I first read this as an 18 year old. I admired the author for his insight into the mind of a young girl. It is amusing and the characters are well drawn. The reader gets into the wartime lives of Londoners. This book has also provided my sister and me with many quotes we still use 50 years on.
According to my sister's observations it seems I must have been younger than 18 when I first read this book. I still love it and revisit it at least annually.