Genuine Jenn

Book Description:

Teenaged Bruna's life is turned upside down when her small Italian village becomes the centre of fighting in the last months of the Second World War.

Bruna is the youngest of seven children, living an idyllic life in a small village in Italy in the 1940s. As the Second World War unfolds Bruna's life remains largely the same. By 1943, her biggest disappointment is that food rationing means there is no cake to celebrate her fourteenth birthday. The Italian leader Mussolini's allegiance to Hitler and the distant reports of fighting seem far away from their lives.

But when the Italian people turn against their fascist regime, war comes to their region. Bruna struggles to cope as Nazi soldiers descend to occupy their village, and she must help her mother and sisters stand up to the occupying soldiers. Her peaceful life is turned upside down by the fact that her beloved little village is now the centre of the final stage of fighting between the Allies and the Germans, the only front left defended by the Nazis in Italy.

Including photographs and maps, War In My Town is a true story based on the experiences of author E. Graziani's mother and her family.

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About the Author:

E. Graziani writes books for adults and teens. She is the author of Breaking Faith (Second Story Press), a contemporary fiction novel, most recently selected for the 'In the Margins' Book Award 2018 Recommended Fiction List, and one of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, War in My Town (Second Story Press)--one of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens and finalist in the Hamilton Arts Council 2016 Literary Awards for Best Non-Fiction. E. Graziani is also the author of 'Magenta' YA Urban/Sci-fi, women's fiction '6 Days in April' & new edition releases of 'Alice-The First 500' series Parts I&II coming in 2020! She resides in Canada with her husband and four daughters.

Author's Website.

Review:

This is a middle school boarding on YA novel but I really feel that any age 10+ could read it and really enjoy it. I am not huge on historical novels but I have always enjoyed family stories. One thing I love about working with the elderly is when they tell stories when they were young. There is so much to learn from these stories that you won't learn else where. This novel is about a young girl (author's mother) who lived in a small Italian village during World War II. I also find it easier to learn about wars when it is coming from an individual that has lived it. Bruna's story is heart wrenching, scary and full of love and passion of a close knit family and village. The author has retold this story with great detail and I found myself hanging on every word to see how things would unfold with Hitler taking over this small village. I enjoyed how easy the story flowed and kept me engaged. I have recommended it to both of my children to read in the near future.

I give this book a 4.5 stars out of 5 and would definitely read more from this author.

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

Book Description:

On 29th April 1980, British police assured Iran that their embassy was secure. The very next day, terrorists stormed the embassy and took twenty-six hostages. With the Iranian government willing to let the hostages become martyrs, and the British government only willing to talk if the terrorists surrendered, twenty-six lives hung in the balance.

What followed was six days of tension and terror. It was finally ended when the SAS launched a daring rescue mission, broadcast live on television. Millions held their breath, waiting to see the outcome of Operation Nimrod.

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About the Author:

Born and brought up in a mining village in South Yorkshire, I have lived and worked in South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Cumbria and Staffordshire. I currently live in Stoke on Trent with my wife and son.

I write books and articles about military technology and history. My articles have been published in Miniature Wargames, Wargames Illustrated and the Society of Twentieth Century Wargamers' Journal. Some of them are available on my website.

This book was Narrated by Phillip J. Mather.

Review:

Each year I try and step outside of my comfort spot for books and this is one of them, normally I do not read/listen to war/history/military stuff. My husband is the war/history buff and to be honest I am usually lost when it comes to that type of stuff. I am also just venturing into audiobooks with a few under my belt.

Operation Nimrod, I'll be honest I didn't even know that this had happened almost 35 years ago. When I first started listening to this I was thinking is this for real or a fiction story? I never really paid attention when I read the synopsis. I know that sounds awful but it is honest. I actually went back to the synopsis and also went online to check it out and found a ton of information on this event. I am actually really glad I listened to this audiobook. I have learned about a huge event in UK history and was able to hold may own in a conversation with my history/war buff husband. It was nice for a change to have more info on something I didn't know anything about.

The author did a great job making this book easy to follow along and I didn't find it as a dry read. He has researched this event really well and was straight to the point without all the extra fluff.

I really enjoyed the narrator, Phillip J. Mather. Mather's did a great job, he has a very deep British voice. I think he would make a great narrator for mystery/crime novels. I look forward to more books from both this author and narrator.

I give this audiobook a 4 stars out of 5.

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.*~