When We Were Enemies

Strong Growth All Around. While this book is no WRECKAGE - Bleeker's debut that was also her most gut-wrenching to date - as someone recently said on social media, authors have an entire lifetime to craft a debut novel - and then the lucky ones are expected to crank out a new one every year thereafter (or even more often).

Here, Bleeker actually shows remarkable growth in her writing even from her previous, also dual-timeline, tale. While yes, her direct family still plays a role in even this tale (which I suspected while reading certain parts of this tale, and Bleeker confirms in the author's note), here it is a bit more oblique, with lots of extra research thrown in. And speaking of the research - Bleeker manages to bring forth both the era of the book remarkably well *and* the particulars of a particular section of WWII that most outside of the town Bleeker set this tale in are likely unaware of. Specifically, the treatment of Italian POWs in prison camps within the US prior to Italy's defeat and switching sides late in WWII. In both her treatment of these characters and in her detailed view of the world they live in, Bleeker shows here that she can do full historical fiction with the best in that space - and combined with her sense of drama, arguably better than many within it.

But Bleeker's growth as a storyteller isn't the only story here - indeed, it is more of an "long timer" view that even really allows one to see that particular story. No, the actual story here shows remarkable growth within two key characters the book uses as its endpoints - grandmother Vivian in 1943 (when my own eldest uncle was born, adding a touch of the truly "real" for this particular reader) and granddaughter Elsie in more present-day times. Both live fully in their worlds with all of their relevant struggles, but both show how those struggles can be overcome - and how essential friends are, no matter the period you find yourself living in.

Overall truly a remarkable work, and a truly easy Amazon First Reads selection, for those so inclined to participate in that program. Very much recommended.