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|title=Poppy

|author=Mary Hooper

|reviewer=Jill Murphy

|date=May 2014

|isbn=140882762X

}}

Poppy is a parlourmaid at the de Vere family's country house when World War I breaks out. Poppy is a very bright girl but had to enter service rather than continuing on to college after school because her family is poor. But the war is changing everything - even for working class girls - and Poppy's old teacher sees an opportunity for her intelligent ex-pupil. She suggests that Poppy become a volunteer nurse, a VAD.

But it isn't just a worthy book - it's absorbing and interesting. All the characters are credible and well-rounded and have stories of their own. Poppy herself is a strong girl, finding depths of determination and levels of individuality she never dreamed she possessed. You really wish her well - even if sometimes you wish she didn't wear her heart so plainly on her sleeve! I hope she finds a more deserving love interest in the sequel, ''Poppy in the Field'', which will be out next year.

Another piece of fabulous YA historical fiction, this time during World War II, is [[Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein]].

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[[Category:Historical Fiction]]