swissmunicipal's review against another edition
5.0
It has probably been ten years since I first read this. This is solid YA and a rare stand alone novel for L'Engle. It is a sweet story that feels fairly real, with a few unusual circumstances.
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
first read: in high school
second read: in college
third read: december 2016
only part of the story takes place at christmas but i always think of it as a christmas story. so good to read again.
second read: in college
third read: december 2016
only part of the story takes place at christmas but i always think of it as a christmas story. so good to read again.
gcullman's review against another edition
4.0
What a great story! I love how Flip grows over the course of the book -- she is likeable to the reader from the beginning but you can see how she would not be from the outside. Great evocation of how everything can be so dramatic when you are a teenager. I love Madeleine L'Engle books and I've read this one over and over again.
kellyjcm's review against another edition
4.0
Set in Switzerland, the story of Flip's coming-of-age is heartwarming. Although written a number of years ago, this story could easily take place in a contemporary setting, making it accessible to today's teens. The trials of adolescence, life in boarding school, and grief for a deceased parent merge well under the hand of the incomparable Madeleine L'Engle. True comfort food.
liralen's review against another edition
5.0
I adored this book when I was younger and am pleased to find that it stands up to a reread—stands up to a listen, even, and I've never been one much for audiobooks. Some of it's a little dated, as you might expect (I don't think contemporary YA heroines are so ready to be scolded by their teachers for feeling left out), but I love it for tackling complicated subjects and not having unnecessary drama thrown in by 'mean girls' and for overall feeling like with a few tweaks it could be contemporary and any of these characters could more or less come to life.
blbstorey's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book when I was quite young, and I remember loving it. I'm in search of a copy of it, so I can read it again. Sweet and gentle, yet very real book about young people in love and the difficulties inherent in that situation.