Reviews

Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms by Anita Heiss

bolivianrash's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

3.0

The ending was underwhelming for me, personally.

thanh's review against another edition

3.0

my heart was not ready for the end :,,(

mr5z33's review

emotional informative reflective sad 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

4.0

pidge25's review against another edition

sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nicehotcupoftea's review against another edition

3.0

This was an interesting story about a love affair between a Japanese POW, escaped from the internment camp at Cowra, NSW, and an Aboriginal woman, whose family hid him in a bunker. At times I felt the tone was a bit patronising, it was clear that the author wanted to educate the reader, and I would have enjoyed a more subtle approach, with stronger emphasis on the story. Having said that, I do come away from the novel with a greater appreciation of the appalling treatment of our indigenous population; the POWs lived in better conditions.

what_anwen_read's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

jadehc's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

3.0

bmichie31's review against another edition

emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.25

annawebstar's review

adventurous informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

rhodaj's review against another edition

3.0

In 1944 over 1000 Japanese soldiers attempt to break out of the Cowra POW compound including Hiroshi, who is determined to survive and manages to escape. He is found by Banjo, a man from from the nearby Erambie Aboriginal mission and he hides him in their bunker.

Mary, Banjo’s 17 year old daughter is tasked with bringing Hiroshi food every day and love blossoms. However life is not simple for either of them and whilst they can enjoy their interactions now, the future is very uncertain.

I must say this book was not quite what I was expecting. I was expecting historical fiction, but it read more like a cross between an information piece on how Aboriginal people were treated during this time (appallingly) and a YA (or even younger) romance. The latter of which is not really my preferred genre.

I think this book is worth reading for every Australian to understand how the Aboriginal people have been treated, (the POW were treated better than the Aboriginal people, who were subject to rations!