One of my favorite books. What amazing characters and what a testimony to resiliency.

If an author has one book in her, let it be this book. From page 1, Lee draws the reader into this story with engaging characters and a compelling narrative. This book is a powerful and relevant in 2009 as it was in 1960 when it was first published.

Poignant story interweaves the impact of the 1918 influenza epidemic, World War 1, the situation of Irish immigrants in Boston, and a unique experience of the patent medicine/soft drink industry. Goldberg integrates news reports, personal letters, the mythical history of QD soda and sidebar comments from outside the story. A creative, ambitious effort that works well enough, but what keeps me reading is the terrific prose and Lyddie's story.

Alternating chapters reveal an amazing story of deprivation and survival in the depths of the art museum in St. Petersburg during the German seige of World War 2, and the "now" life of two survivors who immigrated to the United States and raised their family in Washington state. A tender romance suffuses the story.