Reviews

When We Were Young & Brave by Hazel Gaynor

susan_loves_stories's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? N/A

5.0

rseykora's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

violet22's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-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

4.75

I loved this book the two narrators gave a different insight into being a prisoner of war in China during Japan's occupation. Miss Kent is an example of a different sort of war hero. It was heartfelt and felt as if this little school was a family sticking together through the thick of it. The way they stood up for each other and took matters into their own hands at time for each other made me cry. 

positivewoman2013's review against another edition

5.0

This story was told from the perspective of a teacher and a student surviving in an internment camp in China. We are not forced to relive all the graphic pain, but we walk next to these people. I was moved. Strength Under Oppression

shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition

Compelling historical fiction set in China during WWII. The story is told in two voices - that of 10 year old Nancy Plummer and 30-something Miss Kent. Nancy and her brother are students at a boarding school for the children of missionaries and diplomats in China. Miss Kent has left an unhappy life in England to teach in the school for a couple years while she figures her life out. Just as she is getting ready to resign and move back to England, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. Japanese soldiers take the school and it's inhabitants as prisoners and the teachers and students are challenged to survive in ever more dire circumstances over the next 4 years. Most of the story takes place during the war but some of it is told from a reunion of sorts thirty years later. Regular meetings of girl guides, with badges earned etc. becomes a focal point for the group. Olympic runner Eric Liddell joins them at the inernment camp for a time.

amlane16's review against another edition

4.0

Well written, detailed, with excellent characters.

decembermagpie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

lovelyseiren's review against another edition

5.0

I don't normally read books based on something in history but I loved how the story was told in the perspective of a student and teacher as time went on

mollysticks's review against another edition

4.0

Wow, what a side of WWII I wasn't super familiar with.

A quote I could do to apply to my life - "You really should try to like yourself a lot more than you do."

susanp's review against another edition

4.0

While I’m glad I read this well-written book about a Japanese internment camp in China during WWII, I have to admit I found a lot of it boring. Most of the emotions and events were superficial, monotonous, and repetitious.