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Evie's War
They offered up the innocence of a generation . . .
Evie is 18, straight out of school and excited by the prospect of a tour of Europe. Instead, she finds herself immersed in war; first in the Home Counties – where the young New Zealander is confronted not only by society's restrictions and her family's expectations, but by the burgeoning women's rights movement – then as a VAD nurse tending injured soldiers in a local hospital.
After personal tragedy changes the course of her life, Evie impulsively travels to Belgium, experiencing first-hand the shambolic horrors in a Casualty Clearing Station just 10 km behind the Front Lines. War, at first distant, becomes increasingly personal.
When her health gives out, Evie returns to England and a new battle: that of meshing her hard won independence and experience with the still Edwardian attitudes of her family.
From where can she find strength for love and the resilience to face the future?
Evie is 18, straight out of school and excited by the prospect of a tour of Europe. Instead, she finds herself immersed in war; first in the Home Counties – where the young New Zealander is confronted not only by society's restrictions and her family's expectations, but by the burgeoning women's rights movement – then as a VAD nurse tending injured soldiers in a local hospital.
After personal tragedy changes the course of her life, Evie impulsively travels to Belgium, experiencing first-hand the shambolic horrors in a Casualty Clearing Station just 10 km behind the Front Lines. War, at first distant, becomes increasingly personal.
When her health gives out, Evie returns to England and a new battle: that of meshing her hard won independence and experience with the still Edwardian attitudes of her family.
From where can she find strength for love and the resilience to face the future?
- GenresWarHistoricalYoung Adult
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2015
About the author
Anna Mackenzie
21 books26 followersAnna Mackenzie wrote her first book aged 6, but spent a while roaming through other jobs before returning to writing fiction. Now that she has, she can't imagine doing anything else!
Her nine titles have won her seven CLF Notable Book Awards, an NZ Post Honour Award, Sir Julius Vogel Award, White Raven, and more. Her latest title, Evie's War, tells the story of a young New Zealander who works in the medical services in the UK, Belgium and France during WWI.
Anna writes contemporary, historic and speculative fiction for adults and young adults. She lives on a farm in New Zealand.
You can read more about Anna at http://www.annamackenzieauthor.com/
Her nine titles have won her seven CLF Notable Book Awards, an NZ Post Honour Award, Sir Julius Vogel Award, White Raven, and more. Her latest title, Evie's War, tells the story of a young New Zealander who works in the medical services in the UK, Belgium and France during WWI.
Anna writes contemporary, historic and speculative fiction for adults and young adults. She lives on a farm in New Zealand.
You can read more about Anna at http://www.annamackenzieauthor.com/
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 31, 2015
I would give Evie's War 4.5 stars if possible. The voice in this novel was brilliantly done.
‘They say women should ‘stay home and sit still’ – but how can I?
This is a story about war – wondering whether it will come to them, trying to live with it when it does, and wishing it would finally end. It is a story of loss, of love, of sacrificing your own comfort, way of life and almost every shred of energy you have – to help the wounded, dying and broken.
Told in a diary format, Evie’s voice is real, true to the time (between 1914 – 1918), taking the reader on Evie’s journey through four years that will take thousands of lives and leave thousands of others, including Evie’s -changed forever.
Evie and her family travel to England, making new friends on the long ship voyage. When in the UK, they stay with Evie’s aunt and uncle. Evie is looking forward to travelling to Europe on a family trip, but talk of war and then its arrival changes all that. With her brother Edmund keen to join up, Evie is keen to help, first with women’s groups to raise funds, knit socks etc, and then volunteering at a hospital against her parent’s wishes.
Evie sees the war how it really is, through the filthy, infected, near-dead soldiers who are brought in, day after day, sometimes hour after hour. They are in contrast to the newspaper reports hailing victories however small, to the public.
Evie finds love and friendship along the way, drawing the reader into her life and her growing up in England surrounded by the effects of war.
Meticulously researched, not only giving any keen student of WWI the events of the war, but a feel for the time it spanned.
Excellent Kiwi Fiction from an Award Winning New Zealand Author.
‘They say women should ‘stay home and sit still’ – but how can I?
This is a story about war – wondering whether it will come to them, trying to live with it when it does, and wishing it would finally end. It is a story of loss, of love, of sacrificing your own comfort, way of life and almost every shred of energy you have – to help the wounded, dying and broken.
Told in a diary format, Evie’s voice is real, true to the time (between 1914 – 1918), taking the reader on Evie’s journey through four years that will take thousands of lives and leave thousands of others, including Evie’s -changed forever.
Evie and her family travel to England, making new friends on the long ship voyage. When in the UK, they stay with Evie’s aunt and uncle. Evie is looking forward to travelling to Europe on a family trip, but talk of war and then its arrival changes all that. With her brother Edmund keen to join up, Evie is keen to help, first with women’s groups to raise funds, knit socks etc, and then volunteering at a hospital against her parent’s wishes.
Evie sees the war how it really is, through the filthy, infected, near-dead soldiers who are brought in, day after day, sometimes hour after hour. They are in contrast to the newspaper reports hailing victories however small, to the public.
Evie finds love and friendship along the way, drawing the reader into her life and her growing up in England surrounded by the effects of war.
Meticulously researched, not only giving any keen student of WWI the events of the war, but a feel for the time it spanned.
Excellent Kiwi Fiction from an Award Winning New Zealand Author.
August 30, 2020
I found this book very one dimensional as it is written entirely of Evie’s journal entries. Although the idea of how the story was told was exciting at first, it fell flat. I felt I didn’t get to know any of the characters very well and suspense was never well built. A cute story but would have been better told as a written story with inner thoughts and dialogue, as opposed to journal entries.
April 17, 2016
"What they are subjected to is inhuman. And of top of it they are expected to live in the open, freezing cold and plagued by rats and lice, then go out and kill other men."
Evie, a young New Zealander who volunteers as a nurse during WWI, keeps a diary. Through her words we learn how it was for medics both at the front line and back in England, nursing men and boys with shattered bodies and minds.
The diary format is perfect for this book, as through her writing we see Evie change from a young wide-eyed 'colonial' to a dependable woman wise beyond her years. Plus, the poignancy of those "Surely it can't last much longer?" entries – in 1915, then 1916 …
Evie's War is meticulously researched, and there are surprising facts that many would be unaware of, for example how German U-boats were sinking troop ships in the English Channel on a daily basis, and how British towns suffered air raids that killed many.
This is historical fiction at its best: beautifully written, authentic and gripping. There isn't enough history taught in New Zealand schools, and most teens seem only know about Gallipoli when it comes to WWI. This book shows them the wider picture. Wish we could make it compulsory reading!
Evie, a young New Zealander who volunteers as a nurse during WWI, keeps a diary. Through her words we learn how it was for medics both at the front line and back in England, nursing men and boys with shattered bodies and minds.
The diary format is perfect for this book, as through her writing we see Evie change from a young wide-eyed 'colonial' to a dependable woman wise beyond her years. Plus, the poignancy of those "Surely it can't last much longer?" entries – in 1915, then 1916 …
Evie's War is meticulously researched, and there are surprising facts that many would be unaware of, for example how German U-boats were sinking troop ships in the English Channel on a daily basis, and how British towns suffered air raids that killed many.
This is historical fiction at its best: beautifully written, authentic and gripping. There isn't enough history taught in New Zealand schools, and most teens seem only know about Gallipoli when it comes to WWI. This book shows them the wider picture. Wish we could make it compulsory reading!
August 29, 2015
Written as a diary by a young New Zealand girl setting out on a trip to England and Europe in 1914, this book is initially quite simplistic and naive. However, as Evie becomes involved in the war as a nurse, first in England and later in France, she matures, experiences loss and frustration and her observations become more poignant. I initially wanted to rate this with three & a half stars but felt it was definitely more than three stars. On reflection, I realized that I found it hard to put down once picked up so feel four stars is more realistic.
April 6, 2016
This is the tale of seventeen year old (?) Evie, a New Zealand girl on a vacation in Europe when the Great War breaks out. Her and her family stay with some extended family in Britain for the expanse of the war. Evie starts of slowly, knitting, fundraising and talking about the suffragette movement.
However, she quickly becomes immersed in the war efforts (with some prompting from a friend) and finds herself nursing in local hospitals. Many tragedies strike Evie and her friends, as readers see the immense impact of the war.
Will she face the front though?
I really wasn't sure how I felt about this book to begin with.
I'm not a fan of novels written in a diary format. They just aren't personal enough for me as a reader to connect with.
However, the further I got through this book, the more I enjoyed it and the less the protagonist irritated me. I liked seeing how Evie grew as a character. It is also offered a unique perspective of the war; not a soldier, but a nurse. A nurse who never expected to be a nurse, who was not supported of her endeavors by her parents- which at the time was quite a big deal.
There were a few things (especially in the beginning) that were predictable- perhaps the author meant it this way though. Or maybe it was to show Evie's naivety, which she grows out of as the war drags on.
This book almost made me cry too. Why is it always my favourite characters?!
The tone of this novel is extremely bitter-sweet. As looking back on it, we know that an even more destructive war will follow it. Evie is oblivious to this. She cannot imagine anything worse. I want to reach into the past and pull her past the second world war. She's already lost so much.
I'm quite fond of this book now, and it has piqued my interest in World War 1.
4 stars!
However, she quickly becomes immersed in the war efforts (with some prompting from a friend) and finds herself nursing in local hospitals. Many tragedies strike Evie and her friends, as readers see the immense impact of the war.
Will she face the front though?
I really wasn't sure how I felt about this book to begin with.
I'm not a fan of novels written in a diary format. They just aren't personal enough for me as a reader to connect with.
However, the further I got through this book, the more I enjoyed it and the less the protagonist irritated me. I liked seeing how Evie grew as a character. It is also offered a unique perspective of the war; not a soldier, but a nurse. A nurse who never expected to be a nurse, who was not supported of her endeavors by her parents- which at the time was quite a big deal.
There were a few things (especially in the beginning) that were predictable- perhaps the author meant it this way though. Or maybe it was to show Evie's naivety, which she grows out of as the war drags on.
This book almost made me cry too. Why is it always my favourite characters?!
The tone of this novel is extremely bitter-sweet. As looking back on it, we know that an even more destructive war will follow it. Evie is oblivious to this. She cannot imagine anything worse. I want to reach into the past and pull her past the second world war. She's already lost so much.
I'm quite fond of this book now, and it has piqued my interest in World War 1.
4 stars!
August 20, 2015
Evie's War is an outstanding read..so much so that I couldn't put it down.
It will certainly take pride of place on my bookcase!
The book, in its diary format, is easy to read, thoroughly researched and most
educational. I believe it should be a must-read in secondary school history classes.
Evie is such an inspiration and role-model for one so young, bringing much courage, fortitude and compassion in helping those suffering the atrocities of war.
Her character is so real, I felt as if I was sharing her journey. I felt proud
to be a New Zealander!
This is an uplifting, award-winning work.
Sue Thomas (retired journalist)
It will certainly take pride of place on my bookcase!
The book, in its diary format, is easy to read, thoroughly researched and most
educational. I believe it should be a must-read in secondary school history classes.
Evie is such an inspiration and role-model for one so young, bringing much courage, fortitude and compassion in helping those suffering the atrocities of war.
Her character is so real, I felt as if I was sharing her journey. I felt proud
to be a New Zealander!
This is an uplifting, award-winning work.
Sue Thomas (retired journalist)
August 10, 2015
I love the historical stories that are resulting from the WWI centenaries. This well-written and well-researched diary-style story is written from the point of view of a feisty New Zealand girl who becomes a nurse and works in hospitals in England and on the frontline of the war. It's vivid and utterly convincing. See also my review on the blog KidsBooksNZ.
March 20, 2016
A diary style account of a your woman who volunteers as a nurse through the years of the first world war. It examines the role of women at the time and the social change that took place. It also makes the reader aware of the horrors of war. This could be a good companion novel to Mary Hooper's Poopy series.
July 13, 2025
A character that changed by the end of the book was Evie because at the start of the book she was a naive teenager and by the end of the book she was a worldly woman. The author incorporates the use of first person and change in emotive language to show how Evie develops and matures throughout the book. The change of emotive language from the start of the book to the end is evident. At the start of the book when Evie has first started out as a nurse and witnesses her first death, her emotions are strong. A quote from the book that shows this is, “My young Lieutenant has died…. Sister found me weeping outside the ward.” then nearer to the end of the book, “My young man passed away at midday. A second looks likely to follow.” This shows how Evie has been hardened by the war and is more untouched by deaths than she was at the start of the book. It shows that when the time comes sometimes you must block out the emotion and just keep moving forward. This can be a defense mechanism to prevent people from trauma and is commonly seen in veterans - they tend to block out emotions to stop themselves from getting affected. As well as the use of varying emotive language, the author also incorporates the use of first person to get across Evie’s thoughts, feelings and ideas that you wouldn’t know unless you were in first person. At the start of the book when Germany had declared war on Russia, one of Evie’s entries portrays her thoughts, “It seems odd that such things should be happening when we are enjoying the sunshine and playing tennis.” Later in the book she reflects, “How innocent I seemed, even a year ago. As for two; I cannot believe myself the same person, or the World the same place.” This shows Evie’s evolution from naivety/ignorance to her mature, reflective self. It also shows how the war took young children who knew little of the world and some of its horrors, and turned them into hardened, calloused adults - many before they should’ve been adults. The war changed everyone and not even children were spared from the horrors - many having loved ones lost. The author uses first person and change in emotive language to portray the changes in Evie’s character and therefore represents the changes many young people endured from the war. By using these two conventions, the author is provoking the reader to immerse themselves in the character while showing the development and hardening of young people who served in the war. It is hard to think that some of the people who served in the war were nothing but a few years older than children - some still being teenagers. It goes to show how when the hour of need is here, every able person is utilised, whether they are adults or not.
November 25, 2025
Evie’s War is a beautifully wrought, emotionally searing coming-of-age story set against the brutal backdrop of World War I. What begins as an eager young woman’s dream of travel becomes a sweeping journey through independence, loss, and the courage to define one’s place in a world collapsing and reshaping itself all at once.
Evie is instantly compelling bright, hopeful, and hungry for life beyond the confines of early 20th century expectations. Her early experiences in England introduce her not only to wartime realities, but to the shifting tides of women’s rights and the uncomfortable weight of her family’s views. Mackenzie paints these tensions with a deft touch, letting readers feel Evie’s transformation as she steps into roles that demand grit and emotional resilience.
As a VAD nurse, Evie’s world becomes closer, harsher, and more intimate: the bedsides of wounded soldiers, the quiet devastation of waiting families, and the sacrifices demanded of women determined to help. But it’s her impulsive journey to Belgium just 10 kilometers behind the front lines that sets this novel ablaze. The chaos of the Casualty Clearing Station, the relentless stream of injured men, and the terror threaded through each day create some of the story’s most powerful passages.
And yet, Evie’s War is not just a tale of wartime horror. It’s a story of autonomy, identity, and hard-won strength. Returning to England, Evie faces a new kind of conflict: reconciling her lived experience with a society still clinging to Edwardian ideals. Mackenzie explores this tension with sensitivity and insight, making Evie’s emotional journey as compelling as the physical ones she survives.
Readers who love historical fiction grounded in authentic emotion stories like Testament of Youth, Code Name Verity, or The Alice Network will be deeply moved by Evie’s War. It’s a novel of resilience, awakening, and the enduring cost of becoming who you truly are.
Evie is instantly compelling bright, hopeful, and hungry for life beyond the confines of early 20th century expectations. Her early experiences in England introduce her not only to wartime realities, but to the shifting tides of women’s rights and the uncomfortable weight of her family’s views. Mackenzie paints these tensions with a deft touch, letting readers feel Evie’s transformation as she steps into roles that demand grit and emotional resilience.
As a VAD nurse, Evie’s world becomes closer, harsher, and more intimate: the bedsides of wounded soldiers, the quiet devastation of waiting families, and the sacrifices demanded of women determined to help. But it’s her impulsive journey to Belgium just 10 kilometers behind the front lines that sets this novel ablaze. The chaos of the Casualty Clearing Station, the relentless stream of injured men, and the terror threaded through each day create some of the story’s most powerful passages.
And yet, Evie’s War is not just a tale of wartime horror. It’s a story of autonomy, identity, and hard-won strength. Returning to England, Evie faces a new kind of conflict: reconciling her lived experience with a society still clinging to Edwardian ideals. Mackenzie explores this tension with sensitivity and insight, making Evie’s emotional journey as compelling as the physical ones she survives.
Readers who love historical fiction grounded in authentic emotion stories like Testament of Youth, Code Name Verity, or The Alice Network will be deeply moved by Evie’s War. It’s a novel of resilience, awakening, and the enduring cost of becoming who you truly are.
August 2, 2026
Evie's War is a powerful historical fiction novel that captures the emotional journey of a young woman whose life is transformed by the realities of World War I. Anna Mackenzie creates a moving portrait of courage, independence, and resilience through Evie’s experiences as she moves from innocence into the harsh realities of war.
What stood out most is Evie’s personal transformation. Beginning as an eighteen-year-old with dreams of exploring Europe, she is unexpectedly thrust into a world of conflict that challenges everything she believes about duty, society, and her own identity. Her journey reflects not only the devastation of war but also the changing role of women during a pivotal moment in history.
The portrayal of Evie’s work as a VAD nurse is especially compelling. Through her experiences caring for wounded soldiers and witnessing the aftermath of battle, readers see the human cost of war beyond the front lines. Her decision to travel closer to the conflict creates an emotional intensity that makes her story feel deeply personal.
The novel also explores themes of independence and societal expectations, showing the struggle between the traditional values of the Edwardian era and the new possibilities opening for women. Evie’s battle to reconcile who she has become with the world she returns to adds another meaningful layer to the story.
Evie's War will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction about World War I, strong female protagonists, wartime nursing stories, and emotional journeys of courage, loss, and self-discovery.
What stood out most is Evie’s personal transformation. Beginning as an eighteen-year-old with dreams of exploring Europe, she is unexpectedly thrust into a world of conflict that challenges everything she believes about duty, society, and her own identity. Her journey reflects not only the devastation of war but also the changing role of women during a pivotal moment in history.
The portrayal of Evie’s work as a VAD nurse is especially compelling. Through her experiences caring for wounded soldiers and witnessing the aftermath of battle, readers see the human cost of war beyond the front lines. Her decision to travel closer to the conflict creates an emotional intensity that makes her story feel deeply personal.
The novel also explores themes of independence and societal expectations, showing the struggle between the traditional values of the Edwardian era and the new possibilities opening for women. Evie’s battle to reconcile who she has become with the world she returns to adds another meaningful layer to the story.
Evie's War will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction about World War I, strong female protagonists, wartime nursing stories, and emotional journeys of courage, loss, and self-discovery.
August 28, 2018
I feel so sorry for Evie. And everyone else in this story. How utterly pointless is war? I do hope she is happy with Mr Lindsay and not settling for the only nice man not yet killed off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2015
"Evie's War" follows four tubulent years in the life of a young New Zealand woman, whose first trip to London, 1914, coincides with the beginning of World War I. Instead of meeting eligible young men, touring the continent and enjoying parties, she finds herself helping the greviously wounded. Written in diary form, this tracks the various events as they occur, from the point of view of someone who sees the terrible after-effects.
The diary format makes this an extremely easy read, allowing the reader to rush through, and would well suit the abilities of a reluctant teen reader or a younger reader (10/11+) who is reading above their level. Whilst there are some horrendous injuries - including a rather gruesome description of effects of the mustard gas - these are not dwelt on in too great depth. I am not sure, however, that I find the diary form quite as engaging as a more conventional format would allow. Characters come and go, especially the many injured soldiers, with little chance to empathise with their plights or even remember who was who. At times it became quite difficult to keep track. This format, and the era, also made the romantic moments feel less romance and lacked rather in passion - again making it safe for the younger-but-mature reader.
There is plenty of historical matter in here, the results of meticulous research. The diseases, the injuries, the events, all allowing the reader to experience the true tragedies of a world at war. The ANZAC Gallipoli campaign earns a few entries: the landing is recognised (25th April, 1915), and the evacuation of soldiers, from the 15th December.
Overall, it was a good and relatively engaging read, with Evie proving a spirited heroine. Whilst I found the diary form a bit distancing, I think that it is required of the material, for otherwise it would be a truly grim read and off-putting for the target audience. As it stands, it provides a strong insight into darker times, of which the youth of today (and even those well-past youth, like myself) cannot truly imagine, whilst also being a story of courage, love, compassion and friendship.
The diary format makes this an extremely easy read, allowing the reader to rush through, and would well suit the abilities of a reluctant teen reader or a younger reader (10/11+) who is reading above their level. Whilst there are some horrendous injuries - including a rather gruesome description of effects of the mustard gas - these are not dwelt on in too great depth. I am not sure, however, that I find the diary form quite as engaging as a more conventional format would allow. Characters come and go, especially the many injured soldiers, with little chance to empathise with their plights or even remember who was who. At times it became quite difficult to keep track. This format, and the era, also made the romantic moments feel less romance and lacked rather in passion - again making it safe for the younger-but-mature reader.
There is plenty of historical matter in here, the results of meticulous research. The diseases, the injuries, the events, all allowing the reader to experience the true tragedies of a world at war. The ANZAC Gallipoli campaign earns a few entries: the landing is recognised (25th April, 1915), and the evacuation of soldiers, from the 15th December.
Overall, it was a good and relatively engaging read, with Evie proving a spirited heroine. Whilst I found the diary form a bit distancing, I think that it is required of the material, for otherwise it would be a truly grim read and off-putting for the target audience. As it stands, it provides a strong insight into darker times, of which the youth of today (and even those well-past youth, like myself) cannot truly imagine, whilst also being a story of courage, love, compassion and friendship.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews