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

At first I didn’t quiet “get” why the disappearance of the grandfather didn’t produce more trauma than it appeared to…then “DAH”… I read that the book is written for 9-12 year olds… then it began to make a lot more sense and I started to read it as I would have if I was 12 years olds. Believe me folks…that nearly qualifies for ancient history:) Mia was a wonderful character. I’ve never read this author before but was impressed with her making the writing like it had show more been penned by a real kid. Mia’s relationship with her grandma starts off on a rather strained note…but they soon grow closer as they are both worried about grandpa. The theme of time travel was also done very well. Since no one has ever done it except in books like this there are usually some questions the reader will have about the logic…but I could find no real glaring holes or contradictions …but then if I was 12 years old I probably wouldn’t be looking for this. Good book and well worth the time to read. I’m not going to tell you how the missing grandpa mystery turns out. That would ruin the whole adventure for you if you choose to take a trip through time. 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

This is a powerful book about three young children and the ways that the Holocaust totally changed their lives.
It's based on the true story of the author's father's escape from Europe in 1939. The children are nine when the story begins and don't really understand what's going on in Vienna - they feel that they own the world as they know it.

Leo, Max and Elsa are best friends and are sure that their friendship will last forever. But Austria is in the midst of change after the Nazis take over show more the country and their friendship is sorely tested. Leo is Jewish and lives with his parents in a nice part of town. The family is very close to each other and as Leo starts seeing the results in the streets of the Germany hatred of the Jewish people, he becomes fearful, When his father is arrested, he and his mother try to find a way out of the country to safety. Their struggle to get out is unbelievable and difficult. Elsa is also Jewish and her family moves to Prague early in war because they feel that they will be safer there. But when the Germans invade, their lives become hell as they are moved into the ghetto. Leo is completely different - not only is he not Jewish but his father is a high ranking member of the Gestpo. Leo has always tried to get acceptance from his father and follows his example by changing his beliefs and learning to believe as his father does. Even though all three of the friends frequently think about each other, their lives have gone in totally different directions as they realize that the world is no longer theirs and that friendship will not endure forever.

This is a heartbreaking story seeing the innocence and friendship of the children is totally destroyed by the terrible happenings in their country. They went from being young and idealistic to being older than their years by what they experienced. This is a story of love and friendship, hate and war and the effects that it has on children. The three main characters were very well written and memorable. This novel is classified as YA but it would be meaningful to anyone to read the story of loss of innocence during a horrific time in our world history. show less