Daisy Chain War

Daisy Chain War #1

by Joan O'Neill

Book one in a compelling trilogy set in in the Irish "emergency" during the Second World War, in which young Lizzie Doyle comes to term with living with her fiesty English cousin Vicky, and the effects of the war on an impoverished Ireland in the 1940s.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Childrens, Young Adult

247 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Joan O'Neill is a well-established, best-selling author of adult fiction both in Ireland and the UK. Originally published over in Ireland, the Daisy Chain trilogy has been in print since 1990 and the reissues have proved to have enduring appeal to readers of 10 and above. Joan has three grown up daughters and lives with her husband in idyllic County Wicklow in Ireland. In between writing she is a keen water-colourist and travels frequently to Italy to gain inspiration and paint.

Reviews

[Alice Chittock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this series when I was a teenager and loved it! Wish that I still had a copy.

[Edwina Halpin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as a teen, still have the book, remember enjoying it and my Mam reading it too after I finished it. Will read again.

[Sarah M · Rating 2 out of 5]

maybe 1.5

Yeah nah

Liked the Irishisms though!

[Valentina Chiriac · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girls diary....not sure why it was considered part of a best-selling trilogy. A diary encompassing aprox 10 years, and within them the period of the war and just after. The memories come mostly from a small town in Ireland and follow the childhood and adolescence of Lizzie and her circle of people. Not a lot of action, not a bit of intrigue, and a dull ending.

[Gayle Scarratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little pleasant read along set in 40's Dublin. It was an easy to pick up book and the structure meant I could easily finish chapters on the bus. Was a thrilling or exciting book but I will be reading the next two.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really nice story about a young girl growing up in Ireland during the war. Part 1 of a trilogy and I’m moving straight on to part 2 to find out more about the lives of her and her family as the war ends and they grow older.

[Holly is Happy Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this first book in the trilogy. Not sure what will be talked about next but I liked reading it and got through it quickly.

[Roisin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as a child. Rereading it now it's still as charming.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read in March 2012: To briefly summarise this book: ten-year-old Lizzie Doyle's life is turned upside down when her cousin Vicky comes to stay during WWII. It has a lovely nostalgic feel to it, and I found it interesting as it's set in Ireland rather than England. I liked the relationship between the two girls, and how they flipped between close friendship and bitter rivalry. That part felt very true to life. I also liked the technique of beginning each chapter with a different person's name, and focusing on that person and how they fitted into Lizzie's life. So far, so good, right?

Unfortunately, the book loses momentum about three-quarters of the way through. There's a clumsy love triangle, then the girls are sent to a boarding school and suddenly it's all, "Five years passed quickly and we were young women!" Wait, what? The whole point of this fast-forward seems to be for Lizzie to meet up with her childhood crush again, who's turned into an unappealing loser. He gambles, he drinks, and he often belittles Lizzie in a really nasty, aggressive manner. (When he's not grunting and uncommunicative, that is.)

It's so frustrating because I can't for the life of me understand what she sees in him! She follows him to England where they do the nasty, then she goes back to Ireland. Her mam is not impressed. He returns, but instead of doing the honourable thing, he decides he's going to America to make his fortune. The end. (Good riddance in my opinion, but a satisfying conclusion it ain't.)

[Emi B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy Chain War is one of the most moving honest and beautiful books I have ever read.The story is set in Ireland in WWII it is a beutiful story about a sisterly friendship that blossoms between two cousins, Lizzie & Vicky. Lizzie's life is shaken when her cosuin Vicky comes to live with her and her family to escape the war that is going on in England. Lizzie has high hopes for Vicky becoming her new best friend however her plans dont go exactly the way she wanted them to. Vicky appears to be the bees knees to gran who came to live with Lizzies family. Vicky turns on Lizzie by becoming best friends with May who was constantly bad mouthing Karen Lizzies sister for getting pregnant out of wed lock. However as time goes on Vicky and Lizzie become like sisters they share there true loves their heart aches as well as there hopes and dreams.I did cry over the heart ache of Karen who married her babys father who then became MIA.I felt rage when Vicky crushed on Lizzie's Pete who was her crsh since she was very young. I rejoiced in Lizzie and Pete finally getting together. Then i felt cheated with the way he left.I loved this book very much and I loved the roller coaster ride of emotions this book took you on. I am very eager to read the other two in the trilogy =]

[Carys Gidlow · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have only read the first chapter of the book... i think it is gojng to be amazing. The first sentence/ paragraph is really good- 'They sat in the long grass braiding daisies, pinching each stem carefully to make a hole without breaking it. They went faster, even working with their eyes closed.' I think this first paragraph pulls you into the story because it makes you want to think about what will happen next. The beginning of the next paragraph starts with the song - ' the white cliffs of dover.' i think the way Joan O' Neill starts off the paragraphs pulls you in, to help keep you thinking about the book and to make sure you dont get bored.
With the first paragraph in Chapter 1, you dont have a clue what is going on , so if you want to find out whats happening, then you have to read on and i think how the writer has done this is very clever.
I hope i will enjoy the rest of the book as much as i enjoyed the beginning.

[Shonaigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ireland, WWII Lizzie receives her eccentric cousin Vicky from England who is evacuated. Lizzie and Vicky, chalk and cheese personality-wise form a very strong friendship with one another. This does get tested a number of times, especially when they fall in love with the same boy. It follows their lives during their childhood and them growing up in the formidable backdrop of war. Read a number of O'Neill's books, The Daisy Chain War books themselves were a trilogy. This, the first book is the one that sticks in the mind the most.

[Selah Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It is well written, and has an excellent beginning.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing :'D

[Jowhara · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best book series I read as a teenager. Would definitely want my kids to read it.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It is well written, and has an excellent beginning.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, a great story about two young girls growing up in war time Ireland!