Now for me, reviewing this book is particularly challenging. I firmly believe going into this story knowing nothing about it is the best way to experience this particular narrative. I stumbled across this book as one of five NPR recommendations from some book list. I saved the list to a file I have for books to eventually read, and at some point requested it from my library. As a result, I actually went into this book knowing almost nothing about it. Once the story hit its stride, I was hooked. This is the first book I've ever read that I started re-reading immediately upon finishing it. (BTW, such was the allure of this book that I was in Kauai when I finished it. Not even HAWAII broke the stranglehold this tale had over me.) I know this is going to be one of those rare books that will draw me back to it for another read year after year. So, that all being said, I'll give you the bare bones about it, and then say no more. Hopefully my secretive exaltation of the book is enough. The story is about the friendship between two girls, Maddie and Queenie, and how their lives intersect and intertwine as they each do their part during WWII. That's it. That's all I'm going to tell you. To reveal anything more is like giving you the best chocolate bar in the world with a nasty bite taken out of it by a hobo with mouth sores. Of course, you could search the internet and get a more comprehensive review but in doing so, you'd rob yourself of that full, rich, hobo-less candy bar. It might even turn you off to find out such things as this is marketed as a "Young Adult" book. But don't be fooled. That's far too simplistic a label for such a rich tapestry that Elizabeth Wein weaves. So take a leap of faith, dear readers, clear your weekend calendar, and cozy down for a marathon reading session! And let me know what you think. ;)
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