Karen K. (kkowert) - , reviewed on 1/22/2012 + 44 more book reviews

Giovanna, a young, naïve and sheltered wealthy Catholic girl is coming of age in 1943 in northern Italy. She lives very comfortably in a villa with her parents but instead of enjoying parties and meeting young men now that she is 17, German officers commandeer her villa and push her family into the servants quarters. Having Nazi officers occupying her family home and the convent where she assists the nuns in their teaching makes the war personal and changes Giovannas life.

The heroine starts the book as a young, foolish girl who makes many mistakes and does not understand the significance of the events unfolding around her. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this young woman mature as she tries to figure out who she is.

She struggles with many conflicting emotions both as a young girl growing up and as a human being caught in an ugly war. Will she endanger her own life to do the right thing and help a complete stranger? How can one young girl help the Resistance movement her brother joined? Can she break free of her parents prejudices about religion and people and live life by her own convictions? This was a quick, thoroughly enjoyable read about a young girl growing up with World War II literally at her doorstep.

I received this book from the Amazon Vine program.

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