A review by halligomez
The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

4.0

I am immediately drawn to any story involving World War II and how the war affected the world after. The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke captures all of that.

There are so many wonderful things about this book. Overall, the story of survival and the dedication of those willing to help people trapped in dangerous and oppressive conditions is heartwarming. The story flows like a balloon floating in the sky. The plot was clear and well written and pulled us along as we fought along with the characters to get Ellie Baum, one of three main characters, home. We are quickly introduced to the six main and secondary characters whose relationships with each other are subtle yet complex. They are well developed with strengths, weaknesses, and strong motivations.

In my travels, I spent some time in Berlin, after the wall fell, and even then was astonished at the stark contrast between the east and west. Locke describes the dismal and depressing East Berlin with such clarity, as I read, the images in my mind were gray.

Yet there were the red balloons. The balloons and the magic written on them floated in and out of the past joining the stories. They brought color and hope for the characters to the very last sentence.