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Rose #1
Valentine Joe
Rose's granddad takes her on a trip to Ypres, Belgium to visit the graves of those who died in the Great War. It's the day before Valentine's Day, but Rose can sense the shattered old city beneath the chocolate-box new. And it seems that it can sense her too. When she goes up to her room that night, she hears the sound of marching feet and glimpses from her window a young soldier on his way to the front line...
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2014
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360 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
June 8, 2018
There's a rose that grows in no man's land . . .
I can't review this story. I can't. All I can do is say, YOU HAVE TO READ IT.
I can't review this story. I can't. All I can do is say, YOU HAVE TO READ IT.
January 8, 2026
El comienzo fue inmejorable, pero luego se fue enredando y perdió emotividad. Es un libro cortito, ya que solo consta de 150 páginas, y no es complejo de leer porque el vocabulario que se usa es sencillo. Sin embargo, hay algunos capítulos en los que, a nivel de trama, se produce cierto caos, y eso le resta fluidez a la lectura.
La protagonista es Rose, una adolescente de 14 años que está realizando un pequeño viaje a Bélgica con su abuelo para visitar la tumba de un antepasado suyo que falleció en la Primera Guerra Mundial. Para ella, ese hecho histórico es solo eso, algo que te enseñan en las aulas y cuya magnitud no puedes percibir porque no has vivido nunca nada similar. Sin embargo, al poco de llegar, Rose comenzará a ver cosas inexplicables que la harán descubrir la historia de Valentine Joe, un muchacho de 15 años que, como dice la frase de la portada, era lo suficientemente mayor para luchar y muy joven para morir...
En las primeras páginas, Rose te habla de forma cercana sobre sus sentimientos y sobre los meses tan duros que ella misma ha tenido que afrontar tras la inesperada muerte de su padre. Congenia bien con su abuelo y da curiosidad saber qué sucederá tras toparse de manera inesperada con la tumba de Valentine Joe, quien, al igual que el antepasado de Rose, también falleció durante la guerra.
El problema es que, una vez que empieza lo imposible, la novela comienza a decaer.Entiendo que los sucesos que se dan desconcertarían a cualquiera, por lo que no culpo a la protagonista por sentirse perdida a la hora de intentar comprender lo que va ocurriendo. Lo que falla es la manera de narrarlo. Digamos que se abre una ventana al pasado y es como si no pudieras apreciar correctamente los detalles. Cuesta ubicarse a nivel temporal, se introducen personajes que pasan sin pena ni gloria, surgen vínculos que apenas tienen base y no se transmite del todo la tragedia que rodea a ciertos hechos. A eso hay que sumarle que a Valentine Joe, que es quien le da nombre al libro, no se le permite brillar en solitario y eso también provoca que no llegues a saber con exactitud cuáles eran sus circunstancias personales.
En el desenlace hubo un detalle que fue original y algo inesperado, pero se dio de forma apresurada y por eso no me impactó lo suficiente.
La puntuación real sería un 2,5/5. No redondeo al alza porque vi bastante potencial desperdiciado y me dio pena que determinados aspectos no estuvieran más trabajados. En todo caso, no lo descartéis si os llama la atención, parece que, en general, tiene muy buenas valoraciones y puede a vosotros os convenza más.
La protagonista es Rose, una adolescente de 14 años que está realizando un pequeño viaje a Bélgica con su abuelo para visitar la tumba de un antepasado suyo que falleció en la Primera Guerra Mundial. Para ella, ese hecho histórico es solo eso, algo que te enseñan en las aulas y cuya magnitud no puedes percibir porque no has vivido nunca nada similar. Sin embargo, al poco de llegar, Rose comenzará a ver cosas inexplicables que la harán descubrir la historia de Valentine Joe, un muchacho de 15 años que, como dice la frase de la portada, era lo suficientemente mayor para luchar y muy joven para morir...
En las primeras páginas, Rose te habla de forma cercana sobre sus sentimientos y sobre los meses tan duros que ella misma ha tenido que afrontar tras la inesperada muerte de su padre. Congenia bien con su abuelo y da curiosidad saber qué sucederá tras toparse de manera inesperada con la tumba de Valentine Joe, quien, al igual que el antepasado de Rose, también falleció durante la guerra.
El problema es que, una vez que empieza lo imposible, la novela comienza a decaer.Entiendo que los sucesos que se dan desconcertarían a cualquiera, por lo que no culpo a la protagonista por sentirse perdida a la hora de intentar comprender lo que va ocurriendo. Lo que falla es la manera de narrarlo. Digamos que se abre una ventana al pasado y es como si no pudieras apreciar correctamente los detalles. Cuesta ubicarse a nivel temporal, se introducen personajes que pasan sin pena ni gloria, surgen vínculos que apenas tienen base y no se transmite del todo la tragedia que rodea a ciertos hechos. A eso hay que sumarle que a Valentine Joe, que es quien le da nombre al libro, no se le permite brillar en solitario y eso también provoca que no llegues a saber con exactitud cuáles eran sus circunstancias personales.
En el desenlace hubo un detalle que fue original y algo inesperado, pero se dio de forma apresurada y por eso no me impactó lo suficiente.
La puntuación real sería un 2,5/5. No redondeo al alza porque vi bastante potencial desperdiciado y me dio pena que determinados aspectos no estuvieran más trabajados. En todo caso, no lo descartéis si os llama la atención, parece que, en general, tiene muy buenas valoraciones y puede a vosotros os convenza más.
July 6, 2014
Have you ever stopped reading a book and it took you a minute or two to realise that you’re actually at home and not living between the pages? That’s exactly what Valentine Joe did for me.
I opened the book, and a few chapters in, I was thinking, ‘Really?’ The idea of it seemed absurd and downright weird to be honest. But as I continued reading, I fell in love with the book.
The whole reading process only took about two hours in total, so if you don’t think you have enough time, RE-THINK. YOU DO.
Now that that is over, maybe I can tell you why you should read it.
Ever wondered about those young men in the trenches? The ones who had who had lost their friends? The ones who had no desire to go home?
Valentine Joe was one of those.
A real boy, who died at age 15. His grave can be found at Essex Farm in Ypres. Stevens takes Joe’s name on a grave and turns it into a real-life, heart-felt story.
Rose, aged only fourteen, lost her dad a year ago. She goes to Ypres with her Grandad, who wants to pay his respects to his Uncle George. She visits the graveyard, and the name of one boy stands with her: Valentine Joe. That night, Rose hears marching, and when she looks out of her window, she sees a young soldier…
In a scattered way (you’ll understand what I mean when you read it), Valentine Joe tells a beautiful love story of two youngsters split by years. It changes the way you think about time, even just for a moment or two, and its tragic tale made me well up with tears at the end. Something I seem to be doing a lot recently (I blame it on the hormones), but I was forced to actually wipe my eyes as I was temporarily blinded.
The book may make you angry, but it’ll also tug at your heart-strings.
And if I haven’t said enough already, there’s a time-travelling dog who is just absolutely adorable.
You’ll also love the ending.
What are you waiting for? Go and read it!
I opened the book, and a few chapters in, I was thinking, ‘Really?’ The idea of it seemed absurd and downright weird to be honest. But as I continued reading, I fell in love with the book.
The whole reading process only took about two hours in total, so if you don’t think you have enough time, RE-THINK. YOU DO.
Now that that is over, maybe I can tell you why you should read it.
Ever wondered about those young men in the trenches? The ones who had who had lost their friends? The ones who had no desire to go home?
Valentine Joe was one of those.
A real boy, who died at age 15. His grave can be found at Essex Farm in Ypres. Stevens takes Joe’s name on a grave and turns it into a real-life, heart-felt story.
Rose, aged only fourteen, lost her dad a year ago. She goes to Ypres with her Grandad, who wants to pay his respects to his Uncle George. She visits the graveyard, and the name of one boy stands with her: Valentine Joe. That night, Rose hears marching, and when she looks out of her window, she sees a young soldier…
In a scattered way (you’ll understand what I mean when you read it), Valentine Joe tells a beautiful love story of two youngsters split by years. It changes the way you think about time, even just for a moment or two, and its tragic tale made me well up with tears at the end. Something I seem to be doing a lot recently (I blame it on the hormones), but I was forced to actually wipe my eyes as I was temporarily blinded.
The book may make you angry, but it’ll also tug at your heart-strings.
And if I haven’t said enough already, there’s a time-travelling dog who is just absolutely adorable.
You’ll also love the ending.
What are you waiting for? Go and read it!
October 10, 2018
This is a nice story .
August 20, 2016
Continuing my reading novels about WW I written for children and young adults. The past needs to be remembered as it has so many stories to tell and share.
December 11, 2023
Trez beans
February 20, 2017
This is a haunting yet touching tale about Rose and her grandad, Brian, as they travel to Ypres to visit the grave of Brian's uncle, who died in World War I. During their one night stay Rose adopts a local stray she calls Tommy and meets a boy a year older than her called Joe that treats her nicely and shows her the town, trouble is its not the newly built Ypres of today but the war torn Ypres of the Great War. And so Rose discovers the men and boys behind the tombstones she saw in the cemetery that day and realizes that while her loses are painful, there are worse things to go through and it is in living that we can truly honour the dead.
September 28, 2022
1 woord PRACHTIG !
November 11, 2015
Rebecca Stevens published Valentine Joe in 2014, the centenary of the beginning of the war. Rather fascinatingly, Valentine Joe Strudwick was a real person; he died at Ypres at the age of 15, and was buried in the Essex Farm cemetery immortalized by John McCrae's famous poem. In this unusual novel, a contemporary storyline is skilfully woven together with the historical one. Rose and her Grandad are visiting Essex Farm when she spots Valentine Joe's gravestone. Rose is still in mourning for her own father, who has recently died. Through the device of a scrappy stray dog called Tommy, Rose manages to time-travel back to the battleground of Ypres and meet Joe. Rose's state of mind is so attuned to grief and loss that she is able to connect directly with Joe, and in a very sweet and subtle way they each manage to heal something in the other. History really is brought back to life in this book.
It's a slight book in many ways -- length (150 pages) being one of them. But that will be a plus with many YA readers, particularly reluctant ones. It conveys the tragedy of war without being graphic in any way.
It's a slight book in many ways -- length (150 pages) being one of them. But that will be a plus with many YA readers, particularly reluctant ones. It conveys the tragedy of war without being graphic in any way.
January 27, 2022
“to my Rose from your Valentine”
janken
nog steeds even mooi als 3 jaar geleden <3
janken
nog steeds even mooi als 3 jaar geleden <3
August 3, 2022
Wat een mooi, prachtig ontroerend verhaal! Een boek dat me zeker bij zal blijven!
January 11, 2023
Absolutely adore this book. It intertwines fact with fiction and embodies an air of magical realism. I’ve read this countless times and I still enjoy it. Easy and accessible read.
August 7, 2025
Mooi en indringend YA boek over de Eerste Wereldoorlog.
July 16, 2014
This book is the first of many books I will be reading over the next few months, during the remainder of the centenary of World War I: The Great War.
Firstly, the cover design is beautiful - hats off to Chicken House Publishers for creating a stunning cover which, though ticking every cliche in WWI book design, is very, very effective. The silhouette of a soldier, who by his very stance appears young and childlike, as though a boy playing dress up in soldier's clothes and acting the man, highlights the eponymous character of this novella. He is joined by a plucky dog silhouette and the shades of a battlefield. The colours - clearly sepia, black, grey - are in stark contrast to the bright red poppies with their thin green stalks that appear to either side of the shadowed figures.
Valentine Joe is the title of this book, and of the 'hero' - though our protagonist is in fact a shy 14 year old Londoner named Rose. Valentine Joe, as mentioned in the books Afterword, was a real person. And he was really only 14 years old when he joined up, and 15 when he went to the front lines and tragically died in battle.
Stevens does an excellent job portraying a quirky young lad from Surrey, making him jump from the pages. Just as realistic is our protagonist, Rose, who has recently lost her father and is still grieving. In this story, finding Joe and talking to him when she can open up to no one else, shows her how to approach her grief and move on in life.
Rose is visiting Ypres (Ieper) with her grandfather. They are visiting her great-uncle's grave in place of her great-grandfather who never made it back to the continent after surviving the war. While at the Essex Farm cemetery, Rose discovers the grave of young Valentine Joe Strudwick and is taken aback by how young he was. Rose is an emotional, vulnerable girl with a quiet charm and a funny grandfather who tends to embarrass her but also brings her out of her shell. She connects emotionally with the idea of Joe.
The story continues with a supernatural kick, in that Rose seems to be rather in touch with the paranormal and finds herself time-travelling and meeting with Joe. As an 'angel' only Joe, a small dog dubbed Tommy, children and the dying can see, she finds herself transplanted into the Ieper of the War and feels she may be able to change Joe's fate.
It is a beautiful story, accessible to young teens and adults alike, with a lovely portrayal of Ypres and of its characters, both young and old.
I would certainly recommend this book, and would consider it as a class reader in secondary education (KS3), or perhaps even in an older KS2 classroom.
It is a bit awkward at first, but much like Rose, the book opens up and grows stronger, ending well and inspiring a few tears.
Firstly, the cover design is beautiful - hats off to Chicken House Publishers for creating a stunning cover which, though ticking every cliche in WWI book design, is very, very effective. The silhouette of a soldier, who by his very stance appears young and childlike, as though a boy playing dress up in soldier's clothes and acting the man, highlights the eponymous character of this novella. He is joined by a plucky dog silhouette and the shades of a battlefield. The colours - clearly sepia, black, grey - are in stark contrast to the bright red poppies with their thin green stalks that appear to either side of the shadowed figures.
Valentine Joe is the title of this book, and of the 'hero' - though our protagonist is in fact a shy 14 year old Londoner named Rose. Valentine Joe, as mentioned in the books Afterword, was a real person. And he was really only 14 years old when he joined up, and 15 when he went to the front lines and tragically died in battle.
Stevens does an excellent job portraying a quirky young lad from Surrey, making him jump from the pages. Just as realistic is our protagonist, Rose, who has recently lost her father and is still grieving. In this story, finding Joe and talking to him when she can open up to no one else, shows her how to approach her grief and move on in life.
Rose is visiting Ypres (Ieper) with her grandfather. They are visiting her great-uncle's grave in place of her great-grandfather who never made it back to the continent after surviving the war. While at the Essex Farm cemetery, Rose discovers the grave of young Valentine Joe Strudwick and is taken aback by how young he was. Rose is an emotional, vulnerable girl with a quiet charm and a funny grandfather who tends to embarrass her but also brings her out of her shell. She connects emotionally with the idea of Joe.
The story continues with a supernatural kick, in that Rose seems to be rather in touch with the paranormal and finds herself time-travelling and meeting with Joe. As an 'angel' only Joe, a small dog dubbed Tommy, children and the dying can see, she finds herself transplanted into the Ieper of the War and feels she may be able to change Joe's fate.
It is a beautiful story, accessible to young teens and adults alike, with a lovely portrayal of Ypres and of its characters, both young and old.
I would certainly recommend this book, and would consider it as a class reader in secondary education (KS3), or perhaps even in an older KS2 classroom.
It is a bit awkward at first, but much like Rose, the book opens up and grows stronger, ending well and inspiring a few tears.
Want to read
September 7, 2022Valentine Joe is a lovely story about a young girl called Rose who goes to visit Belgium with her grandad to go visit his uncles grave. While they are there she sees a grave of a young 15 year old boy by the name of Valentine joe. who died during the war 1 month away from his 16th birthday. The story goes on to send Rose back to meet Valentine and goes on a long adventure with him while trying to convince him to not go back to war.
I used to be not a big fan of romance but this book was very bitterly sweet to read. I loved the mentions of the harsh realities of war but also the lovely relationship Valentine and Rose develop throughout the book. I also love the dynamic Rose has with her grandad. It is very sweet and funny to read.
This book is very easy to read with not much intense and hard vocabulary. It is a nice and short read but the ending left me wanting more.
I used to be not a big fan of romance but this book was very bitterly sweet to read. I loved the mentions of the harsh realities of war but also the lovely relationship Valentine and Rose develop throughout the book. I also love the dynamic Rose has with her grandad. It is very sweet and funny to read.
This book is very easy to read with not much intense and hard vocabulary. It is a nice and short read but the ending left me wanting more.
November 21, 2015
Een schitterend boek over de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Het boek wordt mooi beschreven vanuit Rose. Een Engels meisje wier vader een jaar geleden is overleden. Natuurlijk worstelt Rose daarmee. Ze gaat net voor Valentijnsdag met haar opa naar Ieper. In dit Belgische stadje wordt de gevoelige Rose letterlijk meegesleurd in de historie. Door het verdriet van Valentine Joe wordt haar eigen verdriet een stuk draagbaarder en eindigt het boek met een heerlijk gelukkig einde voor Rose. Helaas niet voor Valentine Joe.
October 13, 2014
Wat een verrassend leuk boek. Speelt zich af in ieper, waar ik vaak met mijn moeder bent geweest. Een beetje magisch, maar ook het realistisch. Mijn recensie lees je hier: http://www.doorellis.nl/valentine-joe...
October 25, 2014
Poignant and beautifully written
March 26, 2018
Het boek is gebaseerd op het leven van Valentine Joe Strudwick. Hij meldde zich op zijn veertiende aan bij het Britse leger om te vechten in de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Hij sneuvelde een maand voordat hij zestien zou worden.
De Engelse Rose gaat met haar opa Brian naar Ieper. Daar ligt een oom van Brian begraven die hij wil bezoeken. Rose ontdekt het graf van Joe en ze blijft maar aan hem denken. ’s Nachts ontmoet ze Joe op mysterieuze wijze en beleeft met hem enkele momenten uit het laatste jaar van zijn leven.
Dit is een oorlogsverhaal, maar geen ‘standaard’ oorlogsverhaal. De typische kenmerken van het genre ontbreken in dit boek. Zo is het standpunt niet een jongere die probeert te overleven in oorlogstijd (LB 191). Het accent ligt wel op de innerlijke spanning van het hoofdpersonage Rose, maar niet op de manier zoals dat gebruikelijk is. De spanning van Rose komt voort uit het verwerken van het verlies van haar vader en het ontmoeten van Joe en het meeleven met zijn belevenissen, niet uit de ingrijpende veranderingen die een oorlog met zich mee brengt (LB 189).
Wat wel duidelijk is, is dat de lezer wordt geconfronteerd met de zinloosheid van geweld (LB 189). Rose ziet in België de talloze begraafplaatsen van de gesneuvelden. Ook ziet ze de enorme lijst namen van vermisten die in de Menenpoort gegraveerd zijn. Uit de verhalen van opa Brian leert ze ook dat de soldaten uit alle uithoeken van de wereld kwamen om te vechten om een paar honderd meter land.
Dit boek heb ik gekozen omdat ik geen boek over de Tweede Wereldoorlog wilde lezen; daar heb ik al zoveel boeken over gelezen en films over gezien. Het thema van de Eerste Wereldoorlog sprak mij aan omdat ik in de zomer naar Ieper ga. Ik ga dan uiteraard de omgeving bekijken en dacht door middel van dit boek wat meer te kunnen leren over wat daar toen is gebeurd. Op zich viel dat tegen; het boek is zeker wel informatief maar blijkbaar wist ik al best veel.
Wat me ook leuk leek, was dat dit verhaal verteld werd vanuit een hoofdpersoon die nu leeft. Ik had niet gedacht dat dit op deze ‘fantasie-manier’ zou zijn. Dit sprak me niet echt aan tijdens het lezen, maar op de momenten dat niet benadrukt werd dat het ‘vreemd’ was, kwam ik wel helemaal in het verhaal.
Een rode draad in het verhaal was dat Roses vader recent was overleden. De dingen die ze in Ieper beleeft zorgen ervoor dat ze echt kon beginnen met het verwerken van dit verlies. Dit verhaalelement vond ik een beetje slap en overbodig. Op het eind lijkt Rose ook nog een vriendje te krijgen, maar dit werd ook slap en onvolledig uitgewerkt. Het leek alsof deze elementen er ook nog in ‘moesten’ om het een goed jeugdboek te laten zijn.
Rose en Joe beleven samen enkele spannende momenten tijdens een verrassingsaanval en in een loopgraaf. Het verhaal speelt zich met name af in en rond Ieper tijdens een tweedaags bezoek. In de ‘mysterieuze nacht’ is er een flashback naar enkele gebeurtenissen tussen februari 1915 en januari 1916.
Door de beschrijvingen van de gebeurtenissen in de Eerste Wereldoorlog en het meer gedetailleerde verhaal van een soldaat, in de persoon van Joe, heeft dit boek zeker een zingevende functie. Er wordt geen oordeel gegeven over wie goed was en wie fout, maar het verhaal laat zien dat er alleen maar slachtoffers zijn in een oorlog.
Het boek leest lekker weg en de lezer krijgt meer informatie over de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Doordat de jonge hoofdpersonen, Rose en Joe, niet echt goed uitgewerkt worden, is het lastig om je met ze te identificeren. Dit maakt het denk ik minder aantrekkelijk voor de doelgroep.
De Engelse Rose gaat met haar opa Brian naar Ieper. Daar ligt een oom van Brian begraven die hij wil bezoeken. Rose ontdekt het graf van Joe en ze blijft maar aan hem denken. ’s Nachts ontmoet ze Joe op mysterieuze wijze en beleeft met hem enkele momenten uit het laatste jaar van zijn leven.
Dit is een oorlogsverhaal, maar geen ‘standaard’ oorlogsverhaal. De typische kenmerken van het genre ontbreken in dit boek. Zo is het standpunt niet een jongere die probeert te overleven in oorlogstijd (LB 191). Het accent ligt wel op de innerlijke spanning van het hoofdpersonage Rose, maar niet op de manier zoals dat gebruikelijk is. De spanning van Rose komt voort uit het verwerken van het verlies van haar vader en het ontmoeten van Joe en het meeleven met zijn belevenissen, niet uit de ingrijpende veranderingen die een oorlog met zich mee brengt (LB 189).
Wat wel duidelijk is, is dat de lezer wordt geconfronteerd met de zinloosheid van geweld (LB 189). Rose ziet in België de talloze begraafplaatsen van de gesneuvelden. Ook ziet ze de enorme lijst namen van vermisten die in de Menenpoort gegraveerd zijn. Uit de verhalen van opa Brian leert ze ook dat de soldaten uit alle uithoeken van de wereld kwamen om te vechten om een paar honderd meter land.
Dit boek heb ik gekozen omdat ik geen boek over de Tweede Wereldoorlog wilde lezen; daar heb ik al zoveel boeken over gelezen en films over gezien. Het thema van de Eerste Wereldoorlog sprak mij aan omdat ik in de zomer naar Ieper ga. Ik ga dan uiteraard de omgeving bekijken en dacht door middel van dit boek wat meer te kunnen leren over wat daar toen is gebeurd. Op zich viel dat tegen; het boek is zeker wel informatief maar blijkbaar wist ik al best veel.
Wat me ook leuk leek, was dat dit verhaal verteld werd vanuit een hoofdpersoon die nu leeft. Ik had niet gedacht dat dit op deze ‘fantasie-manier’ zou zijn. Dit sprak me niet echt aan tijdens het lezen, maar op de momenten dat niet benadrukt werd dat het ‘vreemd’ was, kwam ik wel helemaal in het verhaal.
Een rode draad in het verhaal was dat Roses vader recent was overleden. De dingen die ze in Ieper beleeft zorgen ervoor dat ze echt kon beginnen met het verwerken van dit verlies. Dit verhaalelement vond ik een beetje slap en overbodig. Op het eind lijkt Rose ook nog een vriendje te krijgen, maar dit werd ook slap en onvolledig uitgewerkt. Het leek alsof deze elementen er ook nog in ‘moesten’ om het een goed jeugdboek te laten zijn.
Rose en Joe beleven samen enkele spannende momenten tijdens een verrassingsaanval en in een loopgraaf. Het verhaal speelt zich met name af in en rond Ieper tijdens een tweedaags bezoek. In de ‘mysterieuze nacht’ is er een flashback naar enkele gebeurtenissen tussen februari 1915 en januari 1916.
Door de beschrijvingen van de gebeurtenissen in de Eerste Wereldoorlog en het meer gedetailleerde verhaal van een soldaat, in de persoon van Joe, heeft dit boek zeker een zingevende functie. Er wordt geen oordeel gegeven over wie goed was en wie fout, maar het verhaal laat zien dat er alleen maar slachtoffers zijn in een oorlog.
Het boek leest lekker weg en de lezer krijgt meer informatie over de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Doordat de jonge hoofdpersonen, Rose en Joe, niet echt goed uitgewerkt worden, is het lastig om je met ze te identificeren. Dit maakt het denk ik minder aantrekkelijk voor de doelgroep.
November 3, 2018
This middle grade book is about a girl who goes to Belgium with her grandfather to visit his uncle's grave. Somewhere along the way, she enters into that time frame and dips in and out of it. Time passes different in these two worlds. She lives through some of the horrors of WWI. I recommend this book to be read in late October, because the section when she finds herself entering into Valentine Joe's world is spooky. The tension is good, very apt for the lead up to Halloween. Then of course, reading the second-half is a timely for early November. You get a sense of what the soldiers went through. For this I rate it 3*.
The early parts evolve around Rose feeling the sense of loss about the passing of her father. It starts slow and takes quite a while for the pacing to pick up. Given what was in the blurb already, I was impatient to read about the action and found myself not caring too much about her grief. For the pacing, I rate it 2*.
Overall, I rate this book 2.5*
The early parts evolve around Rose feeling the sense of loss about the passing of her father. It starts slow and takes quite a while for the pacing to pick up. Given what was in the blurb already, I was impatient to read about the action and found myself not caring too much about her grief. For the pacing, I rate it 2*.
Overall, I rate this book 2.5*
January 19, 2023
" My Rose in a no-man's-land "
It's so short but super emotional!! i really love it. There were some confusing parts though on how Rose went back on time but that doesn't seem to matter.
And Joe..damn, I can't imagine being 15 and wanting to fight in a war knowing all the risks and how he did it for his pals, like what he said "If not for them- what's the point?" or something like that.
Rose and Joe, damn. They did not survive The Great War ( yes, Taylor Swift )
and Joe literally did not survive the war ( pun intended )
And the present ☹️ "To My Rose From Your Valentine" FUCK !
No tears came out of my eyes but i was literally weeping inside !!
i love this sm.
4 stars because it's so short lol
It's so short but super emotional!! i really love it. There were some confusing parts though on how Rose went back on time but that doesn't seem to matter.
And Joe..damn, I can't imagine being 15 and wanting to fight in a war knowing all the risks and how he did it for his pals, like what he said "If not for them- what's the point?" or something like that.
Rose and Joe, damn. They did not survive The Great War ( yes, Taylor Swift )
and Joe literally did not survive the war ( pun intended )
And the present ☹️ "To My Rose From Your Valentine" FUCK !
No tears came out of my eyes but i was literally weeping inside !!
i love this sm.
4 stars because it's so short lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2018
One of the first- if not the first- of the books written about the 'Great War' which really resonated with me. After hearing so much about the world wars in school and just learning the facts and all about how horrible it must have been for them, it began to somewhat lessen in impact- same old, same old, I guess. The way Stevens introduces Joe to the story, and really brings him to life, I think it might be the first time I've really thought about the people of the war past the statistics. This book has for sure had an impact on me and I know that Anzac days and remembrance days in the future will feel different- bigger.
Thanks, little Valentine.
Thanks, little Valentine.
December 27, 2017
'Valentine Joe' was a surprisingly wonderful book that filled me with both joy and sorrow. The story I thought was original and interesting and showed a different perspective of WWI through the eyes of both Valentine Joe and Rose the protagonist.
This short novel/novella was easy to read and enjoyable. It nearly brought me to tears through the language and moving storyline. I would recommend this book to anyone fond of the genre of historical fiction and WWI or anyone who would like an original and different take on this event in history.
This short novel/novella was easy to read and enjoyable. It nearly brought me to tears through the language and moving storyline. I would recommend this book to anyone fond of the genre of historical fiction and WWI or anyone who would like an original and different take on this event in history.
October 3, 2017
Valentine Joe is a WW1 time slip story for children aged about 11+ A short but immensely moving read. The fact that this is based on a real person adds to the poignancy. This book would work very well in schools prompting discussion and linking to the history curriculum.
May 9, 2018
This really was beautiful and simple. The story from the past was told in a way that made it feel real. The characterization of Valentine Joe was wonderful. The message was touching. I just love these types of books.
February 14, 2020
How ironic, finishing Valentine Joe on Valentines Day.
This book was really a great read. Enjoyed it a lot.
I did struggle with the first 30 pages though, but I really enjoyed it and wanted to finish it straight away!
This book was really a great read. Enjoyed it a lot.
I did struggle with the first 30 pages though, but I really enjoyed it and wanted to finish it straight away!
October 15, 2021
Maybe a tad simplistic but with some lovely sensory writing. Would be great for readers who are interested in heavier topics but whose reading ability may not be up to dense, long books as this one is short and fast-paced.
February 15, 2022
Wow. A mix of life in 2014 and 1916, the understanding of loss and being able to let go, and the experience of WW1 is gently brought to the heart in this beautiful story. It's been on my shelf for ages, I wish I'd read it sooner.
November 4, 2023
This book took me really back in time.. This is a really must read book if you like war story's with a bit of romance. ☺️ I just found 1 word wrong in a sentence. But is in the dutch book. Was a little surprise for me. Because then I know I'am feeling the story. If you know what I mean. 🫣
June 19, 2017
I loved how that girl went in the past after finding Joe's grave and fell in love with him and that she knew he was going to die and she tried to save him.
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