BOOK BY: Terrie Todd
A poignant story of familial bonds and love.
Even If We Cry follows the lives of British Guest Children, Nina, Geoffrey, and Hazel Gabriel during WW2 as they travel from Britain to Canada. [Not to be confused with the British Home Children; the Guest Children traveled to Canada as a temporary evacuation measure.] The narrative makes it easy for readers to imagine the long journey across the ocean and to experience relief at their arrival in Manitoba.
Each chapter opens with a letter involving characters in the Gabriel’s world. Readers are drawn deeper into the story, as more background is given through these letters to Nina and her family.
Characters are well developed and believable. Geoffrey and Hazel are typical youngsters getting into interesting situations. Nina is an admirable character. She takes her role as protector to her younger siblings seriously. Her decisions, sometimes foolish, are always rooted in love and in keeping her promise to her parents.
Their foster family have heartaches of their own (tissues may be required). A beautiful story unfolds as they care for Nina and her siblings. Despite their rough beginnings, the relationship that develops between Nina and the eldest Wright daughter is beautiful.
Nina’s story isn’t all roses. Her compassion for others is evident as she tries to help those in trouble around her, and as she searches for others who have gone missing.
Readers can easily picture 1940s life on the Canadian prairies with the author’s vivid descriptions. Significant radio broadcasts of the time period are included in an organic way, allowing readers to sit in the living room with the Wrights and the Gabriels while they hear news of the war efforts for the first time.
I quite enjoyed this story, especially since it is set in Canada (there aren’t enough historical stories set in Canada!). And I look forward to reading more novels by Terrie Todd.
I received an ARC was under no obligation to leave a positive review.