Liz Kessler

After the slightly better writing from book 6 I was hoping for more, but shouldn't have held my breath. Book 7 is a return to the same formula that Kessler seems to love: Emily, who is old enough for a boyfriend but not a survival instinct, dives headfirst into another adventure! Sorry Emily, but recklessness is not cute, especially when it endangers your friends. And even more problematic: the author should not make said friends look like the bad guys when they don't approve of risking show more their lives every time they hang out!

Unfortunately, because of the first-person POV, the audience only hears Emily's side of the story and is therefore pressured to be against Shona simply because she's sick of Emily's BS. Girl, I was too! Even if Emily discovered an entire group of people in need of saving (a poor segue into a plotline, I might add), it doesn't change the fact that she's got some serious personality issues that make her a terrible friend. Friends are supposed to watch out for each other and not almost get each other killed, right? Or is the definition of friendship different in Windsnap-verse? I wonder if I'd have gotten the wrong message from this rather manipulative storyline if I had read this book as a kid.

Finally, the cheapest ending of all - Shona did a 180 and passionately apologized for not accepting Emily for who she was. (But did anyone emphasize the reverse?) So I guess common sense was the real enemy here and was roundly defeated by Emily's "bravery." PSA: Saving the world isn't for everyone and that should be okay - if everyone's running off on dangerous missions who's left to ensure life hasn't fallen apart by the time they come back? Shona has every right to be the voice of reason, and every right not to be dragged into danger if she doesn't want it. But I guess, in Kessler's fictional world, everyone has to bow down to the spoiled, stupid MC or else. show less

"Code Name Kingfisher" is another powerful and beautifully written WWII novel from Liz Kessler. I read "When the World Was Ours" a few years ago and absolutely loved it. This one had the same emotional depth and left me in tears by the end - tears for Bubbe, for Liv, for Mila, for Willem, and especially for Hannie.

Like many historical novels, Code Name Kingfisher unfolds across two timelines. The past follows two Jewish sisters, Mila and Hannie, who are sent to live with family friends after show more the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands. Mila struggles to adapt, while Hannie’s defiance leads her to join the Resistance, risking everything to help Jewish children escape the horrors around them.

The present-day narrative centres on Liv, a teenage girl assigned a school project to research her family tree and present an inspiring family story. With only one living grandparent, Bubbe, who is battling early dementia and refuses to speak about her past, Liv feels stuck. However, when she stumbles across some old documents, her curiosity is piqued, and she embarks on a journey to uncover a hidden chapter of her grandmother’s life.

Without giving away spoilers, I’ll just say this book broke my heart in the best way. It's a deeply emotional, unforgettable story of courage, resistance, and the legacy of memory. I loved it. show less

CW: War crimes on page

Well that was quite moving actually.

Through the eyes of three children we see the devastation that was brought about by the Nazi regime. Initially the story is told with all the joy and innocence of childhood, but slowly the voices change to ones of suspicion, confusion, and fear. A brilliant example of how the cruel ideals of a few, can change the way we feel about the people we once called our friends. A great addition to my booktalk shelves.

I am gutted! I have just finished "When The World Was Ours" and now I am emotionally drained and mentally exhausted. I have read a number of YA novels set during the holocaust and this is definitely the best by far. It is one of those rare finds that will stay with me for a long, long time. I started this book with a sense of foreboding which continued to grow the more I read and I guessed how it would end. I kept hoping I would be wrong . . . I wasn't!

"When The World Was Ours" is a must show more read for everyone to ensure history is never repeated. A powerful read. show less