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rseykora's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
violet22's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
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
4.75
I loved this book the two narrators gave a different insight into being a prisoner of war in China during Japan's occupation. Miss Kent is an example of a different sort of war hero. It was heartfelt and felt as if this little school was a family sticking together through the thick of it. The way they stood up for each other and took matters into their own hands at time for each other made me cry.
georgia59's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Simple, no frills prose and story telling that occasionally had me thinking I was reading a middle grade novel. The sexual violence content, however, put it squarely outside of that age group. By the end of the book I found, to my surprise, that I cared about the characters in a way I hadn't at the beginning - it had sort of crept up on me - and the final chapters were very moving. The book has also taught me about a particular event in WWII that I knew nothing about (which is part of the reason I love historical fiction so much).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Terminal illness, Excrement, Vomit, and Pregnancy
positivewoman2013's review against another edition
5.0
This story was told from the perspective of a teacher and a student surviving in an internment camp in China. We are not forced to relive all the graphic pain, but we walk next to these people. I was moved. Strength Under Oppression
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
Compelling historical fiction set in China during WWII. The story is told in two voices - that of 10 year old Nancy Plummer and 30-something Miss Kent. Nancy and her brother are students at a boarding school for the children of missionaries and diplomats in China. Miss Kent has left an unhappy life in England to teach in the school for a couple years while she figures her life out. Just as she is getting ready to resign and move back to England, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. Japanese soldiers take the school and it's inhabitants as prisoners and the teachers and students are challenged to survive in ever more dire circumstances over the next 4 years. Most of the story takes place during the war but some of it is told from a reunion of sorts thirty years later. Regular meetings of girl guides, with badges earned etc. becomes a focal point for the group. Olympic runner Eric Liddell joins them at the inernment camp for a time.
decembermagpie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mollysticks's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, what a side of WWII I wasn't super familiar with.
A quote I could do to apply to my life - "You really should try to like yourself a lot more than you do."
A quote I could do to apply to my life - "You really should try to like yourself a lot more than you do."
susanp's review against another edition
4.0
While I’m glad I read this well-written book about a Japanese internment camp in China during WWII, I have to admit I found a lot of it boring. Most of the emotions and events were superficial, monotonous, and repetitious.
ammbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Uplifting when you think of how people survive and go on. Poignant story of a young British girl in China during WWII