When We Were Young and Brave

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hazel Gaynor
Historical Fiction
448 pages
Published October 6, 2020 by William Morrow 

China, December 1941. Having left an unhappy life in England for a teaching post at a missionary school in northern China, Elspeth Kent is now anxious to return home to help the war effort. But as she prepares to leave China, a terrible twist of fate determines a different path for Elspeth, and those in her charge.

Ten-year-old Nancy Plummer has always felt safe at Chefoo School, protected by her British status. But when Japan declares war on Britain and America, Japanese forces take control of the school and the security and comforts Nancy and her friends are used to are replaced by privation, uncertainty and fear. Now the enemy, and separated from their parents, the children look to their teachers – to Miss Kent and her new Girl Guide patrol especially – to provide a sense of unity and safety.

Faced with the relentless challenges of oppression, the school community must rely on their courage, faith and friendships as they pray for liberation – but worse is to come when they are sent to a distant internment camp where even greater uncertainty and danger await . . .

Inspired by true events, When We Were Young and Brave is an unforgettable novel about impossible choices and unimaginable hardship, and the life-changing bonds formed between a young girl and her teacher in a remote corner of a terrible war. 

My thoughts:

I was hesitant about reading this book for several reasons but mainly because it was yet another WWII book.  In the end I chose to give it a try because I enjoy Hazel Gaynor.  I am so glad I did!  One might not initially think that there is anything that a reader in today's world could relate to between the pages of this book.  The book focuses on survival and resilience. Gaynor writes about how the characters were determined to maintain the same level of normalcy that they were used to despite the impact the war had on them.  Isn't that what everyone has been doing in 2020?  Haven't we been struggling to "keep it together" regardless of everything that has been thrown at us?  While one cannot compare COVID to interment camps, I believe that we can see how focusing on everyday tasks is a coping mechanism in many situations.  Ms. Kent and the other faculty members of the Chefoo School did what they were trained to do and the children responded positively to that structure and guidance. The continuation of the Girl Guides amidst all of the chaos gave the students things to strive for and be proud of.  This book reads quickly and does a great job at highlighting the Japanese internment camps in China.

I received an advanced copy of this title via NetGalley.