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A review by rebeccatan
The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree by Lucille Abendanon
4.0
The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree is a historical fiction novel that takes place in Batavia (Jakarta) in 1942. We follow 11 year old Emmeline, a talented singer who is brave, smart, and stubborn. Her family try to send her to a singing school in England to help her stay safe during the war, however Emmy refuses as she wants to stay with her family and friends. This takes a turn for the worse when Japan invades her country. Emmy ends up getting captured and ends up in a refugee camp for women and children. She must now find her courage and strength to survive, find her voice, and reclaim her freedom.
A beautiful novel based on a true story, this gives a great insight into what was happening in Asia during WWII which I feel is a slightly less known perspective on the war (coming from an Australian, who only really knows the effects on European countries). At some points of this book it seems to read a bit too modern, where the tone seems more current and from a place of activism. It didn't affect me too much but it definitely took me out of the book for a bit. I like how at the end we get to read some extra factual information about the period that the book is set, as well as a section where the author explains which parts of the novel came from the true story and which were fictional.
AGE: 13+
GENRE: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Asia, World War II, WWII
DETAILS: 320 Pages, Historical Fiction
I received this as an eBook through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
A beautiful novel based on a true story, this gives a great insight into what was happening in Asia during WWII which I feel is a slightly less known perspective on the war (coming from an Australian, who only really knows the effects on European countries). At some points of this book it seems to read a bit too modern, where the tone seems more current and from a place of activism. It didn't affect me too much but it definitely took me out of the book for a bit. I like how at the end we get to read some extra factual information about the period that the book is set, as well as a section where the author explains which parts of the novel came from the true story and which were fictional.
AGE: 13+
GENRE: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Asia, World War II, WWII
DETAILS: 320 Pages, Historical Fiction
I received this as an eBook through NetGalley in return for an honest review.