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Genevieve's War
In this companion to the Newbery Honor-winning Lily's Crossing , thirteen-year-old Genevieve risks everything to defy the Nazis and join the French Resistance.
Winner of the Christopher Award!
It's not always thinking of being happy. Doing the right thing will make you happy.
Despite the farm-work and her irritable grandmother Memé, Genevieve thinks she may have found a new home in Alsace, France, where she spent the summer of 1939. Without much to return to in New York, Gen is ready to see if this new life will make her happy.
But then World War II erupts. The Nazis conquer France.
Now everyone in Alsace must speak German, act German, and think German--or else. Even worse, a cold Nazi officer has commandeered a room in Memé's farmhouse--and he can tell that Gen and her grandmother aren't loyal to the Reich.
But Gen won't be cowed. And when her friend Rémy commits an act of sabotage, she hides him in the last place the Germans will look--in the attic, right above the Nazi's head.
For more thrilling historical fiction, don't miss Island War, a survival story set in the remote Aleutian Islands, occupied by the Japanese during World War II, and A Slip of a Girl, a novel in verse about the Irish Land War of the late 19th century.
Winner of the Christopher Award!
It's not always thinking of being happy. Doing the right thing will make you happy.
Despite the farm-work and her irritable grandmother Memé, Genevieve thinks she may have found a new home in Alsace, France, where she spent the summer of 1939. Without much to return to in New York, Gen is ready to see if this new life will make her happy.
But then World War II erupts. The Nazis conquer France.
Now everyone in Alsace must speak German, act German, and think German--or else. Even worse, a cold Nazi officer has commandeered a room in Memé's farmhouse--and he can tell that Gen and her grandmother aren't loyal to the Reich.
But Gen won't be cowed. And when her friend Rémy commits an act of sabotage, she hides him in the last place the Germans will look--in the attic, right above the Nazi's head.
For more thrilling historical fiction, don't miss Island War, a survival story set in the remote Aleutian Islands, occupied by the Japanese during World War II, and A Slip of a Girl, a novel in verse about the Irish Land War of the late 19th century.
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2017
24 people are currently reading
1148 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Reilly Giff
213 books466 followersPatricia Reilly Giff was the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
April 1, 2020
3.75 stars. Read as a read aloud, we quickly got into this story of a young girl living in the Alsace region of France just before the outbreak of WWII. Genevieve is staying with her Grandmother for the holidays and is due to return to New York. Although her Grandmother, Meme is difficult to get on with or even like, Genevieve finds that leaving her is hard especially when Meme has hurt her ankle and is struggling to walk. With the invasion close, Genevieve realises you can trust nobody and once your friends and loved ones are in danger it is impossible to leave.
We really enjoyed this account of what it was like for those living in occupied territorys. We appreciated that the characters were represented fairly, some French were good, some not so good, they chose the easy option of collaborating with the nazis and it was great to see a positive German character.
The story wasn't quite so enjoyable for us towards the end and we do appreciate it's hard for authors to get things exactly right so they suit everyone. We have complained that the last two books we have read by one author have been too depressing and negative for YA and we did say that this story did perhaps go the other way in that most characters escaped anything bad happening and the nazi characters did seem at worst so the authors would be quite justified in saying we can't be pleased.
An enjoyable account of a WWII occupied country.
We really enjoyed this account of what it was like for those living in occupied territorys. We appreciated that the characters were represented fairly, some French were good, some not so good, they chose the easy option of collaborating with the nazis and it was great to see a positive German character.
The story wasn't quite so enjoyable for us towards the end and we do appreciate it's hard for authors to get things exactly right so they suit everyone. We have complained that the last two books we have read by one author have been too depressing and negative for YA and we did say that this story did perhaps go the other way in that most characters escaped anything bad happening and the nazi characters did seem at worst so the authors would be quite justified in saying we can't be pleased.
An enjoyable account of a WWII occupied country.
February 24, 2020
This is mostly a straightforward historical fiction, but more recommendable than some WWII books. First, it focuses on the French Resistance in Alsace, of which I knew nothing going on. Second, it has details that remind me of dystopian fiction and to mysteries, and so would be an appealing read to a wider variety of youngsters. Third, it has memorable details like Meme's ankle so broken it bleeds, and the tower that can only be climbed when the storks are out of nesting season, and the painting, and access to the attic only on the roof.
A quick, engaging, satisfying read with an incredibly brave 14 yo hero(ine).
Read for Inter-generational Friendship, and it does indeed fit that category fine even though the old lady is the grandma, not a neighbor-type friend.
A quick, engaging, satisfying read with an incredibly brave 14 yo hero(ine).
Read for Inter-generational Friendship, and it does indeed fit that category fine even though the old lady is the grandma, not a neighbor-type friend.
September 8, 2019
Excellent! Even though this was part fiction I learned a lot.
December 30, 2020
This was my first book to read by Patricia Reilly Giff! What impressed me most was her unique writing style. She used short sentences, and even sentence fragments, to create a quick pace to her story. It almost felt like watching a show instead of reading a book, which I rather enjoyed. Her writing style would definitely be easily translated to the screen, and I'm interested to see if her other books are written in a similar style.
I love how relatable this story is to the things we've experienced in 2020. The entire plot revolves around the future and what is to come 'someday', even when 'someday' is unknown. I was inspired by each of the character's dedication to hope despite the many challenges of war and Nazi occupation. It reminds me to have hope for the future 'someday' that is coming despite the many uncertainties of this pandemic!
I love how relatable this story is to the things we've experienced in 2020. The entire plot revolves around the future and what is to come 'someday', even when 'someday' is unknown. I was inspired by each of the character's dedication to hope despite the many challenges of war and Nazi occupation. It reminds me to have hope for the future 'someday' that is coming despite the many uncertainties of this pandemic!
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June 4, 2017I desperately need publishers to stop using the term "companion book" willy nilly. This is not a companion book to my childhood favorite, Lily's Crossing. It is a book by the same author that happens to take place during the time period, with no connections between characters and taking place on entirely different continents.
That said, it's really good! The idea is great, and I really knew nothing about the Alsace region, so it was really fascinating to see that part of WWII history. Genevieve is no Lily, but there are some great characters in this. The end gets a little....coincidental and a bit pat, but overall a great read. Just...there is absolutely no reason to say this has anything to do with Lily's Crossing, and since that book is so old, I feel like that will probably turn readers off because they won't know what that is and think that they have to read one to get the other, and they couldn't be more separate than if one had aliens.
That said, it's really good! The idea is great, and I really knew nothing about the Alsace region, so it was really fascinating to see that part of WWII history. Genevieve is no Lily, but there are some great characters in this. The end gets a little....coincidental and a bit pat, but overall a great read. Just...there is absolutely no reason to say this has anything to do with Lily's Crossing, and since that book is so old, I feel like that will probably turn readers off because they won't know what that is and think that they have to read one to get the other, and they couldn't be more separate than if one had aliens.
February 10, 2017
Giff's latest is a novel about an American girl who is staying with her grandmother in Alsace, France when the Germans invade in 1939. The Germans take over everything--stealing food and supplies as well as anything else of value, installing a soldier to live in their house with them, and attempting to steal the French culture as well, banning French books, berets, etc., and replacing them with German equivalents. Giff is a talented writer, but I have a few quibbles with the novel. First, this is a book being marketed to the 9-12 year old crowd with accompanying language and larger print and there is very little violence which is appropriate. But Genevieve starts the novel at age 13 and seems far too juvenile in her speech and thought. She's exceedingly naïve. It's an easy way for the author to provide conflict and give her character something to do, but it seems sloppy to me. Also, the book opens with a compelling scene of Genevieve and her grandmother huddling in the cellar as the area is being bombed, switching then to all of the events leading up to that point. But we never get back to that scene and in fact surpass it as the last few chapters put Genevieve somewhere around age 19 or 20 as she's now spent 6 years there. If you're really into historical fiction you may enjoy this book, but I think a better choice would be last year's The War that Saved My Life.
March 31, 2017
French American Genevieve Michel, 13, and her older brother André have been spending the summer of 1939 visiting their rather cold, judgmental grandmother, Mémé, helping out on her farm in Alsace, close to the Germany border.
Now, at the end of summer, André has already returned to the States and Genevieve is set to leave on Normandie, on what may well have been the last passenger ship leaving France before the expected invasion of France by Germany. But at the last minute, Genevieve decides to remain with her grandmother. In September, war is declared, and in June, the Germans do indeed invade France.
Suddenly, everything changes. The are German soldiers everywhere and everyone’s farm animals and food supplies are confiscated. Luckily, Mémé has a secret pantry where she and Genevieve move most of their jars of food. The teacher at school is replaced by a new Nazi teachers, and the French names of the students are changed to German names (Genevieve becomes Gerta), and French is outlawed, only German may be spoken at all times, French books are publicly burned, and a German officer is billeted on the farm, enjoying what little food there is, and complaining about the scarce heat.
Genevieve believes her brother has safely returned to the United States, but when she notices a sweater of his at the village book shop, she becomes suspicious of the owner, Monsieur Philippe, and decides he is not to be trusted, even though Mémé tells her she is wrong. But when the train station is sabotaged, and Genevieve learns that Rémy, a boy she likes very much, is a Resistance fighter and missing since the station was blown up, she has to turn to the bookseller for help. Can she really trust him?
Soon, she finds herself hiding Rémy from the Nazis in Mémé attic. Genevieve and even her grandmother becomes part of the local Resistance, doing what they can. Mémé has always told her granddaughter not to trust anyone, not even her best friend Katrin, but Genevieve’s a naïve, impulsive girl who always thinks she knows better. And Genevieve has to learn the hard way that people are often not who they seem to be, and friends may betray friends, while perceived enemies may turn out to be friends after all.
Until now, I have only read two of Giff’s WWII books, both of which take place on the home front, so this was a change for me. But just as she did in Willow Run and Gingersnap, Giff managed captured what life was life - this time in an occupied country. All the realities of war are there: the constant fear, the constant hunger, the winter cold, the always present mistrust, and especially the presence of an enemy who will not hesitate to use their force or weapons to get what they want. And although Genevieve constantly thinks about what life would be like in Springfield Gardens, Queens if she had gone home, but to her credit, she never regrets her choice to stay with her grandmother in Alsace.
Genevieve's War is told in the first person, narrated by Genevieve so everything is filtered through her experiences. I especially liked seeing her opinion with her grandmother changed over time, as well as how Mémé's judgement of her granddaughter changed. Over the course of the war, Genevieve transforms into a capable, thoughtful young woman who comes to appreciate her grandmother, learns about her deceased father whom she never knew, and discovers a love for farm life.
Genevieve's War is a thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of courage, defiance, and loyalty in times of peril that still manages to carry a note of hope throughout.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an ARC received from the publisher.
This review was originally posted at The Children's War
Now, at the end of summer, André has already returned to the States and Genevieve is set to leave on Normandie, on what may well have been the last passenger ship leaving France before the expected invasion of France by Germany. But at the last minute, Genevieve decides to remain with her grandmother. In September, war is declared, and in June, the Germans do indeed invade France.
Suddenly, everything changes. The are German soldiers everywhere and everyone’s farm animals and food supplies are confiscated. Luckily, Mémé has a secret pantry where she and Genevieve move most of their jars of food. The teacher at school is replaced by a new Nazi teachers, and the French names of the students are changed to German names (Genevieve becomes Gerta), and French is outlawed, only German may be spoken at all times, French books are publicly burned, and a German officer is billeted on the farm, enjoying what little food there is, and complaining about the scarce heat.
Genevieve believes her brother has safely returned to the United States, but when she notices a sweater of his at the village book shop, she becomes suspicious of the owner, Monsieur Philippe, and decides he is not to be trusted, even though Mémé tells her she is wrong. But when the train station is sabotaged, and Genevieve learns that Rémy, a boy she likes very much, is a Resistance fighter and missing since the station was blown up, she has to turn to the bookseller for help. Can she really trust him?
Soon, she finds herself hiding Rémy from the Nazis in Mémé attic. Genevieve and even her grandmother becomes part of the local Resistance, doing what they can. Mémé has always told her granddaughter not to trust anyone, not even her best friend Katrin, but Genevieve’s a naïve, impulsive girl who always thinks she knows better. And Genevieve has to learn the hard way that people are often not who they seem to be, and friends may betray friends, while perceived enemies may turn out to be friends after all.
Until now, I have only read two of Giff’s WWII books, both of which take place on the home front, so this was a change for me. But just as she did in Willow Run and Gingersnap, Giff managed captured what life was life - this time in an occupied country. All the realities of war are there: the constant fear, the constant hunger, the winter cold, the always present mistrust, and especially the presence of an enemy who will not hesitate to use their force or weapons to get what they want. And although Genevieve constantly thinks about what life would be like in Springfield Gardens, Queens if she had gone home, but to her credit, she never regrets her choice to stay with her grandmother in Alsace.
Genevieve's War is told in the first person, narrated by Genevieve so everything is filtered through her experiences. I especially liked seeing her opinion with her grandmother changed over time, as well as how Mémé's judgement of her granddaughter changed. Over the course of the war, Genevieve transforms into a capable, thoughtful young woman who comes to appreciate her grandmother, learns about her deceased father whom she never knew, and discovers a love for farm life.
Genevieve's War is a thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of courage, defiance, and loyalty in times of peril that still manages to carry a note of hope throughout.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an ARC received from the publisher.
This review was originally posted at The Children's War
October 14, 2018
A 2019-2020 Missouri Mark Twain Readers Award preliminary nominee (grades 4-6).
It is 1939. Genevieve has spent the summer with her grandmother in Alsace. She is scheduled to return home to New York, but on the morning she is set to return her grandmother hurts her ankle. Fearing for her grandmother's ability to care for herself, especially with war coming, Genevieve decides to stay in Alsace.
This is a war story without the fighting. Instead it centers on life in occupied territory and what life is like for the residents as seen through the eyes of a child. It might be good for kids who enjoyed The War that Saved My Life and wanted to read more about WWII.
It is 1939. Genevieve has spent the summer with her grandmother in Alsace. She is scheduled to return home to New York, but on the morning she is set to return her grandmother hurts her ankle. Fearing for her grandmother's ability to care for herself, especially with war coming, Genevieve decides to stay in Alsace.
This is a war story without the fighting. Instead it centers on life in occupied territory and what life is like for the residents as seen through the eyes of a child. It might be good for kids who enjoyed The War that Saved My Life and wanted to read more about WWII.
May 10, 2018
Thirteen-year-old Genevieve has spent the summer of 1939 visiting the grandmother she never knew in Alsace, France. It's almost time to go home, but where is home? Genevieve's parents died long ago and the beloved aunt who raised her is on sabbatical way up in the far north of Canada and Genevieve will be going to stay with Aunt Marie's friend in another town in New York. Another town, another school, new friends-how horrid! Genevieve is dreading the return yet farm life isn't really for her. Sure the animals are cute but her grandmother is not the warm and fuzzy type. Then Genevieve makes the last minute decision to stay. She feels like she's doing the right thing but when the Nazis march into town everything changes. An officer takes over their home, their food, their animals, their lives. Genevieve's grandmother remains stoic and strong but does Genevieve have what it takes to survive? She soon learns things about her grandmother and her friends that surprise her and force her to make a difficult decision that could affect her future.
This is a unique WWII story being set in an Alsatian farming community. For those who may not know, Alsace is a historically hotly disputed area bordering France and Germany. Between the Franco-Prussian War (1871) and the end of WWI (1918) Alsace was German. Then in 1918 the region became part of France. Genevieve's family identifies as French in their soul, like many others in real life and in the novel. This became problematical when the Nazis came in and took over and forced everyone to become German. Genevieve as an American is caught in the middle.
At first I was worried about her reasons for staying but she made the right choice. It wasn't an easy choice or one that I would have made as an adult, let alone as a child. It's easy to look back on the time and urge her to get out now, but the characters don't have the benefit of that hindsight. The local color is amazing and I could easily picture the countryside, the farmhouse, the village and Alsace in general. The author was sensitive to the history of the area and the identities of the people but the story is very pro-French. I could not put the book down until the end. Typical of books for this age level, it does have a standard happy ending, omitting most of the atrocities of war. It does mention bombs in the distance, concentration camps, book burning and Jew-hating Nazis but most of the war violence doesn't directly affect Genevieve.
Genevieve is a typical young teenage girl at first. She comes across as kind of bratty and selfish. She just wants to be a kid riding her bike and flirting with a cute boy named Rémy. Over the next few years she really grows up and finds her identity. I loved watching her grow and the decisions she made. She becomes very courageous and strong, like her grandmother. Mémé is not your typical warm, farmhouse grandma. She's had a tough life and gotten used to being independent. Genevieve is a lot like her grandmother! Mémé is revealed to be an incredible woman whom Genevieve grows to love and admire and the reader will too.
Genevieve's friend Rémy at first seems like he's amusing himself letting Genevieve tag along with him. He too has hidden depths and becomes someone to admire. Genevieve's best friend Katrin was not my favorite character in the book. She is young, a bit stupid and naive. I blamed her for the Nazi officer moving into Mémé's house to begin with. Like Genevieve, Katrin has a lot of growing up to do.
The Germans are obviously the bad guys here. Patricia Reilly Giff is one of my favorite children's authors because she honestly captures a child's voice. The story is told from Genevieve's point-of-view and from her pov, the Germans are bad. Remember, they don't have the knowledge we do of the atrocities committed. They don't know what the future holds. German Alsace could be the same as French Alsace as far as anyone knows in the beginning. It only becomes clear the longer the Germans stay that Nazis are willing to go to any lengths to protect what they see as theirs. The Germans are not ALL evil. There are a few moments that surprised me and made the story really stand out because it wasn't so black and white.
I recommend this to readers ages 10+. It's a must-read as are most of Patricia Reilly Giff's books!
This is a unique WWII story being set in an Alsatian farming community. For those who may not know, Alsace is a historically hotly disputed area bordering France and Germany. Between the Franco-Prussian War (1871) and the end of WWI (1918) Alsace was German. Then in 1918 the region became part of France. Genevieve's family identifies as French in their soul, like many others in real life and in the novel. This became problematical when the Nazis came in and took over and forced everyone to become German. Genevieve as an American is caught in the middle.
At first I was worried about her reasons for staying but she made the right choice. It wasn't an easy choice or one that I would have made as an adult, let alone as a child. It's easy to look back on the time and urge her to get out now, but the characters don't have the benefit of that hindsight. The local color is amazing and I could easily picture the countryside, the farmhouse, the village and Alsace in general. The author was sensitive to the history of the area and the identities of the people but the story is very pro-French. I could not put the book down until the end. Typical of books for this age level, it does have a standard happy ending, omitting most of the atrocities of war. It does mention bombs in the distance, concentration camps, book burning and Jew-hating Nazis but most of the war violence doesn't directly affect Genevieve.
Genevieve is a typical young teenage girl at first. She comes across as kind of bratty and selfish. She just wants to be a kid riding her bike and flirting with a cute boy named Rémy. Over the next few years she really grows up and finds her identity. I loved watching her grow and the decisions she made. She becomes very courageous and strong, like her grandmother. Mémé is not your typical warm, farmhouse grandma. She's had a tough life and gotten used to being independent. Genevieve is a lot like her grandmother! Mémé is revealed to be an incredible woman whom Genevieve grows to love and admire and the reader will too.
Genevieve's friend Rémy at first seems like he's amusing himself letting Genevieve tag along with him. He too has hidden depths and becomes someone to admire. Genevieve's best friend Katrin was not my favorite character in the book. She is young, a bit stupid and naive. I blamed her for the Nazi officer moving into Mémé's house to begin with. Like Genevieve, Katrin has a lot of growing up to do.
The Germans are obviously the bad guys here. Patricia Reilly Giff is one of my favorite children's authors because she honestly captures a child's voice. The story is told from Genevieve's point-of-view and from her pov, the Germans are bad. Remember, they don't have the knowledge we do of the atrocities committed. They don't know what the future holds. German Alsace could be the same as French Alsace as far as anyone knows in the beginning. It only becomes clear the longer the Germans stay that Nazis are willing to go to any lengths to protect what they see as theirs. The Germans are not ALL evil. There are a few moments that surprised me and made the story really stand out because it wasn't so black and white.
I recommend this to readers ages 10+. It's a must-read as are most of Patricia Reilly Giff's books!
May 12, 2017
Received as an ARC.
Mixed feelings. I found the narrator annoying, which is rare for me. The story itself also seemed difficult to keep track of - I had to go back and read sections again and still missed parts. But the story was interesting, and engaging enough to keep me reading.
Perhaps my biggest problem is that the main character is an American (who has the chance to escape and decides voluntarily to go back and help her grandmother, and there's very little remorse/regret for this decision), and this WWII story is entirely set in France with little to no mention of the other horrors the Nazis committed. There are only passing references to what Jewish people were enduring. Part of this is because the character would not have had that same insight at the time, but there's not an epilogue that expands upon this either.. Still, I'm not a fan of this recent trend of WWII historical fiction stories that are set outside Germany, with little to no information on the Holocaust. An author's note explaining Giff's process - why the French countryside? What history did she pull from? - would have changed this for me. I don't want to see a cultural shift away from the horrors of the Holocaust simply because it is a tough subject. Readers will even see a couple of sympathetic Nazis in this story. These details make me feel extremely uneasy, especially with the rise in white nationalism that we've seen in America in recent years.
For readers interested in the French experience during WWII, I would highly recommend Odette's Secrets, which has a somewhat similar premise of being set in the French countryside, but Odette is Jewish and the Holocaust is definitely felt in the story.
Update: While I did not review the final published copy, I did look through it to check whether Giff had included any more information on why she chose to tell the story she did. In my opinion there still is not much information, or at least not enough for me to rethink my review.
Mixed feelings. I found the narrator annoying, which is rare for me. The story itself also seemed difficult to keep track of - I had to go back and read sections again and still missed parts. But the story was interesting, and engaging enough to keep me reading.
Perhaps my biggest problem is that the main character is an American (who has the chance to escape and decides voluntarily to go back and help her grandmother, and there's very little remorse/regret for this decision), and this WWII story is entirely set in France with little to no mention of the other horrors the Nazis committed. There are only passing references to what Jewish people were enduring. Part of this is because the character would not have had that same insight at the time, but there's not an epilogue that expands upon this either.. Still, I'm not a fan of this recent trend of WWII historical fiction stories that are set outside Germany, with little to no information on the Holocaust. An author's note explaining Giff's process - why the French countryside? What history did she pull from? - would have changed this for me. I don't want to see a cultural shift away from the horrors of the Holocaust simply because it is a tough subject. Readers will even see a couple of sympathetic Nazis in this story. These details make me feel extremely uneasy, especially with the rise in white nationalism that we've seen in America in recent years.
For readers interested in the French experience during WWII, I would highly recommend Odette's Secrets, which has a somewhat similar premise of being set in the French countryside, but Odette is Jewish and the Holocaust is definitely felt in the story.
Update: While I did not review the final published copy, I did look through it to check whether Giff had included any more information on why she chose to tell the story she did. In my opinion there still is not much information, or at least not enough for me to rethink my review.
August 14, 2018
This book is aimed at 9-12 year old readers who want to read more about WWII. It is not violent in any way, so it is good for younger readers or more sensitive readers.
Genevieve spends the summer of 1939 in Alsace with her grandmother. When she is supposed to leave for her trip back to America, she impulsively misses the train and heads back to spend the next few years with her grandmother, who she originally thinks is mean and unfriendly. Soon they both endure the expected invasion by the Germans. A German soldier appropriates their house and there is a severe shortage of food. A friend of Genevieve's helps to sabotage the train station and she ends up hiding him in an attic room, right above the German soldier!
There is excitement as Genevieve learns who to trust and who not to trust. However, I was confused in places by some of the characters and whose side they were on. I was especially confused about Andre-who he was and how he came to be in France. Also, the situation with Genevieve's parents-what happened to them and why was Genevieve confused about her father Gerard? Young readers may also be confused.
This is supposed to be a companion book to the author's Lily's Crossing, but it in no way has anything to do with that title and this book can be read independent of Lily's Crossing.
Genevieve spends the summer of 1939 in Alsace with her grandmother. When she is supposed to leave for her trip back to America, she impulsively misses the train and heads back to spend the next few years with her grandmother, who she originally thinks is mean and unfriendly. Soon they both endure the expected invasion by the Germans. A German soldier appropriates their house and there is a severe shortage of food. A friend of Genevieve's helps to sabotage the train station and she ends up hiding him in an attic room, right above the German soldier!
There is excitement as Genevieve learns who to trust and who not to trust. However, I was confused in places by some of the characters and whose side they were on. I was especially confused about Andre-who he was and how he came to be in France. Also, the situation with Genevieve's parents-what happened to them and why was Genevieve confused about her father Gerard? Young readers may also be confused.
This is supposed to be a companion book to the author's Lily's Crossing, but it in no way has anything to do with that title and this book can be read independent of Lily's Crossing.
June 6, 2018
Summer, 1939 – Alsace, France. Genevieve, a young American has spent the summer with her crotchety old grandmother, helping on the farm. With war impending, she is on her way home to New York. At the last minute, Genevieve changes her mind and stays in France, much to her grandmother’s dismay. As Germany invades, and Nazis take over the farm, Genevieve must now try to survive in a country being torn apart by war. The Nazis take their food, their valuables, and their friends. And when her friend Remy is injured in an act of sabotage, Genevieve will hide him right over the Nazis’ heads. But now, with suspicions running high and even friends turning traitor, Genevieve must determine who can be trusted with her most important secrets.
Genevieve’s War is tale of quiet courage, a coming of age in the most difficult of circumstances. Fans of WWII fiction will be drawn to the unique and well-crafted setting in Alsace, while other readers will still appreciate the timeless perspectives on trust, courage and love. A fascinating story that will keep readers engrossed from the beginning of the war to the end.
Genevieve’s War is tale of quiet courage, a coming of age in the most difficult of circumstances. Fans of WWII fiction will be drawn to the unique and well-crafted setting in Alsace, while other readers will still appreciate the timeless perspectives on trust, courage and love. A fascinating story that will keep readers engrossed from the beginning of the war to the end.
August 5, 2017
World War II stories are in high demand in our elementary library. Focusing on Genevieve a young girl who risks her life to save French citizens in Alsace during the Nazi occupation of their town, is suspense filled with lots of nail biting details about the resistance, and ruthlessness of German troops during their occupation of this gentle country town. Genevieve's War is about brave Genevieve a thirteen-year-old American girl who in 1939 makes the decision to stay in Alsace, France with her elderly stern grandmother, instead of returning to the comforts of the US. By starting out with the end of the story, Patricia Reilly Giff injects an intriguing hook that makes the reader anxious to know what happens to them during the years leading up to the bombing. Genevieve is an impulsive strong willed character who makes you cringe at some of her short sighted decisions. Once I started reading this it was impossible to put down. Readers who love historic fiction as well as kids who thrive on adventure books will want to find out what happens to brave Genevieve.
February 4, 2017
A World War II story set in Alsace.....Genevieve has been visiting her seemingly distant grandmother and gets caught up in the arrival of the Germans...,,she chooses to stay behind knowing that her grandmother, who doesn't show her any affection, needs her..Genevieve is impetuous but kind hearted and she grows in person strength and courage as th demands of the war affect them all. At times her youth and thoughtlessness causes difficulties but she grows in courage, confidence and self masteryThere is mystery, who is the traitor among them and a sense of the hardships.
a
a
September 7, 2017
I had to read this -- it's a WWII story set in France. And it was a fine way to spend a few lunch hours. But it covered a span of six years in only 222 pages, so sometimes I felt like I was being rushed along to the next plot point. Also, the situations that were supposed to build tension were not actually that tense. That probably makes it a good choice for younger and/or sensitive readers. On the other hand, the main character is 18 by the book's end, and a romance is suggested, which may be a bit beyond the interest of most third-graders. So it's a little hard to know exactly who to recommend it for. Maybe a grandmother/granddaughter book club...
May 11, 2017
It seems as though every writer is coming out with a world war II novel. Unfortunately, this one didn't have any unique idea that hasn't already been written. An thirteen year old American, visiting her grandmother in France decides to stay as war breaks out. Choosing to stay because it is right. Just not as good as some of the other world war II novels that have come out in the past year or two.
did-not-finish
May 23, 2019Maybe 48% was too early to quit, but I just couldn't take it anymore. For starters, Genevieve's decision to stay with a grandmother she hated on the eve of the German invasion of France wasn't convincing. Despite the passage of over year, their relationship has developed very little. The main reason I quit is that Genevieve keeps making stupid, idiotic, and dangerous decisions and I'm not sticking around to find out who dies.
July 17, 2019
While I enjoyed this book, nothing jumped out to me as above or below average. I kept waiting for Giff to return to the scene she opened the book with but she never did; she only alluded to it.
I could predict the book, almost every section, from the beginning. When a book falls into such predictable tropes, I have a hard time recommending it to anyone. I finished it easily but nothing struck me as outstanding.
I could predict the book, almost every section, from the beginning. When a book falls into such predictable tropes, I have a hard time recommending it to anyone. I finished it easily but nothing struck me as outstanding.
November 26, 2017
Amazing! Patricia Reilly Giff has always been one of my favorite children’s authors and her gift for writing is well known. She did a wonderful job with the plot and character development of all the characters. This is an important historical fiction for children and adults to read together. Genevieve is my hero!
January 21, 2021
Honestly in the beginning Gen aggravated me. She was a naive teenager who really didn't pay attention to the world around her especially when everyone warned war was coming. Put in incredibly challenging situations, Gen changes into this caring person who put others first.
February 27, 2020
Wow, as if I couldn't love PRG anymore than I already do! I truly think Genevieve's War deserves a spot up with Nory Ryan's Song and Lily's Crossing. PRG did an excellent job setting the atmosphere of a beautiful, yet war-torn French countryside. The whole story was written to feel like the cover looks: warm and home-y. I learned a lot about Alsace, its people and its involvement in World War II. But most importantly, I got to watch the caring, but lost Genevieve grow up from a clumsy, passionate girl to a calm, brave young woman. I was surprised how much I fell in love with her cranky grandmother and loved watching their relationship form. By staying in France with Meme throughout the war, Genevieve discovered not only where her home was, but who she was as a person.
It was just so beautiful.
It was just so beautiful.
June 6, 2017
So much better written than The Watcher, which I read last week. Again, the main character is a young teenage American girl in Europe during WWII, this time living in Alsace, France with her grandmother. Both Genevieve and her grandmother are interesting characters with some good, realistic development. I appreciate finding books that deal with topics other than the Holocaust. This book touches on the occupation, quartering soldiers, and the French Resistance. I enjoyed the story and Giff's general writing style, but was disappointed by a few holes in the story. I give this my favorite rating of 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
February 3, 2022
Genevieve hasn't really enjoyed getting to know her French grandmother, but when the time comes to return to the United States, she doesn't get on the train. Not long after, World War II starts, and she and her grandmother try to get by, even when a German officer moves into their house. A coming-of-age story under difficult circumstances, dealing with hunger, fear, betrayal, and the Resistance.
March 28, 2020
Loved it! Handed it to my daughter right after finishing it and she cant put it down either.
Wonderful story. I've read many WW2 children's literature and this one still had me wondering where the author would go with it. Favorite author. Havent read one that I dislike.
Wonderful story. I've read many WW2 children's literature and this one still had me wondering where the author would go with it. Favorite author. Havent read one that I dislike.
July 1, 2017
An absolutely beautiful story. Well written.
February 1, 2020
Books like this are why I love middle grade so much; characters you root for, meaningful themes, interesting settings, well told stories. This book was wonderful, and I’m so glad I picked it up.
November 25, 2022
i loved reading this so much!!
December 10, 2024
Short book for middle grades. Well told story of Genevieve and her grandmother, Mèmè and how they survived WWII in occupied France.
May 30, 2017
Excellent book!
July 19, 2017
Genevieve, a 13 year old girl, who has returned to France to be with Meme during the war. When she is supposed to leave France, she decides to stay to help Meme on her farm. Infiltrated by Germans, Genevieve holds secrets that she must keep in order to keep her and her meme safe.
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