"The Red Ribbon" by Lucy Adlington was a truly eye opening read, which I'm not sure if 'enjoy' is the right word but I thoroughly devoured this book in a day and found it a very emotional but enjoyable read. Knowing nothing about the seamstresses of Auschwitz or even that clothes were made for the Officer's wives and female guards of the camp I was very intrigued by this and quite surprised that this even happened.
Although this is not a truly harrowing book it does still get the facts across during the story of the atrocities that happened during the war but it is a much more suitable read for younger readers or people not wishing to be exposed to really distressing and disturbing events. It's still a very saddening and emotional read and I truly had goosebumps when I finished the last few sentences, just showing how well the author conveyed the emotion and sensitivity of the story.
Fourteen year old dressmaker Ella starts her first day working at 'Birchwood' (Auschwitz-Birkenau) in the Upper Tailoring Studio, but this is no ordinary workshop with ordinary clients. Every dress made could be the difference between life and death. Everything is now about survival.
I loved Ella, her immaturity excused her bolshy behaviour at times and Rose, delightful graceful Rose - survived by living inside her lovely and creative mind in fantastical dreams and far away places - she ensured she captured her friends in her imagination too when they were in dire need of encouragement to keep going.
The author admits her aim was to allow us to revisit a time in our past that clearly and categorically happened, highlighting the possible moral choices the inmates had to choose about surviving and thriving and show how acts of kindness can be seen as heroism. She certainly achieved this and you could fully understand the decisions made when it was a choice of life or death.
The hope for liberation was heartbreaking and you truly hoped all the characters would make it out when war was over. I very much felt I was there in the camp with the girls, listening to the sewing machines whirring and Marta shouting 'pins!' An excellent read that without a doubt makes you stop and think about how many suffered during the holocaust and just how a good life we have now.
"The Red Ribbon" is one of the most beautifully printed and designed books I have ever read.....a red ribbon is printed and intertwined throughout the pages with pictures of scissors/pins and buttons etc spread across the pages. Truly a masterpiece inside and out! An easy 5 stars for this incredible read.
Although this is not a truly harrowing book it does still get the facts across during the story of the atrocities that happened during the war but it is a much more suitable read for younger readers or people not wishing to be exposed to really distressing and disturbing events. It's still a very saddening and emotional read and I truly had goosebumps when I finished the last few sentences, just showing how well the author conveyed the emotion and sensitivity of the story.
Fourteen year old dressmaker Ella starts her first day working at 'Birchwood' (Auschwitz-Birkenau) in the Upper Tailoring Studio, but this is no ordinary workshop with ordinary clients. Every dress made could be the difference between life and death. Everything is now about survival.
I loved Ella, her immaturity excused her bolshy behaviour at times and Rose, delightful graceful Rose - survived by living inside her lovely and creative mind in fantastical dreams and far away places - she ensured she captured her friends in her imagination too when they were in dire need of encouragement to keep going.
The author admits her aim was to allow us to revisit a time in our past that clearly and categorically happened, highlighting the possible moral choices the inmates had to choose about surviving and thriving and show how acts of kindness can be seen as heroism. She certainly achieved this and you could fully understand the decisions made when it was a choice of life or death.
The hope for liberation was heartbreaking and you truly hoped all the characters would make it out when war was over. I very much felt I was there in the camp with the girls, listening to the sewing machines whirring and Marta shouting 'pins!' An excellent read that without a doubt makes you stop and think about how many suffered during the holocaust and just how a good life we have now.
"The Red Ribbon" is one of the most beautifully printed and designed books I have ever read.....a red ribbon is printed and intertwined throughout the pages with pictures of scissors/pins and buttons etc spread across the pages. Truly a masterpiece inside and out! An easy 5 stars for this incredible read.