Middle Grade Review: Each and Every Spark

 

Penny's family moved to Paris for a year. Instead of being excited, she's miserable and lonely. Her mother has a new job and Penny misses the time they spent together. When her mother and Penny see a hidden painting, Penny spies a letter. She steals the letter, which leads her to research the sender.

Penny discovers the story of two sisters during WWII in France who were scared, hungry, cold, and missing their father. These girls joined the Resistance. Life was never the same.

My Thoughts: I loved this dual POV and dual timeline. The two different timelines kept me turning the pages. I loved the story about the two sisters trying to survive the war. I felt terrible for them and all they experienced. i loved seeing Paris and wandering the streets. I love how the two stories came together in the end.

Cover Thoughts: I love how they captured both characters

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library.

Warning: This book might make you want to wander the streets of Paris too!

Review: Until We Meet

 

Three unlikely friends form stronger bonds during WWII when they are left behind and assume positions in the naval yard. Margaret's brother enlisted and he's living in England with two men as they train. He's engaged to Dottie, Margaret's friend. John asks Margaret to write letters to William, one of the men, as he hasn't received any letters yet. Margaret agrees. She begins a correspondence with William that will last years. 

Gladys is the third friend; she's a whirlwind with big ideas. Together the three friends navigate life on the homefront: rations, work, and missing people they know. Life moves on - sometimes sad, sometimes happy, and usually always hard. They learn to celebrate the happy times and stick together through everything. 

Why I Read This: I found this on a list of epistolary novels

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book - for the friendship and the letters between William and Margaret. This one did make me cry a few times, which is expected in a WWII novel. Gladys was a breath of fresh air - I loved how she pushed her friends out of their comfort zone and to enjoy life. I loved that the ladies worked in the Navy yard - that part of the book fascinated me. I know there are a lot of WWII stories, but this one will stick with me. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute, but there's only 3 women in the story.

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your fiction collection