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A review by iwanttoreadallthebooks
The Secret Letter by Debbie Rix
4.0
The Secret Letter is a beautiful novel, inspired by a true story, about bravery, kindness and hope in a time of war, devastation and absolute horror. Magda is a thirteen year old girl German girl in 1939 who lives with her parents on their farm in the countryside. While she is forced to join the Hitler Youth, she is horrified when her friend Lotte is sent to a concentration camp. Magda hates the cruelty and fanaticism of her peers who revere Hitler as a god. She finds out about the White Rose movement, a German rebel group who wishes to fight Hitler and the SS's oppression, and joins them. In a world that is already upside down, Magda's world is further tilted when an English RAF pilot is found near her home after being shot down. Does she risk helping this stranger or put her family in danger? Imogen is a fifteen year old English girl in 1939 who is taken away from her family and forced to evacuate to go to school in the Lake District. As she gets older, she joins the war effort as part of the Wrens. As the war progresses, Magda and Imogen are forced to grow up quickly in a horrifying world. Their lives interconnect and their bravery impacts not only their families but each other.
I love WWII historical fiction. I find the the war and the years/events leading up to it to be both absolutely fascinating and at the same time, heartbreaking and devastating. I have read many novels based on WWII and I won't lie, I almost always enjoy them. While some are clearly stronger than others, I just can't get enough of these stories that are based on events that should be fiction but unfortunately were very real. I found The Secret Letter to be an excellent example of what WWII fiction should be. It is absolutely beautifully written and Magda and Imogen absolutely jumped off the page. They felt real and their stories were incredible to read. I admired their bravery and their willingness to stand up for what they believed in, even if it meant they were endangering their own lives. The author moved seamlessly between the two girls and I loved how she weaved their stories together.
A beautiful story about a terrible time in our world's history. But it is stories like those of Magda and Imogen that give me hope, that people are good and willing to stand up for what is right.
4 stars!
I love WWII historical fiction. I find the the war and the years/events leading up to it to be both absolutely fascinating and at the same time, heartbreaking and devastating. I have read many novels based on WWII and I won't lie, I almost always enjoy them. While some are clearly stronger than others, I just can't get enough of these stories that are based on events that should be fiction but unfortunately were very real. I found The Secret Letter to be an excellent example of what WWII fiction should be. It is absolutely beautifully written and Magda and Imogen absolutely jumped off the page. They felt real and their stories were incredible to read. I admired their bravery and their willingness to stand up for what they believed in, even if it meant they were endangering their own lives. The author moved seamlessly between the two girls and I loved how she weaved their stories together.
A beautiful story about a terrible time in our world's history. But it is stories like those of Magda and Imogen that give me hope, that people are good and willing to stand up for what is right.
4 stars!