Victoria Purman
Reviewed by Helen
This is an emotional story set across the years from 1954 to 2018 a story of families coming to Australia for a new life but that doesn’t always come easy there are lots of bridges to cross a new language to learn and new foods to get used to, sixteen year olds Elizabeta, Vasiliki, Iliana and Frances come together in this story that endures such strength, love and friendship and such caring for each other, this one had me turning the pages feeling emotional and teary at times but also feeling fortunate to get to know these girls and the joy that they shared, I hope that you will pick this one up and also enjoy their journey.
Elizabeta and her family have arrived from Germany after being taken from their country of Hungry she has a younger sister and this family has struggled since the war and being German can sometimes make it harder for them.
Vasiliki is from a Greek family she is the only daughter, they are hard workers and are looking forward to their new lives but of course giving up the Greek life is not easy for them.
Iliana is Italian again the only daughter with three brothers they too have been through a lot during the war and making the decision to move to Australia is a big one.
Frances is Australian the daughter of the director of Bonegilla Migrant Camp where the families have arrived and Frances sets out to help these girls as much as she can teaching them English and becoming their friend, together they can accomplish much.
This is the story of a bond so strong between four girls from totally different backgrounds that lasts across years, through thick and thin, with years not getting in touch with each other but always knowing that they will be there for each other, there is a lot of heartache in these years, secrets that have been kept and although the girls move to different states the line of contact is always there. Their strength carried throughout, there is love, laughter tragedy, pain but a true friendship, and this is an emotional roller coaster that had me in tears and I am not going to forget this one for a while.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I grew up with a lot of girls from these countries myself and it was hard for them to meld to the Aussie way but still be themselves and I counted a lot of them as my friends, thank you MS Purman for a fabulous story, this is one that I highly recommend.
Elizabeta and her family have arrived from Germany after being taken from their country of Hungry she has a younger sister and this family has struggled since the war and being German can sometimes make it harder for them.
Vasiliki is from a Greek family she is the only daughter, they are hard workers and are looking forward to their new lives but of course giving up the Greek life is not easy for them.
Iliana is Italian again the only daughter with three brothers they too have been through a lot during the war and making the decision to move to Australia is a big one.
Frances is Australian the daughter of the director of Bonegilla Migrant Camp where the families have arrived and Frances sets out to help these girls as much as she can teaching them English and becoming their friend, together they can accomplish much.
This is the story of a bond so strong between four girls from totally different backgrounds that lasts across years, through thick and thin, with years not getting in touch with each other but always knowing that they will be there for each other, there is a lot of heartache in these years, secrets that have been kept and although the girls move to different states the line of contact is always there. Their strength carried throughout, there is love, laughter tragedy, pain but a true friendship, and this is an emotional roller coaster that had me in tears and I am not going to forget this one for a while.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I grew up with a lot of girls from these countries myself and it was hard for them to meld to the Aussie way but still be themselves and I counted a lot of them as my friends, thank you MS Purman for a fabulous story, this is one that I highly recommend.
5/5 stars for a fabulous story
Published
April 23rd 2018
by HQ Fiction
