This is a book about a girl called Sabrina who lives with her family in England. She is 11 years old and has a younger brother called James who is nearly 9. The story is set during the second world war and the children have to leave England because the Germans are bombing their area. Sabrina decides to write a diary so she never forgets her family and home. The first part of the book records the voyage to America by ship which was dangerous because of the threat of an enemy attack. The second is about their stay in America with close friends of the family.
This is the first book that I have read which is set during the second world war and I found it very interesting. I learned about “blackouts”, “air raids”, “rationing” and that some children became “evacuees” and others “refugees”. Also technology was not so good 75 years ago and families who were apart could not simply phone each other or Skype.
My favourite character is Sabrina because she is very mature and kind. During the voyage to America she was not difficult at all and was good company to Pel, their mother-figure and family friend. Sabrina’s observations are vivid enough to make you feel as if you are travelling with her. Her brother James is also a very likeable and real character. Every time he pretends that he doesn’t mind or is not scared about something new, I have to laugh because I know that he is definitely worried.
I felt sorry for Sabrina and James because it must have been scary to leave their family and country and not know when and if they would see them again. At the same time I admired them because even though they were little and very homesick, they coped very well. In the end their being away from home became an exciting adventure which kept me turning the pages till the end.
However, I cannot finish this review without mentioning another favourite character of mine, Pel – the family friend who accompanies the children on their voyage – whose goodness and kind heart make her stand out as a larger than life character. She is a glass-half-full person (as my mum would say) and supports the children 100%. My favourite quotation from her which I shall never forget is: “We must take everything that comes to us, Sabrina. Good or bad. Refuse nothing. It’s the only way to live. You’ll never be given more than you can take. And if you take it proudly it will not break you.”
I really enjoyed reading this book and if I had to mark it from 1 to 10 I would give it a big 9!
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Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
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