A Most Dangerous Innocence

by Fiorella De Maria

It is 1940, the time of the Phoney War. Britain stands alone with German invaders waiting across the Channel and an anxious population preparing for the bloody battle ahead. In an isolated girls' boarding school, Judy Randall watches the encroachment of the war with a mixture of fascination and fear. She is sixteen-years-old, an anarchic misfit in an institution which prizes rule-keeping and conformity; a Catholic with a Jewish heritage when anti-Semitism is still commonplace and – most inconveniently of all – autistic at a time when her behavior is misunderstood as merely eccentric and insolent.

Bored and frustrated by her inability to help the war effort, Judy becomes obsessed with the idea that her hated headmistress is a Nazi and she goes to increasingly reckless lengths to prove her theory. In the meantime, the adults of the school busy themselves planning how best to protect the children in their care if occupying forces overrun the country. For John Peterson, modern languages teacher and part of a generation who have seen armed conflict before, his own agonizing history forces him to consider what sacrifices he might have to make if the horrors of the war overtake them all…

A Most Dangerous Innocence offers a glimpse into the early days of the Second World War, seen from a sleepy corner of Britain. It is also a meditation on childhood guilt, innocence, loyalty and the courage to stand alone.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

214 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2019

About the author

Fiorella De Maria is an Anglo-Maltese writer, born in Italy and currently living in Surrey. She grew up in rural Wiltshire and attended Cambridge University, where she received a BA in English Literature and an MPhil in Renaissance Literature. A winner of the National Book Prize of Malta, she has published nine novels, specialising in historical and crime fiction. Fiorella’s novels have received endorsements from veteran author and journalist, Piers Paul Reid, and her most recent novel was described as “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie meets I Capture the Castle.”

Besides writing novels, Fiorella is a qualified English Language teacher and a respected bioethicist. She has delivered lectures and papers at conferences all over the world. Her book The Abolition of Woman was described by former Cosmopolitan journalist Sue Ellen Browder as “a daring revelation of the shocking exploitation of women around the world”. Fiorella has appeared on British radio and TV programmes such as ITN 24-Hour News, BBC Woman’s Hour and Premier Radio’s Woman 2 Woman. Fiorella lives with her husband, four children and a dog called Montgomery (Monty).

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew me away. I hated putting it down. And found myself thinking about the story all the time. Few fiction stories that I have read have been so impactful. And I have read many great stories. With reading a couple hundred books a year over the last few years it is hard for a book to really blow me away. But that is exactly what this book did. I have found myself thinking about this book for hours. And eager to get it back in my hands and give it a read. Because I read a physical copy of this book, it took me a few days to read it. I only read it at home, and usually once the kids were down for the night. But before I had even finished tis novel I had purchased all of her other books that are available electronically!

Stories about the Holocaust, about Nazi’s, about antisemitism are not fun to read. And they should not be fun. But they are important reads. I have already begun rereading this story with my oldest daughter a teen. She saw how much the story was impacting me and we had a long talk about it. We talked about the Star of David and compared it to the cross or crucifix that we wear. We talked about standing up for what you believe in. We talked about resisting evil. And all of those things are part of this story.

The story is set in 1040 Britain. And our protagonist, our heroine, is 16-year-old Judy Randall. The last things she wants to do is return to School. She wants to help with the war effort. But until she is 18, she must do as her father bids. And he wants her away from London, away form a possible attack, he wants her somewhere safe. But her school might not be as safe as he expected. Just has taken to wearing a star of David, because of her one Jewish grandmother. She has a knack for ferreting out news, and the truth. And knows much more about what is going on in Europe, then many of her classmates. And more than the school which is trying to shelter and protect the children as much as they can would wish.

Judy has always had a knack for getting in trouble, and this term it spears in spades. She fears a coming invasion, because she looks like the victims of the Nazi’s, even though she has been raised Catholic and is fairly devote. After another run in with the headmistress, she is certain she is hated, and that There is more going on with the headmistress. She soon suspects a fifth columnist. And her continued attempts to get to the truth just get her in more and more trouble with the all of her teachers. Being head strong and reckless, soon Judy has endangered not only herself, bot those whom she really cares about.

A Most Dangerous Innocence is a masterfully written tale. It is not biography, but it could be. And the events and places are real. The story gives us insight into the early days of the Second World War. And shows us, that innocence, friendship, and determination, can be great things, but also end up causing some serious problems. I would rank this as one of the best novels I have every read. And I can not encourage you strongly enough to give it a read. And if her other novels are nearly his good, I am in for some great reads this autumn.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Fiorella. As well as an author profile and interview with Fiorella.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Caitlin Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My one problem beef with this novel was when I got frustrated with Judy for acting/thinking like a teenager.

Then I remembered Judy is a 16 year old girl. Alas, my beef with her disappeared.

I really enjoyed the interplay of characters behind the scenes and the unexpected places the plot went. Will be recommending this to others.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waffled between 4 stars and 5 stars, and would give this a solid 4.5. It was a really quick read, and I couldn't put it down, but I also grew very exasperated with Judy and her behavior. I wish there had been a little more character development with Mr. Peterson. For me, he should have been given more main character treatment. And I guess now I need to go read more about the Boer war.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sort of a mundane start, a feeling that it would be too tortuous to keep engaging in the tortures of Judy in boarding school, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Took a very serious turn and gave a good glimpse into the world of spies in WW2.

[Nick Novelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting story

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written almost like a biography. I could barely put it down! A good story with an exciting reveal. I wish there would have been a little more detail about Judy’s life after school.