Teenaged Bruna's life is turned upside down when her small Italian village becomes the centre of fighting in the last months of the Second World War.
Bruna is the youngest of seven children, living an idyllic life in a small village in Italy in the 1940s. As the Second World War unfolds Bruna's life remains largely the same. By 1943, her biggest disappointment is that food rationing means there is no cake to celebrate her fourteenth birthday. The Italian leader Mussolini's allegiance to Hitler and the distant reports of fighting seem far away from their lives.
But when the Italian people turn against their fascist regime, war comes to their region. Bruna struggles to cope as Nazi soldiers descend to occupy their village, and she must help her mother and sisters stand up to the occupying soldiers. Her peaceful life is turned upside down by the fact that her beloved little village is now the centre of the final stage of fighting between the Allies and the Germans, the only front left defended by the Nazis in Italy.
Including photographs and maps, War In My Town is a true story based on the experiences of author E. Graziani's mother and her family.
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About the Author:
E. Graziani writes books for adults and teens. She is the author of Breaking Faith (Second Story Press), a contemporary fiction novel, most recently selected for the 'In the Margins' Book Award 2018 Recommended Fiction List, and one of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, War in My Town (Second Story Press)--one of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens and finalist in the Hamilton Arts Council 2016 Literary Awards for Best Non-Fiction. E. Graziani is also the author of 'Magenta' YA Urban/Sci-fi, women's fiction '6 Days in April' & new edition releases of 'Alice-The First 500' series Parts I&II coming in 2020! She resides in Canada with her husband and four daughters.
Author's Website.
Review:
This is a middle school boarding on YA novel but I really feel that any age 10+ could read it and really enjoy it. I am not huge on historical novels but I have always enjoyed family stories. One thing I love about working with the elderly is when they tell stories when they were young. There is so much to learn from these stories that you won't learn else where. This novel is about a young girl (author's mother) who lived in a small Italian village during World War II. I also find it easier to learn about wars when it is coming from an individual that has lived it. Bruna's story is heart wrenching, scary and full of love and passion of a close knit family and village. The author has retold this story with great detail and I found myself hanging on every word to see how things would unfold with Hitler taking over this small village. I enjoyed how easy the story flowed and kept me engaged. I have recommended it to both of my children to read in the near future.
I give this book a 4.5 stars out of 5 and would definitely read more from this author.
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