By Gillian A Coates (author)
"An emotive and thought provoking read following an 11 year-old’s experience of life during World War II Britain."
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An emotive and thought provoking read following an 11 year-old’s experience of life during World War II Britain. 11 Year old Maggie Dean moves with her family from Gloucestershire just before Christmas 1939 to a house called Riverturn on the Thames near London. We see through Maggie’s eyes as the war encroaches on their lives more and more, while she also faces the day-to-day challenges of settling into a new school, friendships and growing up.
Much like the Mill on the Floss namesake Maggie is a complex character. I really felt for her at times throughout the story where she got into trouble, especially when it seemed the adults around her weren’t really listening to her. It made me sad to read as her family and teacher’s dismissive attitudes left her feeling so alone.
Amongst the darker themes and the obstacles Maggie faces there were some lighter moments that made me laugh. Her crush on Peter was sweet, her friendship with Pip and close relationship with her brother Laurie brought light to the story. The movie reviews throughout brings more of Maggie’s character to life while also providing more detail to the historical backdrop of the tale.
The narrative feels authentic and well-researched, confirmed by the inclusion of more detail about the references made in each chapter and the authors note at the end about their inspiration for particular elements of the story. Riverturn Summer is an emotive read, I felt Maggie’s overwhelm and frustration.
Also the storyline doesn’t shy away from the sadder, darker moments of war, which led to a few heartbreaking scenes. Riverturn Summer is an interesting historical fiction that explores World War II from the perspective of an 11-year old Maggie. As such, while the war features prominently there is still more of a focus on Maggie’s life and what impacts it.
I think it would have been nice to see more of Maggie’s character development between the final chapter and the epilogue. Although her life is briefly filled in, I would have liked for her growing in maturity to have formed a more integral part of the story. I think that this book might be better suited to teen readers.
There is a swear word used in the writing, which would make me cautious about suggesting to a younger audience and even though Maggie is 11, there is an emotional complexity to the storyline that might suit an older audience.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
It is Christmas 1939 and war has broken out across Europe. The Dean family have been uprooted from rural Gloucestershire to a village on the outskirts of London because of Bill Dean’s job. Torn from their familiar surroundings, 11 year-old Maggie and her disabled younger brother Laurie must find new friends and settle into a new life in Riverturn, a Victorian house perched beside a tributary of the Thames.
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All seems quiet for the first few months - the papers call it the Phoney War - but then suddenly everything changes. France and Norway fall to the Germans and the British forces are on the retreat. Soon the RAF is engaging enemy aircraft in the skies over southern England.
The Battle of Britain has begun. Maggie is plunged into a changing world of hope and disappointment, friendship and longing, first love and tragic loss. Already confused and upset by the events going on around her, a strange encounter with a young German pilot in hiding forces Maggie to question everything and make a choice that threatens not just her life but little Laurie’s too.
By turns funny and touching, Riverturn Summer is a story about the home front during the momentous summer of 1940, seen through the eyes of a young girl on the cusp of adolescence who is also facing emotional battles of her own.
It is Christmas 1939 and war has broken out across Europe. The Dean family have been uprooted from rural Gloucestershire to a village on the outskirts of London because of Bill Dean’s job.
Riverturn Summer features in the following genres: Indie Author Books , Recommendations
Paperback. Not Available.
Riverturn Summer was written by Gillian A Coates and published by Independently published
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