When The World Was Ours: A book about finding hope in the darkest of times

Reviews

Sallyandbooks

Or Leo’s pride at overcoming the obstacles to getting himself and his mother to safety. As we look around the world today, Elsa’s reflection should provide us all with food for thought.

WhatCathyReadNext

And you know why that is? Inspired by the true story of her father’s escape from Nazi-occupied Europe, in When The World Was Ours the author takes the reader on a journey from Vienna in 1936 to the outbreak of the Second World War and beyond in the company of three childhood friends – Leo, Max and Elsa. He saw it for what it was: a vain, superficial attempt to fit in.

Paige

Maybe what I mean was that it was really well written)I loved having the three different perspectives of the children and their families (which I normally don’t get on with) and how different each of their lives became over the course of the Second World War. Only gradually do the youngsters become aware of the consequences of Leo and Elsa’s Jewish faith when anti-Jewish sentiment becomes more widespread and is followed by legal restrictions, and worse.

The book came exactly as pictured. Given their youth, the friends don’t always understand, at least to begin with, the full import or implications of the things they see or hear their parents discussing.

Amidst the heartbreak and tragedy, there are small moments of joy. The author really captures the emotional and psychological toll of their experiences on the three children and the insidious nature of Nazi indoctrination. “Because a picture paints a thousand words,” … “That’s right.