It’s World War Two in Amsterdam. Teenaged Lena leaves her starving family to travel by train with her friend, Sofie, to Almelo, a town close to the German border. It’s a risky plan. They have false papers and are quickly pulled off the train by German soldiers. Only by fluke do they get back on again -- with the help of Albert, one of the other soldiers. After Lena discovers that the train had also been used to transport Jews to concentration camps, she fears her new friendship with the helpful Albert may lead her into more danger. Sofie, too, befriends a soldier, a relationship that quickly turns serious and has unforeseen consequences for both girls.
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Quill & Quire
Hunger journeys were often made by the starving residents of Amsterdam into the countryside to search for food in the closing months of the Second World War. The hunger journey in Vancouver author Maggie de Vries’ first YA novel is only the beginning of the tale, however.
Lena is a naive, awkward teenager struggling to understand the complexities of living in German-occupied Holland. She copes by convincing herself that she doesn’t care, that what happens around her is not her concern (though she does feel some guilt about not helping a Jewish friend who has been taken away). Lena is thrilled when Sofie, a charming, flighty, irresponsible girl, befriends her. Sofie persuades Lena to go on a hunger journey, but things quickly go wrong. The girls have to rely on two young German soldiers, one of whom, Albert, takes a fancy to Lena.
Hunger Journeys is replete with convincing details and complex characters and relationships. Lena’s father is Dutch, yet he is unpleasant and anti-Semitic. Albert is the nicest person Lena has ever met, but is he a monster who has herded Jews into cattle trucks or a good man “who just happens to be on the wrong side”?
De Vries has done a masterful job of creating a believable world peopled with characters whose loyalties are agonizingly divided between family, friends, and nation. Lena is constantly presented with dilemmas that are never black and white and solutions that are rarely perfect. Through these struggles, she grows up and comes to understand the value of friendship – even when that friendship is dangerous and the friends flawed.
Review
?Hunger Journeys is historical fiction at its best. Highly Recommended.?
- CM Magazine ()
- CM Magazine ()
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Karoline
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
I really did enjoy reading this book. It shows how war can rear its' ugly head, and it brings out the worst qualities in average every day people. It shows a different point of view (as Lena is not Jewish). However, like most books which take place during this awful period in history I couldn't help but feel so much anger towards some of the characters, and because of this I think the book does a great job in bringing out emotions from the reader.
Of all the characters in this book, I hated Lena's father the most. He was an awful horrible man who treated his family with such disrespect. He was so selfish and horrid. I felt like wringing his neck when he gave himself more helpings of food when his wife needed more, and his children were practically starving. He wasn't self sacrificing or did things for the sake of his family. He just cared about himself. To make things even worse, he also didn't like the idea of Lena and Sarah being friends because of his own prejudices. He was just a character I could not stand to read at all. He was just so hateful and selfish. There were other characters that made me see red, but then the review would then be an awful long hate list.
At first, I thought Sofie was really fun to read, she seemed like a such a fun person to be around with. However when things turned around and looked bad, she would chicken out and let Lena do all the hard work. I had to agree with Lena, there were plenty of times where you just wanted to slap Sofie hard for her stupidity! I'd say about the second half of the book I was starting to dislike Sofie.
Plot wise, I thought the book was good. It was a little slow to start out but once the setting and the atmosphere was established the book got interesting. I really did like Lena and Albert together. I understood her reluctance to be with him, and her resistance to reciprocate his feelings, but I thought Albert was really a nice character despite who he's fighting for. The book does a good job in showing a 'human' side to who we would normally consider our enemies, yet on the other hand, showing who we would consider our 'allies' as not so friendly at all. Naturally, it only takes about several moments for Sofie to do something ridiculously stupid and puts Lena into a huge bind - again. However I admire Lena for her courage and maturity. She matured ten times faster than Sofie did (Sofie eventually sees a bit of reason, but not until literally the last few pages of the book).
I did enjoy reading the little epilogue, but I feel as if more should have come out of this story. I wanted to know what happened once Sofie and Lena had reached their destinations! I wanted to know if Lena and Albert end up being together! what about Lena's father? does he get his come uppins? it's these little things that weren't revealed, yet I thought if they were, the book would have probably received a perfect 10 from me.
However, don't let that deter you from reading this book! I thought this was a great novel showing how war can bring out the best and the worst qualities in people. It shows how sometimes the people you expect to act in a certain way could act the exact opposite, and possibly worse. I really do recommend this book to those interested in the Second World War and Resistance activities.
Of all the characters in this book, I hated Lena's father the most. He was an awful horrible man who treated his family with such disrespect. He was so selfish and horrid. I felt like wringing his neck when he gave himself more helpings of food when his wife needed more, and his children were practically starving. He wasn't self sacrificing or did things for the sake of his family. He just cared about himself. To make things even worse, he also didn't like the idea of Lena and Sarah being friends because of his own prejudices. He was just a character I could not stand to read at all. He was just so hateful and selfish. There were other characters that made me see red, but then the review would then be an awful long hate list.
At first, I thought Sofie was really fun to read, she seemed like a such a fun person to be around with. However when things turned around and looked bad, she would chicken out and let Lena do all the hard work. I had to agree with Lena, there were plenty of times where you just wanted to slap Sofie hard for her stupidity! I'd say about the second half of the book I was starting to dislike Sofie.
Plot wise, I thought the book was good. It was a little slow to start out but once the setting and the atmosphere was established the book got interesting. I really did like Lena and Albert together. I understood her reluctance to be with him, and her resistance to reciprocate his feelings, but I thought Albert was really a nice character despite who he's fighting for. The book does a good job in showing a 'human' side to who we would normally consider our enemies, yet on the other hand, showing who we would consider our 'allies' as not so friendly at all. Naturally, it only takes about several moments for Sofie to do something ridiculously stupid and puts Lena into a huge bind - again. However I admire Lena for her courage and maturity. She matured ten times faster than Sofie did (Sofie eventually sees a bit of reason, but not until literally the last few pages of the book).
I did enjoy reading the little epilogue, but I feel as if more should have come out of this story. I wanted to know what happened once Sofie and Lena had reached their destinations! I wanted to know if Lena and Albert end up being together! what about Lena's father? does he get his come uppins? it's these little things that weren't revealed, yet I thought if they were, the book would have probably received a perfect 10 from me.
However, don't let that deter you from reading this book! I thought this was a great novel showing how war can bring out the best and the worst qualities in people. It shows how sometimes the people you expect to act in a certain way could act the exact opposite, and possibly worse. I really do recommend this book to those interested in the Second World War and Resistance activities.
By Jeffrey Dale
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this book greatly. I found it and thought it was an adult's book, it wasn't until later when I was researching that I realized it is for teens. The book is gripping and heart breaking all at the same time. I found myself with more questions about 'truth' and 'right vs. wrong' afterwards, then I've experienced in fiction in a long time. Maggie de Vries is a writer that I enjoy greatly, and I cannot wait for her next book. If you haven't read her book "Missing Sarah", read it.
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