Bittersweet Historical Fiction Trip Back Through Time
Italy 1946. After WWII has ended Italy has been left divided some of the South still clings to a monarchy viewpoint, others socialism, and they fear and distrust the communist north. In the midst of all the change is a little seven year old boy named Amerigo Speranza.
Many people in Northern Italy have been generous, and have offered to take some children in poverty from the south into their homes. They will give them clothes, food, and love. A lot of the southern locals do not trust the Northerners proposal, and think it is a trick to sent their children to labor camps in Russia to die. Others feel it would be best for their children to ride the winter out up north with a nice family.
Amerigo’s mother, Antonietta, believes that It is for Amerigo’s own good to go. Amerigo being a young boy is both excited and scared. As the day comes to get on the train to go north most of the children have a waves of different emotions. They do not know what to expect, and keep hearing horror stories of what will become of them.
Little does Amerigo know, at the moment, but this trip will hold a large bearing on his life choices. He will learn and see things that will change his life! Will it be for his own good? Will Amerigo have a good experience? Are all the horror stories true? Will he be sent to Russia?
The Children’s Train by Viola Ardone is a heartwarming piece. Ardone did a very nice job at capturing the world through the eyes of a little seven year old child. I felt the story was intriguing. Nonetheless, I did feel that it was slow at times. I reached a point I really just wanted the novel to end. Ultimately, I felt it was very bittersweet in the end. Some happiness and some sadness leaches out of the ending pages.
Overall, I give The Children’s Train by Viola Ardone three Stars out of five stars. I really enjoyed the premise of the book, and I felt it was very nicely written. Of course, part four was quite different than the other three parts, and it left me with several questions. I would have liked to know a bit more. At the same time it lulled in parts of the book in the middle. She used the phrase “not her/his strong point” several times which quite bothered me. Nonetheless, I feel if you are a fan of historical fiction you should give this book a try.
Many people in Northern Italy have been generous, and have offered to take some children in poverty from the south into their homes. They will give them clothes, food, and love. A lot of the southern locals do not trust the Northerners proposal, and think it is a trick to sent their children to labor camps in Russia to die. Others feel it would be best for their children to ride the winter out up north with a nice family.
Amerigo’s mother, Antonietta, believes that It is for Amerigo’s own good to go. Amerigo being a young boy is both excited and scared. As the day comes to get on the train to go north most of the children have a waves of different emotions. They do not know what to expect, and keep hearing horror stories of what will become of them.
Little does Amerigo know, at the moment, but this trip will hold a large bearing on his life choices. He will learn and see things that will change his life! Will it be for his own good? Will Amerigo have a good experience? Are all the horror stories true? Will he be sent to Russia?
The Children’s Train by Viola Ardone is a heartwarming piece. Ardone did a very nice job at capturing the world through the eyes of a little seven year old child. I felt the story was intriguing. Nonetheless, I did feel that it was slow at times. I reached a point I really just wanted the novel to end. Ultimately, I felt it was very bittersweet in the end. Some happiness and some sadness leaches out of the ending pages.
Overall, I give The Children’s Train by Viola Ardone three Stars out of five stars. I really enjoyed the premise of the book, and I felt it was very nicely written. Of course, part four was quite different than the other three parts, and it left me with several questions. I would have liked to know a bit more. At the same time it lulled in parts of the book in the middle. She used the phrase “not her/his strong point” several times which quite bothered me. Nonetheless, I feel if you are a fan of historical fiction you should give this book a try.