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cornmaven's review
2.0
I read a LOT of WWII historical fiction, but this one just did not work for me. Based on a real Jewish girl who was one of many Jewish kids hidden in rural French families and throughout the countryside, its format of novel-in-verse, for me, diminished the power of the story. And I normally like novel-in-verse, so I was surprised to find myself saying, meh, at the end. Which embarrassed me, because I know what horrors kids endured at the hands of the Nazis, and I didn't like that I felt that way.
The first third occurs in Paris, where Odette lives with her family. There, the tension is great, as the Nazis move in and restrict the movements and freedoms of Jews. It's when Odette is sent to the countryside where I felt the story fell. Odette's taking on the identity of a French Catholic girl, especially as she grew up in a totally non-religious family, held my attention. But the day to day activities just stopped the tension short. Even the brief encounters with Nazi soldiers just didn't seem as fearful as the earlier scenes in the city. The worry that Odette will be exposed was there, but, again, not on the level of the Paris scenes.
The last third, returning to Paris, was poignant, especially when Odette finds out her extended family has been killed. But her loss of Madame Marie in her daily life was drawn so quickly, I didn't feel the novel did it justice.
What I kept thinking was that this really should have been told as a straight narrative, where certain elements could have been embellished more than would work in the chosen format.
And, while this is not any reflection on the author or the story, I also wondered why this was chosen as a Bluebonnet Award nominee (a Texas list); that award's target audience doesn't fit this book, imho. The Holocaust is not really part of their studies at that point in their lives.
The first third occurs in Paris, where Odette lives with her family. There, the tension is great, as the Nazis move in and restrict the movements and freedoms of Jews. It's when Odette is sent to the countryside where I felt the story fell. Odette's taking on the identity of a French Catholic girl, especially as she grew up in a totally non-religious family, held my attention. But the day to day activities just stopped the tension short. Even the brief encounters with Nazi soldiers just didn't seem as fearful as the earlier scenes in the city. The worry that Odette will be exposed was there, but, again, not on the level of the Paris scenes.
The last third, returning to Paris, was poignant, especially when Odette finds out her extended family has been killed. But her loss of Madame Marie in her daily life was drawn so quickly, I didn't feel the novel did it justice.
What I kept thinking was that this really should have been told as a straight narrative, where certain elements could have been embellished more than would work in the chosen format.
And, while this is not any reflection on the author or the story, I also wondered why this was chosen as a Bluebonnet Award nominee (a Texas list); that award's target audience doesn't fit this book, imho. The Holocaust is not really part of their studies at that point in their lives.
erincataldi's review
3.0
A beautiful book, written in poetry-like prose; this tale of a young Jewish girl living in France during the Nazi occupation will be sure to thrill readers. Loosely based off a true story, this fictionalized young adult novel is essential for those interested in historical fiction, World War II, and the Holocaust. Told through the eyes of a child, it is heartrendingly innocent and tells of fear and hope and what it means to be a Jew. Once Paris is overrun with Nazis and Jews start getting deported, Odette's mother sends her to a small village in rural France to pretend she is a Christian cousin of some friends. Although Odette was scared at first she finds she likes the peasant life and even better, she actually likes Church. Things change though when her mother rejoins her and some people suspect them of being Jewish. A great introduction to the Holocaust for young readers.
aoosterwyk's review
3.0
I enjoyed learning a bit more about this aspect of Jewish/French life during WWII, but the story felt as if it was skating along the surface. The simplistic free verse writing style also encouraged this interpretation as well as the first person narrative, told from the perspective of a small child who obviously couldn't understand all of what was happening around her.
The author does does convey a sense of dread, but manages to keep anything truly evil from the reader. The only explicit horror happens to a handful of kittens, not people and we are left to infer, for the most part, what happened to those taken to the camps.
This book would be a good choice for reluctant readers or those younger readers who are in upper elementary and are interested in the holocaust and WWII.
The author does does convey a sense of dread, but manages to keep anything truly evil from the reader. The only explicit horror happens to a handful of kittens, not people and we are left to infer, for the most part, what happened to those taken to the camps.
This book would be a good choice for reluctant readers or those younger readers who are in upper elementary and are interested in the holocaust and WWII.
pacifickle's review
4.0
Free verse novel based on the true story of Odette Meyers, a Jewish French girl who escaped the Holocaust by hiding in plain sight. An introduction to the horrors of WWII that's developmentally appropriate for 3rd-5th graders.
Great companion book to "Someone Named Eva," about a German girl who is brainwashed into Nazism. The two have striking similarities for being on "opposing" sides.
Great companion book to "Someone Named Eva," about a German girl who is brainwashed into Nazism. The two have striking similarities for being on "opposing" sides.
brandypainter's review
3.0
Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
Odette's Secrets by Maryann Macdonald is a historical fiction novel based on facts from the life of a real girl who fled Paris and lived as a hidden child during the Nazi occupation because she was Jewish.
Stories of the many Jewish children who hid within other families and pretended to be some one they aren't are fascinating to me. Odette's story is no different. The first person narration helps the reader really see through Odette's eyes and fell the things she is experiencing. The story spans five years, from the Nazi invasion until the end of the war, which makes the story complete and gives it full resolution. I thought the author did a great job conveying Odette's confusion and struggles over what is truth and what is fiction. The atmosphere of the book conveys the danger and horror of the period without being too harsh or frightening for younger readers. That is a fine line to balance.
The book is written in free verse and that is not a style I enjoy and this did impact how much I liked the book. If a book is in free verse I need to see it as a necessity, like there was simply no other way to tell the story and that just wasn't the case here. In some places I felt it lent a stilted awkwardness the prose that was jolting more than anything else. Being in free verse makes it a quick and easy read which is always a good thing to have on hand for kids who don't like or can't read longer books.
Kids who love historical fiction and want to read more about World War II will enjoy this book.
I read a copy of this book made available on NetGalley. Odette's Secrets is on sale February 26.
Odette's Secrets by Maryann Macdonald is a historical fiction novel based on facts from the life of a real girl who fled Paris and lived as a hidden child during the Nazi occupation because she was Jewish.
Stories of the many Jewish children who hid within other families and pretended to be some one they aren't are fascinating to me. Odette's story is no different. The first person narration helps the reader really see through Odette's eyes and fell the things she is experiencing. The story spans five years, from the Nazi invasion until the end of the war, which makes the story complete and gives it full resolution. I thought the author did a great job conveying Odette's confusion and struggles over what is truth and what is fiction. The atmosphere of the book conveys the danger and horror of the period without being too harsh or frightening for younger readers. That is a fine line to balance.
The book is written in free verse and that is not a style I enjoy and this did impact how much I liked the book. If a book is in free verse I need to see it as a necessity, like there was simply no other way to tell the story and that just wasn't the case here. In some places I felt it lent a stilted awkwardness the prose that was jolting more than anything else. Being in free verse makes it a quick and easy read which is always a good thing to have on hand for kids who don't like or can't read longer books.
Kids who love historical fiction and want to read more about World War II will enjoy this book.
I read a copy of this book made available on NetGalley. Odette's Secrets is on sale February 26.
listen_learn's review
This was well-written, and I love reading novels in verse, but it made me so sad. Odette has no idea what it means to be a Jew and never gets the chance to learn. She escapes one kind of death to live a different one, and it hurts so much, because I know how true this is for so many Jews.
esherwood's review
4.0
I liked the free verse style of this book. I'm continually amazed by the true stories of holocaust survival that are written.
hldillon's review
4.0
Most often then not, when reading about World War II, the most often thought about book is Diary of Anne Frank. Odette's Secrets is a nice surprise. It about a little girl named Odette who is Jewish and living in Paris, France. Her father joins the French army and her mother joins the resistance. After a while, life becomes too difficult to live in Paris (especially when Nazis come and go through their apartment). Odette and her mom move to the country and hide away becoming Christians until the war is over.
Great book, written in free verse. Told from Odette's perspective.
Great book, written in free verse. Told from Odette's perspective.
suzannedix's review
4.0
Excellent middle school novel written in verse about one French Jewish girl and her survival from the Nazis. Not overly terrifying so an excellent introduction to WWII in occupied France.
Grades 5 and up.
Grades 5 and up.
jbojkov's review
3.0
I enjoyed reading this story about a young girl's survival of WWII in occupied France. Written in free verse, this book is based on an actual person and her experiences. I'm not sure how attractive this book will be for most elementary kids, but I'll do my best to sell it.