You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I feel this would be better on a re-read. Even though I realized very early on that König was Abigail , I never bothered to read it as if Gina was anything but the main character. I should have, and I feel the book would be much improved if I did.
A lovely coming to age novel and I enjoyed my time reading it.
However…
as easy it was to pick up the novel, it was just as easy to put it down. I wish the novel was much longer and I would say that the ending was quite expected.
But my rating comes from the sheer admiration of the characters in this novel. Realistic yet so interesting to break down these girls and the adults that surround them in the school.
I wonder if a reread would allow me to enjoy it much more.
However…
as easy it was to pick up the novel, it was just as easy to put it down. I wish the novel was much longer and I would say that the ending was quite expected.
But my rating comes from the sheer admiration of the characters in this novel. Realistic yet so interesting to break down these girls and the adults that surround them in the school.
I wonder if a reread would allow me to enjoy it much more.
Me sentí una de las alumnas de esta escuela protestante en una provincia de Hungría. El misterio no es tan misterioso jaja, pero igual me emocionó y conmovió muchísimo. Fue como ir de la mano de Gina desde que tiene que dejar su querida y antigua vida hasta que se da cuenta de todo lo que ignoraba y qué tan equivocada estuvo. Me gustó mucho verla crecer y regresar a la escritura de Szabó.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the very few books I was procrastinating finishing solely so I wouldn’t have to part with these characters and story. A beautiful bittersweet tale about war from the eyes of young girls in a way I’ve never seen done before. These characters will remain with me for a long while.
i loved every single chapter from this book. it felt like i was also a young child, ripped away from home, without a clue as to why this has happened. experiencing all these challenges in the matula and slowly growing and maturing as i came to understand why this was all really going on. i think the presence of Abigail was a fun touch to the book. an unidentified savior that we are wary of. i was still wary as to who it was until the very end! details really do matter.
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
my first time reading magda szabo and i will definitely be reading more. had to decide between getting abigail or iza’s ballad when i was in budapest last april and i’m very happy with my decision to go with abigail right now.
such a beautiful coming of age story. gina is so frustrating yet so lovable. i esp. love how she embodies how sharply and painfully things can be felt when you’re a teenager. gina has a really hard time letting go of the idea that the world doesn’t revolve around her, which is unfortunately really relatable to teenage me (lol). at the same time, szabo is describing the happenings outside of the boarding school (world war ii is taking place) and how this forces gina to let go of her past and essentially “grow up.” it’s not about her.
i just love stories about girlhood ok!! i am also a little bitch when it comes to anything that touches on the father-daughter relationship and this was no exception (like i was actually tearing up).
this is an aside but i am very confused by the comparison to harry potter on the back of this book, like the only similarity is that they both take place in boarding schools.
also spoiler: (!!!!) i literally called who abigail was from the chapter where gina tries to run away i just knew
such a beautiful coming of age story. gina is so frustrating yet so lovable. i esp. love how she embodies how sharply and painfully things can be felt when you’re a teenager. gina has a really hard time letting go of the idea that the world doesn’t revolve around her, which is unfortunately really relatable to teenage me (lol). at the same time, szabo is describing the happenings outside of the boarding school (world war ii is taking place) and how this forces gina to let go of her past and essentially “grow up.” it’s not about her.
i just love stories about girlhood ok!! i am also a little bitch when it comes to anything that touches on the father-daughter relationship and this was no exception (like i was actually tearing up).
this is an aside but i am very confused by the comparison to harry potter on the back of this book, like the only similarity is that they both take place in boarding schools.
also spoiler: (!!!!) i literally called who abigail was from the chapter where gina tries to run away i just knew