From Stella Street to Amsterdam

Stella Street #5

by Elizabeth Honey

A brand new Stella Street adventure from Elizabeth Honey!

When Henni's stubborn old neighbour Willa insists on returning to her childhood home in the Netherlands for a wedding, Henni leaps at the chance to be her travelling companion. 'Lucky duck! Fantastic opportunity!' That's what everyone in Stella Street said. 'Oh boy, chance of a lifetime.'

But during the long flight to Amsterdam, Willa reveals to Henni the real reason for her journey: a terrible family secret stretching back to the Second World War. As Henni makes friends with more and more of Willa's relatives, she must decide if they should know the truth. And is that the only mystery?

A triumphant return to the wonderful, warm and witty world of Stella Street by the much-loved author Elizabeth Honey.

Genres: Young Adult

432 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Elizabeth Honey was a weedy child who always seemed to have a sore throat, so her parents didn't send her to school until she was nearly seven. The Honeys lived on a farm in the bush near Wonthaggi, Victoria. There were four kids and Elizabeth was number three. With her younger sister Mary, Elizabeth puzzled over jigsaws, played with the dogs, climbed trees and one way or another did a lot of pretending, on horses or tractors, in dress-ups or with glove puppets, round old trucks, cubbies, dams and hay sheds.
Following Swinburne art school, adventures overseas and a variety of jobs Elizabeth became an illustrator, then also a writer, for children. Her first book, 'Princess Beatrice and the Rotten Robber' was published in 1988.

She lives in Richmond, Melbourne in a house of books: picture books, poetry, art (Matisse particularly) zines and strange books. Fortunately, her retired graphic designer husband is also a bibliophile. They have two grown-up children and a granddaughter in Amsterdam. All her life Elizabeth has zoomed around on her bike - not a lycra rider, just a charging-round-the-place rider - and that vibrant bike city in the Netherlands has become an inspiration. She's also passionate about streets for people not cars, public parkland and place-making, and an abiding passion is habitat for wildlife, for the survival of our unique Australian animals.

Reviews

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: discussion of war, discussion of Holocaust/genocide/antisemitism, death

I freaking LOVED 45 + 47 Stella Street as a 12 year old back in 1995 when it first came out, so I was REALLY excited when this came out a couple of years ago because I had no idea this was a series and I was really excited to see more of the characters I knew and loved from the first one.

And yet once I got around to actually reading it, this felt like an absolute slog. First of all, there is no need for this book to be over 400 pages long. Secondly, I found myself struggling because Henni and I were - from memory - roughly the same age in 45 + 47 Stella Street. And yet here she is in this one with an iPhone, making video calls home to Australia and yet she's still young enough to fly as an unaccompanied minor??? Essentially, my knowledge of the first book in the series kept pulling me out of the story here.

I wish the focus had been solely on Henni trying to get Willa to tell her story rather than on Henni making friends and experiencing Amsterdam, because all of that slowed the story down dramatically for me and it felt like the actual POINT of the story kept getting lost.

Anyway, I'm being very nitpicky, but this honestly felt far too long and I genuinely can't work out who its intended audience is. It feels too young for YA readers and too long for middle grade readers, leaving???? Adults who are nostalgic for Henni and the Stella Street gang?? IDK.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The close-knit community of Stella Street has saved the money for young Henni to accompany her elderly neighbour from Melbourne to Amsterdam to attend a family wedding. Young Henni is to be Willa’s “guide dog” on the trip, ensuring that Willa stays safe and the holiday goes smoothly.
Yeah, right!
Henni embarks on a steep learning curve with characteristic good humour, adjusting to life in a new country and culture, making friends (and enemies), negotiating family politics and investigating some family secrets. All families have secrets but, as Willa’s childhood was spent in German-occupied Amsterdam during World War Two, her secrets are doozies.
Narrated by Henni, who’s clever, creative, a little bit cheeky, a lot funny and a very insightful writer, this book covers a lot of ground; in more ways than one. It is a contemporary adventure, mystery, guide book and history lesson all rolled into one very entertaining upper middle grade story (for readers 10 – 14).
Elizabeth Honey tackles some tough topics in this book, including family relationships, inter-generational trauma, war, death, prejudice, intercultural understanding and gender/sexuality stereotypes. Honey respects her readers by not pulling her punches, and skilfully mixes in lots of light moments filled with heart and humour so as not to overwhelm.
The clever format of this book also helps to lighten the tone. Accessible text is sprinkled with Dutch words, so readers learn the language along with Henni. (Some words you’ll do well to avoid in polite company though!) Photos, drawings, hand-written notes and poems are also dotted throughout the text as though taken from Henni’s writing notebook. Phone text conversations and emails also add interest and entertain.
This extraordinary story is not only a funny and entertaining read, but also deeply moving; right through to the satisfying, hopeful resolution that is not unrealistically sweet.
Although part of a series, this book works well as a stand-alone: prior knowledge is not assumed. It could be useful in classrooms to inspire discussion on the themes mentioned, as well as stimulating further reading and research. Teachers’ Notes are available for free download from the Allen & Unwin website: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/...
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to review from the publisher.

[Jemma Lowinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was dramaaaaa omg. Also, I have never read a book with a more ambiguous target audience lol but it doesn’t matter because I love Henni - her brain works very much like mine. More Zev content was very much desired.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henni Octon rides again! I loved this, I love Elizabeth Honey’s ability to write complex material for young readers in a way that doesn’t condescend & values their perspective. It’s a more mature Stella Street story, less adventure and more ~life but it hasn’t lost it’s Stella Street roots.

[Georgina Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, a little long winding and confusing but overall had a lovely ending.

[Susan Barnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover of, From Stella Street to Amsterdam, suggested to me that this was going to be a fun read about a pre-teen, Henni Octon, travelling with a mature neighbour, Willa, to have a holiday in Amsterdam with a few unexpected adventures along the way. However, it turned out to be an intense read.

Willa is elderly, possibly 90. She left Amsterdam and all her family a few years after World War II. She is still traumatised by events that happened during the war, which becomes apparent on the plane journey. The plane hits some major turbulence and this seems to be the catalyst to jog her memories. Meanwhile, Henni is actually about fifteen years old and ill-equipped to process Willa’s memories.

The story is long-winded. Henni is only in Amsterdam for about a month, yet it seems much longer as there are many sub-plots concerning the different family members and specific issues related to life in Amsterdam. There is a lot of tension in Willa’s family as they don’t understand why Willa left Amsterdam all those years ago. Fortunately, Henni’s optimistic outlook and outgoing nature put a positive spin on the trip.

The book will have many illustrations upon publication which will give the impression of the story moving along more quickly. Elizabeth Honey does a good job tying up all the loose ends and provides a satisfying ending, but it was a long and demanding journey.

Thanks to Christian School Supplier for providing a free book for review.

[Judy Wollin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henni Octon is offered the opportunity to travel to Amsterdam with Willa, a neighbour in Stella Street. Wills is old and unable to travel by herself, but she wants to return to see her brother and sister, who still live in the apartment building Willa lived in as a child during WW2.
After a terrifying 14-hour plane trip, Willa and Henni arrive in Amsterdam. The house is large, but Henni quickly learns it is multiple flats, and several families live there. Henni is allocated the attic as her bedroom.
The three elderly siblings, Willa, Hyacint and Jacob, argue incessantly in Dutch and English when Henni is in the room. Something from the past, Blue Dog, is haunting them all. A visit to the Resistance Museum triggers something in Willa, and she and Henni leave unexpectedly. Henni finds herself caught in the maelstrom of family tension. The past adn a missing son worry the whole family.
Henni sets out to discover what is haunting Willa, the Blue Dog. She discovers wartime history that haunts the living.
This book presents the complicities of war as it impacted people trying to survive and how it haunted them all their lives.
Recommended for readers ten years and older

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a moving read and would be great for young readers interested in the personal impact of World War II. It paints such a clear picture of Amsterdam - particularly the houses, bikes and canals.

I found the whole thing tinged with sadness, particularly the ending, so it’s not as feel-good as other Stella Street books, but that’s appropriate for the content of the novel. It definitely needs to be read in the context of the series or a lot of cameo appearances and references wouldn’t make sense.

A highlight of the book for me was Henni’s poignant poetry, which added a level of maturity to her character and gave the whole novel a stronger emotional punch.

[Mark Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow in the middle.
Fascinating in the end.
It integrates war stories with the make up of Amsterdam.

[joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed this but i felt like it didnt quite hold the same vibes as stella street #1, and it was more intense

[cockatiel forger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. So much in fact that I have the entire chapter of "Beads" memorised. If that doesn't tell you than I don't know what will.
My only complaint is that I got this from the library so I had to say goodbye to it afterwards... never thought that I would get attached to a book as much as I did this one. New time for everything I guess.

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved how the piece was written - mixing the universes of imagination and reality.