by Gill Thompson
This was one of my favourite reads of 2022. It is a heartbreaking story, with a wide cast of characters that I quickly grew fond of! As a musician, I always love references to classical pieces in books, and this one had a lot of them! I really appreciated that, and also how they connected to the plot.
The Child on Platform One is set during WWII, and follows both a family in England and a Jewish family in Czechoslovakia. The two lead very different lives, but both are affected by the war and their lives are drastically changed. We are taken through the horrors of Terezin, we see the evil of the Nazis, and the bombing of London.
Pamela was a quaker, politician's wife and a mother, and all these identities pulled at her in different ways during war time. Her pacifist values were put to the test when her son joined the war. Being a politician's wife didn't seem like something she particularly wanted to be, though it gave her opportunities to help and also some privileges. As a mother - she felt, as many other mothers did, the stress and fears of having a child fighting in the war and being in dangers way. But I also loved the way she opened her heart to a child that was not her own. She was a very strong, capable and intelligent female character and I appreciate that the author didn't diminish her femininity to portray that! Instead, her motherly nature was her strength.
Eva's story line tore at my heartstrings. This poor woman had been through so much. Lost so much. Her dreams were shattered, and now she has to make the impossible decision and send her daughter away. The relationship between her and her husband Josef was so real and honest. I don't want to give away spoilers, but their character arcs was very touching.
The other characters, Miriam, Hana and Will were also great! I’d definitely recommend this story. It is a heavier read, with mentions of the holocaust and sexual assault, but it wasn’t graphic.
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