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Book Reviewed by:A fascinating historical novel about Hilde, a former orphan, who experiences Berlin on the cusp of World War II and discovers her own voice and sexuality and finds a family when she gets a job at a cabaret, by award-winning author Kip Wilson.
After her eighteenth birthday, Hilde, a former orphan in 1930s Berlin, goes out into the world to discover her place in it. But finding a job is hard, at least until she stumbles into Café Lila, a vibrant cabaret full of expressive customers—and Rosa, the club's waitress and performer. As the café and all who work there embrace Hilde, and she embraces them in turn, she discovers her voice and her own blossoming feelings for Rosa.
But Berlin is in turmoil. Between the elections, protests in the streets, and the beginning seeds of unrest in Café Lila itself, Hilde will have to decide what's best for her future...and what it means to love a place on the cusp of war.
Structurally, the story is presented in verse, but this needn't daunt anyone who struggles to connect with poetry. On the contrary, it's incredibly readable. The format serves to create the feeling that we are reading a diary — short, sharp passages that get to the heart of the protagonist's innermost thoughts and emotions. It is only during the final act that this stylistic choice can leave things feeling a little too rushed. More time to linger over the climax could have allowed for greater emotional impact and a more satisfying payoff at the story's end...continued
Full Review
(540 words)
(Reviewed by Callum McLaughlin).
Novels written in verse for a young adult audience can be an excellent way to encourage reluctant readers of poetry to embrace the unique power of the form. While retaining a focus on character and narrative, the loose approach to structure and hints of more experimental language can increase the pace and heighten the emotional intensity of a story. Here are eight examples of novels aimed at young adult readers that showcase the strengths of this particular style.
The Realm of Possibility (2004) by David Levithan - The 20 narrators of this novel are all students at the same high school. Though each has their own story to tell, all are connected in some way. The members of this diverse cast contend with conflict related to their ...
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