Not My War

Captivatingly written, with an interesting conclusion, Not My War explores the possible turmoil a young adult might have gone through during the time of the Nazi occupation. Introduced as a naïve character who later develops a more holistic and realistic perspective of her world, Louise faces a series of uncomfortable, challenging and life altering situations. Feelings of betrayal, loss, love and sacrifice are cleverly woven throughout, accelerating the reader’s ability to fully immerse themselves in Louise’s journey of discovery.

Not My War encapsulates the essence of humanity in a surprisingly well balanced manner – interweaving the discomfort that comes with being faced with the realities of war, greed, control, and the loss of innocence, with the delight, delicacy and curiosity that young minds and self-discovery possess. The introductions, relationships and development of characters were well presented with little to fault. Additionally, while the novel was presented with an alliance towards Nazi oppositions, the cross-culturalist background and upbringing of Louise allowed increased flexibility and neutrality in its exploration. This, along with the sequence of events, supported the opportunity for readers to go on their own journeys of discovery, creating a raw and memorable experience.

The relatively neutral and balanced perspective throughout, or at least the allow-ability for such, is commendable given the novel’s chosen genre and themes. However, the efforts towards maintaining this did seem to jeopardise the detail and depth in the context along with inhibiting the initial pace, especially when introducing characters and setting, which is likely more noticeable for those who are not  familiar with the Holocaust, Nazi occupation, historical geography, and the concept of war.

Additionally, some minor punctuation and grammatical errors were present, suggesting overall that a more thorough edit was required, likely mitigating these criticisms and creating an enhanced experience and understanding for readers. That being said, the novel is enjoyable and memorable, exposing readers to raw emotions and human experiences, while maintaining a gentle and inquisitive approach towards self-discovery and early adulthood.