halfcentreader's review against another edition
4.0
Advance Reading Copy.
Another great read in the continuing saga of the Kopp Sisters! It is now WWI and the Sisters are far flung and pursuing their unique gifts and serving their country. This novel is told in epistolary fashion with letters to and from the sisters and to their various friends, co-workers and bosses. Chock full of intersting historical detail both in America and in France. I suggest the whole series for anyone interested in historical fiction, women in history, and anyone with a sense of humor and who has siblings you love but find exasperating!
Another great read in the continuing saga of the Kopp Sisters! It is now WWI and the Sisters are far flung and pursuing their unique gifts and serving their country. This novel is told in epistolary fashion with letters to and from the sisters and to their various friends, co-workers and bosses. Chock full of intersting historical detail both in America and in France. I suggest the whole series for anyone interested in historical fiction, women in history, and anyone with a sense of humor and who has siblings you love but find exasperating!
literallykristen's review
3.0
Not my most favorite of the series, but I do enjoy the characters. This was an epistolary novel and it was actually done pretty well. Although the plot was a little sparse, the author did a great job interspersing historically accurate events in these fictional characters' lives.
bellatora's review
5.0
The Kopp Sisters series is one of the very best for quietly powerful, historically resonant, and utterly charming books. Stewart is a true powerhouse to consistently produce excellent novels, without a series lowpoint. It is even more impressive that she hews to historical accuracy while giving her characters room to breathe. It is also a mark in her favor that at the end she tells the reader what is part of the true Kopp Sisters' biographies, and what she has invented (I appreciate such transparency).
The sixth volume (the first epistolary volume) finds the Kopp sisters scattered - Fleurette is traveling with her troop, Constance is hunting German spies for the FBI, and Norma is in France with her pigeons. The book starts slowly, and at first I was concerned this would be the first Kopp Sisters book I would be lukewarm on. But I shouldn't have worried. The emotional punch is still there. Stewart was just going for the slow, gentle build. Stewart does the nearly impossible - she makes all three storylines equally interesting. I was as invested in Fluertte's journey as Constance's, as Norma's. Each one delivered.
Stewart, through her three protagonists' different war experiences, highlighted different aspects of WWI. Norma's was the most familiar - the warfront is a well-explored venue. What I had never realized was the terrifying vigilantism and the policing of women in wartime. The American Protective League was comprised of normal citizens who trussed themselves up with semi-official status and conducted raids to hunt suspected draft dodgers. Bursting into theaters mid-production to haul off able-bodied men - whether or not they were actually dodging the draft. At military camps, matrons would throw into jail any woman who seemed to be corrupting the morals of the fighting men, which could be as little as wearing a dress and smiling. These women had no legal recourse and could be imprisoned for months or years. If these sound like the makings of a dystopian novel, you are right. The policing of morality by citizens with the stamp of government approval is a dystopian world. Instead of writing books about outlawing love (?!?), YA dystopian authors should plum the depths of what humans have already done to each other - and within a time period that is both far away and very close.
The sixth volume (the first epistolary volume) finds the Kopp sisters scattered - Fleurette is traveling with her troop, Constance is hunting German spies for the FBI, and Norma is in France with her pigeons. The book starts slowly, and at first I was concerned this would be the first Kopp Sisters book I would be lukewarm on. But I shouldn't have worried. The emotional punch is still there. Stewart was just going for the slow, gentle build. Stewart does the nearly impossible - she makes all three storylines equally interesting. I was as invested in Fluertte's journey as Constance's, as Norma's. Each one delivered.
Stewart, through her three protagonists' different war experiences, highlighted different aspects of WWI. Norma's was the most familiar - the warfront is a well-explored venue. What I had never realized was the terrifying vigilantism and the policing of women in wartime. The American Protective League was comprised of normal citizens who trussed themselves up with semi-official status and conducted raids to hunt suspected draft dodgers. Bursting into theaters mid-production to haul off able-bodied men - whether or not they were actually dodging the draft. At military camps, matrons would throw into jail any woman who seemed to be corrupting the morals of the fighting men, which could be as little as wearing a dress and smiling. These women had no legal recourse and could be imprisoned for months or years. If these sound like the makings of a dystopian novel, you are right. The policing of morality by citizens with the stamp of government approval is a dystopian world. Instead of writing books about outlawing love (?!?), YA dystopian authors should plum the depths of what humans have already done to each other - and within a time period that is both far away and very close.
pejahanako's review
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
I picked up this book on a whim, and it is exactly as would be expected from the cover. Dear Miss Kopp follows three sisters during World War I, each helping in the American war efforts in different ways. It is written via letters, which is interesting, but also expectedly boring. On a whole, this book is boring and mundane- but it does strive to be slightly inspiring towards young women and informative on the roles women played in the war. Worth a read if you want something cozy and set during World War I.
danielleafsordeh's review
4.0
Really enjoyed the perspective of this one, and the writing style. As always, the Kopp sisters are delightful, and this was great escapism amidst *all of this.* Stewart's historical research continues to create a solid believable foundation for the Kopp sisters' adventures.
emmadalrymple's review against another edition
5.0
Can’t get enough of these mysteries based on the life of America’s first female deputy sheriff, who lived just an hour away from where I grew up! This was an epistolary novel, too—even better. Given the Kopp sisters’ plans at the end of this, I’m hopeful that the next book in the series might also be epistolary.
msmanik's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annalynn34's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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? No
4.0
ljhind's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0