Description: Meet Violet Bradshaw, a young girl living with her large family in Eastbourne, Great Britain. Ever since she was a little girl, Violet was best friends with Lillian Prescott. But all that is about to change when the Bradshaws move to America, leaving everything they know behind. Will Violet and Lilli maintain their friendship, though an ocean now divides them? Will they ever see each other again?
While I had a job this summer, I purchased a couple of books by homeschooled authors that had been on my reading list for a very long time. This one had been on my list almost since I started Homeschooled Authors, and so I bought it.
There is always a bit of trepidation in reading a book by someone so young. Elizabeth Rose was 13 when this book was published, and one would think that the book wouldn’t be that well written. Elizabeth Rose really did an amazing job for her age, and while younger readers will probably get the most out of it, older readers might enjoy it too. The story is told well and the vocabulary is so good that it is easy to forget it was written by someone so young.
Violet is a sweet girl whom many readers will understand. While she is a good girl, she has her share of mistakes and issues that make the book feel real and believable. Her struggles and triumphs are easy to identify with and will be very relatable for readers.
Historically, the book was well researched. The book will introduce readers to the life of American immigrants, the hardships of factories, and the Titanic. I think this would be a great introduction for younger members of the family to this time in history.
Before you hand it to younger readers, there is something of which parents should be aware. Violet, at one point in the story, has thoughts of self-harm. I won’t give any details as it would give away part of the story. The situation was handled in a good way, but younger readers might need parental guidance through that section of the book (chapter 25).
I recommend this book to those who like historical fiction, are interested in immigrants or the Titanic, and who like a well told story.
She was 13 when she wrote it?! Wow! That's amazing! I've been wanting to read this for quite a while. Lovely review!
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