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cheerful_elephant's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Very lighthearted easy read
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Antisemitism, Genocide, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
kwichris's review
challenging
dark
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I picked this book up on a whim from the new shelf section at my library, and I'm just delighted it caught my eye. I've always found stories revolving around the holocaust and this time period intriguing, but this perspective is wholly unique amongst available literature I've read. The civilian view from an outskirt of London and the adopting a Jewish child effort are quite interesting, plus the way characters deal with grief, perseverance, and every day challenges is well written. While there are plenty of tropes in here regarding some topics and it seems a little funny after a while that every time Gertie and company get together for a meal a bombshell occurs (both literally and figuratively) that even the characters joke about it at one point. Overall, a lovely novel I couldn't put down and recommend to people wanting a different perspective and take on the events of this time period.
*As an aside to address anyone staying away from this book due to the LGBTQ tag thinking that's a core aspect of this story, it's a very small plot point addressed once that doesn't affect the key points of the overall story. But either way, that shouldn't stop you from reading this amazing book! :)
*As an aside to address anyone staying away from this book due to the LGBTQ tag thinking that's a core aspect of this story, it's a very small plot point addressed once that doesn't affect the key points of the overall story. But either way, that shouldn't stop you from reading this amazing book! :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Antisemitism, and War
Moderate: Genocide, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Minor: Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Blood, and Medical content
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