krunkjess's review against another edition
A number of reviews say the book picks up in the 3rd section but after reading the first section, I’m not even remotely invested in these characters and I can’t force myself to power through and read on in hopes that it gets better.
caitlinnf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
booksbythecup's review against another edition
Thank you to the publisher, Harper Books, for the free review copy.
Tante Truus, a Dutch woman who, with the help of many others, organized Kindertransports helping over 10,000 children out of Europe before the ourtbreak of WWII. This historically fiction account by Clayton seemed daunting at first but it reads quickly. I became invested in Truus story, her determination to help children whose childhoods were stolen from because WWII is hovering in the very near future.
Stephan, a young man who's lived a comfortable life with his father a chocolatier, his younger brother Walter, and his sick mother. Stephan aspires to be a writer and his friend Otto,indulges his young friends imagination. When Stephan meets Otto's granddaughter, the lovely Žofie-Helene, a mathematical prodigy, the two enjoy an easy friendship, while they quietly fall in love with each other.
What I enjoyed about this book is the narrative of these characters leading up to the outbreak of war. The change in attitudes toward Jewish people is never easy to read about, but the shift in the characters realization of what's about to happen, their lives are changing was engrossing.
This book reminds me of what Lilac Girls, Truus, risking her life and safety to help children escape the devastation of what's about to arrive. People being arrested and plunder just because a regime says they are inferior.
I picked up the audiobook and John Lee's narration was brilliant.
Tante Truus, a Dutch woman who, with the help of many others, organized Kindertransports helping over 10,000 children out of Europe before the ourtbreak of WWII. This historically fiction account by Clayton seemed daunting at first but it reads quickly. I became invested in Truus story, her determination to help children whose childhoods were stolen from because WWII is hovering in the very near future.
Stephan, a young man who's lived a comfortable life with his father a chocolatier, his younger brother Walter, and his sick mother. Stephan aspires to be a writer and his friend Otto,indulges his young friends imagination. When Stephan meets Otto's granddaughter, the lovely Žofie-Helene, a mathematical prodigy, the two enjoy an easy friendship, while they quietly fall in love with each other.
What I enjoyed about this book is the narrative of these characters leading up to the outbreak of war. The change in attitudes toward Jewish people is never easy to read about, but the shift in the characters realization of what's about to happen, their lives are changing was engrossing.
This book reminds me of what Lilac Girls, Truus, risking her life and safety to help children escape the devastation of what's about to arrive. People being arrested and plunder just because a regime says they are inferior.
I picked up the audiobook and John Lee's narration was brilliant.
michellereese47's review against another edition
4.0
This book was an unexpected delight. It was my local book club’s monthly selection, and I procrastinated starting it because I was expecting a heavy read.
The story centers on a young couple in Austria in the late 1930s and a Dutch woman trying to rescue Jewish children from the third Reich. Which, to me, sounded like a dark, emotional read that I just wasn’t prepared for. However, the story was startlingly light and quick.
Clayton did a wonderful job of keeping the tale light and fast-paced while still communicating the gravity of the devastation. I teared up multiple times while reading and often my chest felt tight with the pain of the characters, however it was never overwhelming. There was always hope, always something else happening to pull you along into the story.
The ending wasn’t quite as strong as I was hoping after such a fantastic build up, so there was a slight let down, but that was my only complaint.
It was a wonderful blend of historical fact and romanticized fiction that glided through one of the roughest periods of history without dragging down into depression. Clayton recounted this true story with details that made it feel personal and shed light to a side of the story we aren’t often told.
The story centers on a young couple in Austria in the late 1930s and a Dutch woman trying to rescue Jewish children from the third Reich. Which, to me, sounded like a dark, emotional read that I just wasn’t prepared for. However, the story was startlingly light and quick.
Clayton did a wonderful job of keeping the tale light and fast-paced while still communicating the gravity of the devastation. I teared up multiple times while reading and often my chest felt tight with the pain of the characters, however it was never overwhelming. There was always hope, always something else happening to pull you along into the story.
The ending wasn’t quite as strong as I was hoping after such a fantastic build up, so there was a slight let down, but that was my only complaint.
It was a wonderful blend of historical fact and romanticized fiction that glided through one of the roughest periods of history without dragging down into depression. Clayton recounted this true story with details that made it feel personal and shed light to a side of the story we aren’t often told.
caseyrose88's review against another edition
3.0
I usually enjoy WWII-era historical fiction, but this did not hit all the right notes for me. I found the multiple storylines/POVS to be disjointed at times and hard to follow. This was okay, but I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.
clittleford3's review against another edition
4.0
It started a little slow but by halfway through I was hooked. Tante Truus was a joy to read. Her character was so strong and empowering. I was humbled to learn that she existed just as spectacularly in real life. She is a story worth telling.
mmmbakes's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 155 pages.
I'm convinced that books about Nazis are given high ratings because people feel bad giving a low score to a book that explores the tragedies of the Holocaust. A book can have a good story without being a good book, however.
(not that I actually know the story of this book, since I gave up 1/4 through.)
Didn't love the short chapters. Didn't love that Zofie-Helene said stuff like, "One is always greater than zero, even if zero is more mathematically interesting". Is this how 15 year olds spoke back in the day? Why do math characters always have to talk like losers?
But probably my biggest complain, similar to the above quotation, is the sentences that ended "chapters", that seemed like they were supposed to be profound but really were not. And half the time I couldn't understand what they were trying to get at, which I don't think is because I was being dumb, but rather because it was all just so confusing! Like at the part where.
Anyway I'm sure Truus has a great story but this book does not seem to do it justice.
Not for me.
I'm convinced that books about Nazis are given high ratings because people feel bad giving a low score to a book that explores the tragedies of the Holocaust. A book can have a good story without being a good book, however.
(not that I actually know the story of this book, since I gave up 1/4 through.)
Didn't love the short chapters. Didn't love that Zofie-Helene said stuff like, "One is always greater than zero, even if zero is more mathematically interesting". Is this how 15 year olds spoke back in the day? Why do math characters always have to talk like losers?
But probably my biggest complain, similar to the above quotation, is the sentences that ended "chapters", that seemed like they were supposed to be profound but really were not. And half the time I couldn't understand what they were trying to get at, which I don't think is because I was being dumb, but rather because it was all just so confusing! Like at the part where
Spoiler
Adele's crib is moved, and then Truus feels relief that it's not Adele and goes o no a toddler died, was is Madeline? But then two pages later Adele died too but i DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN IT HAPPENEDAnyway I'm sure Truus has a great story but this book does not seem to do it justice.
Not for me.
heik's review against another edition
4.0
Spannend verhaal waarin Truus kinderen probeert te redden van de nazi's.
sjbugajski's review against another edition
3.0
this book was kind of boring, so I didn't finish it.
melanna's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I read this genre a lot and felt like there wasn’t much new in this story. It took a lot to build up to the actual train ride. Some of the characters weren’t anyone I was super attached to. I expected based on the premise to be bawling. And it didn’t even make me teary. So overall it fell flat for me.