Herb Williams-Dalgart

I won an autographed copy in a Goodreads first Reads giveaway.

This is a coming of age story set in France in 1939 as the country is mobilizing for possible invasion from Germany. Sophie, a young Jewish girl, lives with her widowed father in the Loire Valley. When her father is called to serve in the army, he doesn’t want to leave her alone so he arranges for her to go to her grandmother in the Aisne region in the north.

Sophie and her companion have several adventures on the road, which contribute to the maturity of the naïve girl. It is hard to realize that at this time they had to travel by horse drawn cart, but in 1939 the automobile had not totally taken over in rural France. After some mishaps in Paris, Sophie completes her journey by train.

Unfortunately, it was northern France was not a good place to be in 1939 and the Sophie discovers her unknown strength (and cunning) when the Germans arrive and capture the village.

I was a little skeptical about Sophie’s brave actions. Could she and this group of individuals really have outsmarted the German invaders? Then I watched the morning news and heard how an ordinary man managed to bare-handedly tear the door off a burning car to rescue its occupant. Yes, ordinary people can do extra-ordinary feats under incomprehensible stress.

One of the things I really liked about this book was the ending. The author avoids any prediction about what lies ahead for Sophie, her family, and friends once they are back in the Loire Valley. The book ends before Germany had completely conquered France. We don’t know if this group will survive the war but we know that whatever comes they will face it with hope and courage.

There is a love story, there is violence; but it is told in a way that makes it suitable for young and old.… (lisätietoja)