idasouth's review against another edition
5.0
This will always be five stars for me - ever since I first picked it up aged 9/10, I've loved this book. It's like a warm hug, and it made me fall in love with a (fictional part of) the Alps long before I got to visit and confirm it.
The descriptions of the landscapes are perfect, they're visceral and dream-like, even though I don't know anything about wildlife. The character names are perfect, they suit to a T and that's important with such a large main cast, and the story is pacey. It's not an action/adventure tale but there are no lulls, on a re-read, reading to get to the best bits, I was always in one.
That being said, you have to bear in mind that it's a children's book and on my latest re-read I was a little disappointed that every sentence didn't sing with brilliance like I'd half remembered. At times the wider members of communities felt very hazy, and for a novel with a body from Easter '39-40 and with an epilogue after the war, there was suspiciously little death. But that's just me being cynical, which is the opposite of what this book is.
Every single tiny stumble can be forgiven, utterly, because the book is a simple joy to be in. Also, how can you not love that cover, and the book partners it perfectly.
The descriptions of the landscapes are perfect, they're visceral and dream-like, even though I don't know anything about wildlife. The character names are perfect, they suit to a T and that's important with such a large main cast, and the story is pacey. It's not an action/adventure tale but there are no lulls, on a re-read, reading to get to the best bits, I was always in one.
That being said, you have to bear in mind that it's a children's book and on my latest re-read I was a little disappointed that every sentence didn't sing with brilliance like I'd half remembered. At times the wider members of communities felt very hazy, and for a novel with a body from Easter '39-40 and with an epilogue after the war, there was suspiciously little death. But that's just me being cynical, which is the opposite of what this book is.
Every single tiny stumble can be forgiven, utterly, because the book is a simple joy to be in. Also, how can you not love that cover, and the book partners it perfectly.
rosekk's review against another edition
3.0
I think a 9-12 year old reading this would probably enjoy it a lot. I'm a good decade past the target audience, so it wasn't really for me.
daniellesalwaysreading's review against another edition
4.0
This was a story of personal freedom in a time and place that personal freedom was less important in that it is here and now. It was a gentle and loving story considering that it took place in England directly before and during WWII and had some awful things happen. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good historical fiction young adult book especially, but to anyone really.
myaaaaaa's review against another edition
Very lovely story but just didn’t grab me enough to want to continue reading
dontreadthelastpage13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
umrah's review against another edition
5.0
This book has been one of my most beloved comfort reads since it got on my bookshelf 4 years ago, and it's an emotional, yet pleasing tale. The book is divided into parts, narrated about the two main characters in the first two parts, Tally and Karil. And, it has another part when Tally and Karil meet, and their lives unexpectedly connected, despite the fact that Tally is a girl attending a boarding school with not very good reputation, but turned out to be unusual for Tally, while Karil just happens to be a prince, an heir to the throne of the beautiful Bergania.
just_me_abbey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
A complex children’s book that explores humanity of the youth, even in extreme circumstances.
wetdryvac's review against another edition
5.0
The combination of wonder and horror in this are seriously wonderful. The perfect book, I suspect, for reading aloud.
bbckprpl's review against another edition
4.0
There's something about the style in which this book is written that is... comfortingly old-fashioned. I don't just mean that the story is historical fantasy (although it is, set during the run up to, outbreak of, and in the midst of WWII), it's that everything from the characters to the tone of the tale are all very charmingly written. The heroine, Tally, is one of those super-kind, everybody loves her and she loves everybody characters that usually gets on my nerves to the point that I can't finish the book, but somehow, Ibbotson manages to get me to root for her, and to understand why everybody loves her, and to see that she has flaws as well, even if the author never gets around to telling us about them. Instead of being a complete Mary Sue, you get the sense that there's just enough stubbornness, just enough foolhardiness to offset all that perfection, and you're glad that people rally to her side. There's also a boarding school I wouldn't have minded attending, a prince who hates being a prince (mostly), dastardly and bumbling Nazi villians, teachers with secret pasts, and plenty of adventure.
Just a note; the book jacket says recommended for 9+, but this book would also make a great read aloud for just about any age group (probably not Kindergarten, unfortunately: too heavy). Some of my favorite memories are of my 5th and 6th grade teachers reading aloud to us after lunch, or during indoor recesses, and this is exactly the kind of book that would work in that type of situation.
Just a note; the book jacket says recommended for 9+, but this book would also make a great read aloud for just about any age group (probably not Kindergarten, unfortunately: too heavy). Some of my favorite memories are of my 5th and 6th grade teachers reading aloud to us after lunch, or during indoor recesses, and this is exactly the kind of book that would work in that type of situation.