Although a little burned out on WWII novels, I decided that this one looked a little different, and I am NOT sorry that I took a chance on it. This is a whole different perspective of the war years, and of the years following. All of the characters are very believable - some a lot more likeable than others, but that’s as it should be. And as the book came to an end, some of the less sympathetic characters became a lot more likeable. I really liked the way they developed as the book went on. The storyline was strong, and the short chapters worked very well. The dialogue style took a little getting used to. This was an emotional read - the scene on the dock when Bea (or Beatrix, as she was then) is waiting for her host family, will stay with me for a while. I could feel Bea’s apprehension as she wondered what lay ahead. And again, when the war was over, as she prepared to return home, and wondered once more what lay ahead for her. A thoroughly enjoyable book!