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Jump to navigationJump to searchJenny's War by Margaret Dickinson (view source)
Revision as of 18:21, 27 February 2012
, 18:21, 27 February 2012no edit summary
But there's worse in store for Jenny. Arthur has turned his hand to the black market and his interest in Jenny now only relates to how useful she can be. Not only has Jenny's new life been rudely interrupted but she is now forced to take part in activities that grow more repugnant to her as she grows older.
My sympathy for Jenny waned quickly at the start of the book, largely because the ongoing drama of her distress as at having to leave home was stretched out over several chapters. After that had passed, this quickly developed into a wholesome and comforting wartime tale with the family with which she was placed demonstrating the best of British in many ways.
Before it got too cosy, we were taken back to the East End and the new problems that Jenny faced. As she grows up, she becomes more of a likeable character and we see the best of her in new found ambitions that Dot would dearly love to discourage.
Dot and Arthur are very well drawn as the resident unpleasant characters; it's also a good window into the myriad ways that could be found to abuse the trust that people showed in their countrymen during the war.
The gradual spread of war beyond the geographical boundaries that were predicted, and the way it affected personalities, young and old, is clearly portrayed. Dickinson has created a sense of place very well through a number of locations. The book begins at the start of the war and follows Jenny for the duration while giving us historical context throughout; the angle of a girl of that age going through the war is well explored.
As well as providing a solid story, the book brings to light interesting aspects of the war and weaves them cleverly into the telling of the tale. Overall this is an uplifting and escapist read which provides a real treat for anyone interested in the period, but may also provoke interest amongst those who are not, as the subject matter is so sensitively treated.
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