Genevieve's war

Gr 4-6-It's 1939. Genevieve and her brother are spending the summer on their grandmother's farm in Alsace, France, near the German border on the eve of World War II. It's Genevieve's first time meeting her grandmother, whom she finds difficult. It's a precarious time to be in France, with the prospect of war looming. To further complicate things, Genevieve has a ticket on what is said to be the last boat leaving for the United States. Despite her reservations about her grandmother, she impulsively decides to stay with her, without realizing what her life will become. Shortly afterward, German soldiers occupy the area. Everyone must go by German names and speak German, and Genevieve and her family are forced to house a Nazi soldier. The upcoming years are a transformative time for both Genevieve and her grandmother as they struggle to survive and help others throughout the war. This companion to Lily's Crossing is best suited for strong readers. Orienting to the politically charged setting and understanding the convoluted set of circumstances that have placed Genevieve in the middle of a war make the first section of the novel a little overwhelming. By the second half, the book becomes more plot-focused and easier to follow. The Nazi occupation and looming uncertainty about who can be trusted result in a suspenseful read. The narrative spans the whole length of the war, and Giff skillfully takes Genevieve from an impulsive 13-year-old to a thoughtful and compassionate young woman; there is crossover appeal to a YA audience. A basic familiarity with the Second World War and with the Alsace region, or some research while reading, will deepen children's comprehension of the work. -VERDICT A well-crafted look at how World War II impacted civilians, with great potential for classroom use.-Juliet Morefield, Multnomah County Library, OR © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Thirteen-year-old Genevieve is anxious to end her visit with her stern grandmother, Mm, in Alsace, but when she notices that Mm is trying to disguise an injury, she impulsively gives up her planned return to America. A few months later, France falls to the Nazis, and grandmother and granddaughter scramble to hide their food and valuables when the German soldiers begin to arrive. They also help hide Genevieves new friend Rmy, who has accidentally burned himself in an act of sabotage against the Nazis. Much of the interest here comes from the storys setting, in an area where the residents are a mix of people with German and French names and loyalties. Genevieve is initially naive, blurting things out recklessly, but learns gradually that the motives of the various townspeople may not be what they seem at first and that the consequences can be terrible. Like Giffs Newbery Honorwinning Lilys Crossing (rev. 3/97), this story makes the human dynamics of World War II engaging and understandable to middle-grade readers. The book begins dramatically, with Genevieve and Mm in the cellar while bombs are falling, and never reaches that level of excitement again; but todays readers may find the presentation of the Resistance especially compelling. susan dove lempke (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

An American teenage girl gets to play a role in the Resistance movement after she impulsively stays in Alsace, France, just before World War II begins.After spending the summer on her grandmother's farm, 13-year-old white Genevieve can't bear to go back to New York so soon. Although she considers Mm disagreeable, she finds French farm life invigorating and loves her new friends, Katrin and Rmy. But when Nazi soldiers reclaim Alsace and one of them insists on living in their very house, life becomes a test of endurance and wits. Genevieve eventually learns to appreciate Mm, gets to hear stories of her own deceased father, and comes to understand the importance of the long-standing relationships that develop in small European towns. Genevieve transforms from scattered and impetuous "Flyaway Girl," as her aunt calls her, to confident, determined, and compassionate young woman. Related in the first person by Genevieve, this is a competent, endearing novel about the consequences of choices and how quickly and deeply ordinary life is upended by war. Further, Genevieve's frequent quandaries about trust and betrayal in a changing landscape are timeless in their relevance. An engrossing story that examines the nature of character and maturity while putting a young girl at the center of action and suspense. (Historical fiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.