Description
When World War Two ended and the German occupation of Jersey finished, years of hardship and struggle for the islanders ended. All the same, not all was well. Tensions had built up between islanders, especially among those who had been suspected of collaborating with the Nazi occupiers.
Lecoat was born on Jersey and has deep family ties there, grounding her novel in memories passed down through generations. The story of Jean Parris may be fictional, but it draws on many true stories of betrayal and disillusionment born out of the aftermath of the occupation.
I found the novel’s story, that of a girl trying to investigate her father’s arrest and finding family secrets which shake the foundations of her life, to be deeply compelling. Jean herself goes through an excellent arc, and Hazel Le Tourneur gains remarkable depth throughout. The secondary characters, unfortunately, fell flat, leaving parts of the novel feeling hollow and uninspired. It was a strange contrast, which left me wondering whether I actually enjoyed the book.
I give the book four stars, because I did enjoy it for the most part, and I know it will appeal to YA readers looking to get into historical fiction.
