Simple, yet powerful writing, this book surprised me. I was sure it was not going to fit my mood, I was right. And still, I could not put it down.

It is 1954. Frank Gold is 13 years old when he is diagnosed with Polio. Frank and his family are WWII Jewish immigrants from war torn Hungary. Elsa, a year younger, and a native Australian, meets Frank at The Golden Age Home where they are both being treated. The story encompasses more than their young love. London brings together a cast of characters, each with their own life stories. Everyone of them will grab hold of your heart and pull. Frank's parents, who are having difficulty acclimating to their new country. Elsa's mother, who has strived to be the perfect mother, now finding herself overwhelmed with her daughters illness. Then there are the nurses and other personnel at The Golden Age, each one touching Frank in a special way.

The end, I had a feeling, early on, that I was not going to like it. Thus 4 stars instead of 5. No reason though for you not to read it. Time well spent, with a superb writer and beautiful story. ( )

Poetic coming of age story

Lovely novel on first love, friendship and nostalgia for lost worlds and families, artfully intermingled stories of loss and love.

This an evocative story set primarily in Australia in the early 1950's. The effects of WWII are still resonating throughout the world and the specter of polio haunts every family during these epidemic years. The main characters are Frank (Ferec) and Elsa, two young adolescents in a residential rehab center in Perth, undergoing treatment as they recover from polio.

There are several parallel stories of exile through the book. These two young teens have been exiled from their families and school in the Golden Age rehab home. Frank's parents are war refugee's from Budapest. Several of the care providers in the Golden Age are also from away.

The author sets the tone through her descriptions of the environment and her well drawn characters. Although the story mainly involves Frank and Elsa, there are several sub-stories that enhance the plot and draw the reader into the narrative.

The writing is quiet and understated, reminiscent of Kent Haruf's style of writing. The author lovingly and charitably draws her characters, causing the reader the care about what happens to them. ( )

Evocative story set in 1950's Perth hospital home for children recovering from polio. Frank and Elsa are young teenagers growing close and later 'expelled' for being found in the same bed. Beautifully written from many character's points of view it is quiet, poetic novel about a real place and time. The final chapter was somewhat unexpected having jumped forward many years - they didn't stay together. ( )

I thought I'd like this more than I did - found it a little slow, and the story seemed to trail off at the end. But it was an interesting depiction of the polio epidemic set in Perth, written mostly from the point of view of a boy and a girl. ( )