A review by skygray
When the World Was Ours by Liz Kessler

dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

When The World Was Ours is not a bad novel, but it feels surface-level and juvenile, despite its mature subject matter. The author tends to tell, not show, the characters' thoughts and emotions. The characters feel more like plot devices than actual people, making them difficult to connect to. While I did like Leo's storyline (which was directly inspired by the experiences of the author's family), the other two fell very flat for me. I did appreciate the author's attempt to use Max's character to illustrate how "normal" people willingly became part of the Nazi regime. However, the lack of depth in the writing made his character's evolution less compelling than it could have been. Ultimately, it feels as though When The World Was Ours is trying to teach a history lesson and hit all the traditional "plot beats" of fictional Holocaust literature rather than tell a story.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings