CW: Horrific deaths during mass executions ( )

DNF
May pick it up again someday
I know you have to be in the mood to read historical fiction books but still, I just couldn't get into it.
The main character was irritating, the writing felt so childish and basic, she's incredibly naive for a 15-year-old.

I just picked up a copy of this - my first time in a bookshop since lockdown began in March! IT WAS A MOMENT. I haven't gone that long without going to a bookshop or library in ... EVER.

Can't wait to get into this one!

What a heart-breaking book this was. Fifteen-year-old Hanna is the narrator of this story and describes the struggles she, her mother and grandmother go through as Jews during WWII when the Nazis invade their town. Powerfully written, this book demonstrates the courage, resilience and determination of ordinary people who are fighting for their very existence. Every time I read a book like this, I am horrified at the brutality of some humans and am moved by the kindness shown by strangers. Fans of "The Diary of Anne Frank" will appreciate this book. Although not an easy read, "The Earth is Singing" will stay with me for a long time. ( )

The Jewish holocaust in Latvia, 29 June 2015

This review is from: The Earth is Singing (Paperback)
Although targeted at the YA audience, I found this to be quite a compelling read.
Inspired by the author's research into her ancestors - Latvian Jews - and their horrifying fate during WW2, this is a story narrated by middle class teenager Hanna. When the book opens, her father has been taken away by the Russians and she is living in a flat with her seamstress mother and spirited grandma, having been forced out of their villa on the good side of Riga.
And yet life isn't too bad, as she continues to attend ballet school, and looks forward to dates with her Latvian boyfriend, Uldis, who is hoping to join the police force. But things are all set to change....
This non YA reader found the author's short sentences slightly detracted from the flow, but I couldn't put it down as it neared its exciting end. ( )