’ work in the war. It’s turning out to be a sad summer, except for the excitement of the arrival of Alfred, from Hungary. Maybe he will solve one of Lily’s problems, number three on her list: Friends, need. Lily learns that he became separated from his sister on his circuitous path to Canada while escaping the Nazis, and he needs to return to find her. This is a heartwarming story of friendship and loyalty that moves through sharing loss and secrets, and the universality of some human experiences.
kraley's review
4.0
I read this with my students when we study WWII. it shows nicely what was happening on the American shores while many men were at war. The child's perspective is well done and her friendship with the boy is interesting. Lots of good discussion.
jackdziatkowiec's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I felt the impact of all the character building, at the end.
ris_stitches's review
4.0
My fifth grader is reading this in school right now, I picked it up and started reading it and then I couldn't put it down. Really good! Makes me want to re-read The Upstairs Room.
sarahbowling6608's review
2.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the main character learns a valuable lesson about how dangerous a habit of lying can be. On the other hand, her other habits of stealing, sneaking, being disrespectful, and having a bad attitude are not really addressed.
CC: mom dies when mc is a baby, dad goes to war, another character loses both parents to the Nazis and is separated from his sister while fleeing, two swear words, lying, sneaking out, stealing, friend moves away
CC: mom dies when mc is a baby, dad goes to war, another character loses both parents to the Nazis and is separated from his sister while fleeing, two swear words, lying, sneaking out, stealing, friend moves away
leora_____'s review
5.0
This book is pretty cool. It's about a girl whose dad goes to help in World War 2 and she has to cope with living with her grandmother which is really hard for her. She befriends a boy from Hungary and they have lots of fun together over the summer.
streebela's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0