Our daughter Kayla recommended a book to me the other day. It was The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny LeCoat.
I love when Kayla recommends a book as it is typically available from Hoopla as we both have Hoopla, which is a free online library. I highly recommend it. In fact, it’s my favorite online library as the book are available immediately and there is no waiting for the book.
I downloaded it and was listening in just a few minutes.
The book is based on a true story…I love that. I think we all forget that bad things really happened and are still happening in the name of war. It’s good to read and see that some can triumph over it. So…it was a good book to read if you’re looking for a survivor story.
The other day Kalissa and the boys were here and we were watching Encanto, the Disney movie. In one part of the movie, the Dad goes back to ward off the soldiers coming to get the family. The Dad dies and the family has to go on. Kalissa said, “That’s so sad”. What’s sadder is that it is happening in real life in Ukraine.
After that, I needed a survivor story and this was a good pick.
Here is what Amazon has to say:
“Summer 1940: Hedy Bercu fled Vienna two years ago. Now she watches the skies over Jersey for German planes, convinced that an invasion is imminent. When it finally comes, there is no counterattack from Allied forces—the Channel Islands are simply not worth defending. Most islanders and occupying forces settle into an uneasy coexistence, but for Hedy, the situation is perilously different. For Hedy is Jewish—a fact that could mean deportation, or worse.
With no means of escape, Hedy hides in plain sight, working as a translator for the Germans while silently working against them. She forges a tentative friendship with a sympathetic German officer who is likewise trapped by circumstance. But as the war intensifies, Hedy knows she is in greater danger each day. Soon, her survival will depend not just on her own courage but on the community she has come to cherish and a man who should be her enemy.”
Amazon readers gave the book 4.4 stars. I would agree. It was a good book and kept my attention. After that last book I read, I was happy to get a good one!!
You can find the book HERE if you are interested.
Hi Jo!
Have you read The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron? It’s a young adult novel based on actual people from WW2. I couldn’t put it down! I’m just getting back to reading and with borrowing books from the library on my Kindle – it’s amazing. Also I get to read books for free through my Amazon Prime membership. It does cut into my quilting time!
I will be putting this book on my list to read!
Thanks!
Yahoo!! Hoopla had the book. I borrowed it so I will be reading it soon!!
That sounds like a good book. I plan to check out Hoopla. Thanks again for sharing.
I hope you like it. I borrowed it from my daughter who teaches middle school (7th grade) language arts. She feels it might be a bit intense for her kids. Knowing that so much was real events made some of it hard to read. Will be looking forward to your take on it.
I believe this book is called ‘Hedy’s War” in Europe, for those who can’t find it under the other title.
I was going to write exactly the same thing. Have just ordered a copy from world of books (second hand books, very good value). So it is « Hedi’s war » for us Europeans
How do you get unattached to your local library or is that the only way? There are books I want to read that the library doesn’t have. Or any libraries in my area. Guess i need to do some research.
I really enjoyed this book when I read it last year. I had never heard about Channel Islands . I am reading Jennifer Chiaverini’s Resistance Women now.
I just finished this book in two days! I loved hearing Hedy’s story !! It was sad when it was over .. I wish they would’ve had an epilogue of what their life was like a year later .. I can imagine tho ..,