Reviews

I remember reading and loving this book as a kid. Some passages are still crystal clear and exactly as I remembered them. It's a young adult book but a great read for grownups too. Takes you into the world of kids and shows you how they see adults. Also a great insight into the bomb-ravaged Britain of 1940 where everyone expected the Nazis to land on the beaches and invade any minute.
This book is fantastic

kris_mccracken's review against another edition

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4.0

I read this one first when I was 12 or so, and recalled it fondly, so when I was looking for another book to read with Ezra, I grabbed this from the library.

We enjoyed it very much. As remembered, it tells the tale of life for a group of kids during the Blitz, and doesn't shy from the darker aspects. In fact, I was a little shocked at the frankness of it, and reckon that it stands up nicely as a novel for adults.

nxggetx's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

charlote_1347's review

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3.0

I wasn't too fond of the opening pages but the pace soon picked up. The intimate details that Westall included also made the story more authentic and tangible to me. It was fascinating to learn that school times were altered depending on the length of raids, or that things could be bought on the Black Market. The relationships between each of the children and between the adults in the novel were well-presented and posed some interesting ethical and moral dilemmas. When Chas's dad, for example, does not help his wife search for his son but rather remains in office to call in damage reports, it leaves the reader to draw their own conclusion about his motivations and his behaviour. Rudi was a likeable character and I liked that by introducing him into the story, Westall really contrasted the attitudes towards Germans at the time and the actual behaviour of his 'captors' when he landed in their hands, vulnerable and defenceless. A good read. Part of me can't believe it's a children's book.

kalleigh's review against another edition

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2.0

My book club chose this and it was personally not for me. I found the language and slang hard to understand, the changing POV between characters and storylines was at times confusing, and I didn’t really know where the story was headed. Additionally, there were many unnecessary characters and too many nicknames to try and follow. This was also difficult to read with the way the world is right now, but that’s no fault of the author.

willisalive's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Amazing book, loved it forever

Content Warnings

rancid87's review against another edition

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4.0

I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve - Stand By Me

It’s the nostalgia for me

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