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Playing with Matches #0.5
A Piece of Blue String
Praise for A Piece of Blue "Well written and engaging--enjoyed it!"
"A wonderful story of the youth in Germany during WW ll."
"A very moving historical story from a point of view that is rarely presented."
A companion short story to Playing with Matches.
Excerpts from Katharina Ackermann's diary marking the turn of WW2 and of her heart to one special boy.
Enjoy reading this well researched, dramatic story of what it was like to be a teenager in Hitler's Germany. A slightly different perspective than many world war two novels.
"A wonderful story of the youth in Germany during WW ll."
"A very moving historical story from a point of view that is rarely presented."
A companion short story to Playing with Matches.
Excerpts from Katharina Ackermann's diary marking the turn of WW2 and of her heart to one special boy.
Enjoy reading this well researched, dramatic story of what it was like to be a teenager in Hitler's Germany. A slightly different perspective than many world war two novels.
60 pages, ebook
First published April 28, 2013
359 people are currently reading
362 people want to read
About the author
Lee Strauss
127 books2,338 followersFor fans of Golden Age who-dun-its ~ from a USA TODAY Bestselling author!
You'll adore Lady Gold from the acclaimed Ginger Gold Mysteries series, and the spin of series, Higgins & Hawke.
Look for the connected 1950s era Rosa Reed Mysteries.
NEW ~ The Velvet Spy ~ The Wartime Journal of Ginger Gold
For more info visit: leestraussbooks.com
You'll adore Lady Gold from the acclaimed Ginger Gold Mysteries series, and the spin of series, Higgins & Hawke.
Look for the connected 1950s era Rosa Reed Mysteries.
NEW ~ The Velvet Spy ~ The Wartime Journal of Ginger Gold
For more info visit: leestraussbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 30, 2018
I really enjoy reading short stories as it gives me a chance to see how the author writes before I read another book. This short story is free on Kobo at the moment and is a companion story for the book Playing with matches.
The story is in the form of a diary and is from a very different perspective of teenagers growing up in Germany. The group of friends listen to a hidden radio and the BBC'S broadcasts and realise that they are not being told the truth about what is really happening. In fact they become to realise that Germany is in the wrong and they try to tell people the truth about the war.
The story covers the period of 1941 to 1944 and makes interesting reading. Very well written story that I really enjoyed.
The story is in the form of a diary and is from a very different perspective of teenagers growing up in Germany. The group of friends listen to a hidden radio and the BBC'S broadcasts and realise that they are not being told the truth about what is really happening. In fact they become to realise that Germany is in the wrong and they try to tell people the truth about the war.
The story covers the period of 1941 to 1944 and makes interesting reading. Very well written story that I really enjoyed.
September 5, 2018
This is a short story/novella told as diary entries from the perspective of a 12 year old girl living in Passau, Germany during the Nazi regime (1941-1944). I got it as a freebie and it's a companion to Playing with Matches (Playing with Matches #1).
Katharina, her brother, and two of his friends secretly listen to the BBC radio broadcasts on a shortwave radio. Those broadcast say very different things than the German radio broadcasts, so they try to tell the truth to others about the war without being caught. The diary entries show growing feelings between Katharina and Emil until Emil is sent to fight in the war.
Within such a short story the author gives us a glimpse of what life would've been like at that time--lack of food, bombings, husbands and sons being called to war, etc. It does have an abrupt ending which I hope is taken care of in Playing with Matches (which is a full length novel).
Katharina, her brother, and two of his friends secretly listen to the BBC radio broadcasts on a shortwave radio. Those broadcast say very different things than the German radio broadcasts, so they try to tell the truth to others about the war without being caught. The diary entries show growing feelings between Katharina and Emil until Emil is sent to fight in the war.
Within such a short story the author gives us a glimpse of what life would've been like at that time--lack of food, bombings, husbands and sons being called to war, etc. It does have an abrupt ending which I hope is taken care of in Playing with Matches (which is a full length novel).
June 16, 2014
A simple, but well written "diary" of a German girl, spanning five or so years of her life during the Nazi regime. Her entries are not very frequent or detailed, this being a novella, but they are enough to provide a fairly broad insight into her life. They cover everything from shortages and day-to-day struggles on the home front, to small-scale underground resistance (by herself and her friends) to puberty and falling in love. A quick freebie read and one that has left me interested in the rest of the series.
September 8, 2020
Short story from Katharina Ackermann ' diary. World War 2 story. Very good and you will want to read the next book to find out what happened. The characters are very likable. The people must live under Nazi rule or will be known as a traitor.
July 16, 2018
loved this short preview story! I cannot wait for the following book! very interesting story and complex characters
September 27, 2017
This is a short YA historical fiction, coming-of-age story taking place in Germany during World War Two. The story is in the form of journal entries by a young teenaged German girl named Katharina Ackermann, from 1941 to 1944.
Katharina was just a normal, average German girl in a normal, average German family. But when she finds out that her younger brother Johann has been listening to the verboten BBC station on his radio and not only became convinced that Germany was in the wrong but was spreading the word with the kind of pamphlets people had been killed for, she doesn't know what to think. After looking at things objectively, she decides to join him. The fact that Emile, her crush, was working with Johann helped her decision. They form a clandestine group, and make pamphlets to tack to bullitin boards and leave on bus seats. Meanwhile, Katharina and Emil grow closer to each other.
While marketed as a short story, it is more of a teaser to encourage people to read the author's novel Playing With Matches. The ending is inconclusive and leaves you wanting more. I do not believe it was meant to stand alone at all, and should be read with Playing With Matches for a better reading experience. Since I have not yet had the opportunity to read that book, it was slightly less enjoyable than it could have been for me, but it was still good.
Katharina was just a normal, average German girl in a normal, average German family. But when she finds out that her younger brother Johann has been listening to the verboten BBC station on his radio and not only became convinced that Germany was in the wrong but was spreading the word with the kind of pamphlets people had been killed for, she doesn't know what to think. After looking at things objectively, she decides to join him. The fact that Emile, her crush, was working with Johann helped her decision. They form a clandestine group, and make pamphlets to tack to bullitin boards and leave on bus seats. Meanwhile, Katharina and Emil grow closer to each other.
While marketed as a short story, it is more of a teaser to encourage people to read the author's novel Playing With Matches. The ending is inconclusive and leaves you wanting more. I do not believe it was meant to stand alone at all, and should be read with Playing With Matches for a better reading experience. Since I have not yet had the opportunity to read that book, it was slightly less enjoyable than it could have been for me, but it was still good.
January 5, 2022
An Interesting Quick Read
This story was an interesting, and proved a quick read. The author does a good job of highlighting some of the many difficulties the Germans experienced during World War II. However, it could have been better. In my opinion, this story has four main flaws: (1) It should have had more character development, especially of on particular character who died — the death affected some of the other characters greatly, but it could have had much greater impact on the reader if the author had developed their character more. (2) The novel takes the form of a diary, but I felt the details offered by the narrator were not details one would normally find in a diary. I think the author could have dispensed with the dairy format and made the story a straight narrative. (3) The story should have been longer. (4) The story feels incomplete; the fates of the characters is left unresolved. The story would be much more satisfying if the characters’ destinies were resolved.
This story was an interesting, and proved a quick read. The author does a good job of highlighting some of the many difficulties the Germans experienced during World War II. However, it could have been better. In my opinion, this story has four main flaws: (1) It should have had more character development, especially of on particular character who died — the death affected some of the other characters greatly, but it could have had much greater impact on the reader if the author had developed their character more. (2) The novel takes the form of a diary, but I felt the details offered by the narrator were not details one would normally find in a diary. I think the author could have dispensed with the dairy format and made the story a straight narrative. (3) The story should have been longer. (4) The story feels incomplete; the fates of the characters is left unresolved. The story would be much more satisfying if the characters’ destinies were resolved.
September 27, 2017
This is a sweet short story in the form of a diary where our main character Katharina is introduced to how things are really going on with the war against the allies; she and her friends are determined to let the truth be known by listening to illegal BBC transmissions and transcribing them into fliers that they distribute later.
Her entries are not too frequent but they do show us glimpses of how Katharina’s home is struggling to stay afloat.
It did leave me intrigued to read Playing with Matches!
Her entries are not too frequent but they do show us glimpses of how Katharina’s home is struggling to stay afloat.
It did leave me intrigued to read Playing with Matches!
January 2, 2024
This is a follow up companion short story to "Playing With Matches". In the first story Emil the main character falls in love with Johann's sister. Before being shipped off to war he asks her to marry him and she accepts. He has nothing to give her as a promise so she tears a loose thread from her coat and he ties it around her finger as an engagement ring. This book is the diary she keeps during the time they were together. There is nothing new in this book about her feelings toward Emil. However, we do get clarification on questions that may be brought up in the first book.
January 23, 2019
An engaging and wonderful short story about a young man and woman during WW2. Life is hard and love is harder. Do you tell him how you feel or wait to make sure he comes back home from the war. A generous story showing that living through a war, any war, is extremely hard for all concerned. Reading this book brings tears to my eyes as if living through it with them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
April 11, 2019
Friends
Four young people during the war working in resistance. Then the boys are sent letters to join the German troops leaving Katherine and her mother alone to run the farm. Emil returns home with pneumonia and as he recovers Katherine and Emil realize they love each other. Than Emil returns to war. Nice short story I am looking forward to reading the book Playing with Matches.
Four young people during the war working in resistance. Then the boys are sent letters to join the German troops leaving Katherine and her mother alone to run the farm. Emil returns home with pneumonia and as he recovers Katherine and Emil realize they love each other. Than Emil returns to war. Nice short story I am looking forward to reading the book Playing with Matches.
December 12, 2018
Good start on historical novel
This was a good start to a historical novel. I think Strauss should continue on with the story and make it into a novel because I would sure love to continue reading. Now I'm going to have to go look at their other books and see what I can get my hands on. Glad I took a chance on a new author it was well worth it.
This was a good start to a historical novel. I think Strauss should continue on with the story and make it into a novel because I would sure love to continue reading. Now I'm going to have to go look at their other books and see what I can get my hands on. Glad I took a chance on a new author it was well worth it.
June 21, 2019
Short, interesting companion to Lee Strauss' 'Playing With Matches', the diary of Katherine, one of the characters in the longer novel. Refreshing to read that not all Germans were in agreement with Hitler and the Nazi Party.
November 22, 2020
A short story via a diary written by a young girl in war time Germany. Although it gave a little insight into life at the time I wouldn’t rate it as great and can get much more from other reads. It took far less than an hour to read it too.
August 26, 2021
Lacking in detail. Written as diary entries and letters but the writing did not feel genuine with odd word choices for what was supposed to be a journal. Anything that might have been interesting was glossed over.
November 11, 2017
A good read, but abrupt ending
A good read but abrupt ending, leaving the reader hanging. Does Emile survive the war?. I would recommended it. Good
A good read but abrupt ending, leaving the reader hanging. Does Emile survive the war?. I would recommended it. Good
March 29, 2020
Short diary of a girl during WW2. Made me interested in reading the follow-up novel Playing with Matches.
Short read.
Short read.
March 28, 2021
Bittersweet
Such a sweet and sad diary. A great companion piece to Playing With Matches. I'm glad I read Playing With Matches first. It gives context to the diary.
Such a sweet and sad diary. A great companion piece to Playing With Matches. I'm glad I read Playing With Matches first. It gives context to the diary.
November 22, 2021
An intriguing story of the young people in wartime Germany. How they foolishly believed everything they heard and the danger it put some of them in. Don’t miss out.
July 17, 2022
Great companion novel
For a short story, there's a lot packed into this book. I can't wait to read Playing With Matches. Lee Strauss really is a great writer
For a short story, there's a lot packed into this book. I can't wait to read Playing With Matches. Lee Strauss really is a great writer
June 9, 2024
short but sweet. I enjoyed it and will be reading the companion book!
December 29, 2019
This is a novella set in WW2 and tells the story of a young German girl. She and her friends take part in the resistance and deal with shortages and bombings. In all a good introduction.
December 30, 2016
Interesting story from the diary of Katharina Ackermann and a look into her world just before World War Two. You like the characters and how the story flowed and it felt believable and it was really good. A bit on the serious side but given the subject manner, quite understandable. Be warned, it’s only a little nugget, and it kind of ends on an interesting note, that’ll leave you wanting a little bit more. So if you get a chance check it out and enjoy.
September 5, 2014
Read this book!
Actually, this is a short story, but it is definitely worth reading. I felt disappointed when the story ended, because I wanted to know more about what happened to the characters in this story. I guess I'll have to purchase more from Strauss & Strauss.
Actually, this is a short story, but it is definitely worth reading. I felt disappointed when the story ended, because I wanted to know more about what happened to the characters in this story. I guess I'll have to purchase more from Strauss & Strauss.
November 2, 2014
This was a fun little short story. It does intrigue me to read Playing with Matches someday, but not immediately. Having read the description for Playing with Matches, it seems like the storyline progression will be repetitive, albeit going into more details.
April 17, 2014
Good book
It is a good book because if you want to read about world war 2 then this is the book for you.
It is a good book because if you want to read about world war 2 then this is the book for you.
August 5, 2015
Short story with snippets from Katharina Ackermann's diary.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews