It is a historical fiction for fans of authors like Tatianna de Rosnay and Kelly Bowen, Give Peace a Chance is set during World War II in France. This novel's imagery and detailed storytelling will transport readers of all ages to the 1930âs and set them right the lives of two little girls who lived through this time and the tail of their friendship. How do they take it when a war supposedly happening far away starts to impact their very own lives? Their story uncovers the bond of family and friendship.
It is a historical fiction for fans of authors like Tatianna de Rosnay and Kelly Bowen, Give Peace a Chance is set during World War II in France. This novel's imagery and detailed storytelling will transport readers of all ages to the 1930âs and set them right the lives of two little girls who lived through this time and the tail of their friendship. How do they take it when a war supposedly happening far away starts to impact their very own lives? Their story uncovers the bond of family and friendship.
âEvery breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.âÂ
              â Thich Nhat Hanh
     âMum, could I go play outside with Betty?â Marie asked her mum, hoping she would say yes.
âDo your homework first, dear,â Evelyn said to Marie.
"But mum...â
âI don't want to hear it, do your homework, and then you are free to play."Â
Marie resigned herself to doing her homework. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Calais, France with a bit of a breeze. It was the perfect weather to play outside, but Marieâs mum thought it was the perfect time to do her homework. Marie could smell the delicious supper her mother was preparing while she was busy with her homework. Betty and her family were invited to dinner at her home that night.Â
Marie went outside to play after finishing her homework as quickly as she could. Betty was eagerly waiting outside Marie's house. They were the greatest of friends, and they get to play together daily. "Finally, you've arrived! Now you hide, and I will look for you," Betty addressed Marie.
Marie nodded and then ran and hid behind a small, green shrub. Betty had no trouble finding Marie because she had hid herself earlier in all of their normal hiding places. Marie and Betty took turns hiding until the sun had long since set. After which they headed over to Marie's house for supper.
 "What's for supper today, mum?" Marie was the one who inquired, as they walked in.
âFor supper, we have some toasted bread, cheese, rutabagas, pork, and some beef,â Evelyn replied.
"Do we have to eat rutabagas today, mum?" Marie inquired, expecting a negative response from her.Â
Of course, her mother chastised her, telling her that these were healthy for her and that she should be grateful that she, unlike some other children, gets to eat healthy dinner.Â
Little later Betty's parents arrived, and Marie and Betty tried to eat their rutabagas first because they were the most unpleasant and nasty to eat. They wanted to eat the tasty things last.
"So, George, how was your day at work?" Betty's father inquired of Marie's father after an awkward silence.
âOh, it was tiring but Iâm also scared. Thereâs this new war which got announced, due to Germanyâs chancellor Adolf Hitlerâs invasion of Poland. Great Britain and France had guaranteed military support to Poland if it were attacked by any nation. I donât think this is going to remain a small war by any measure. It could be the next big war. We must be prepared,â said George Jones.Â
Evelyn looked at her husband with a sharp look.
âOh, sorry,â George whispered.
Marie was perplexed but chose to ignore them. Betty and Marie were both playing with their rutabagas while also feeding them to Marie's dog, Max. Even Max, who ate everything that he comes across, refused to eat the vegetables because they tasted so bad. He even tried to devour all of Marie's homework once, but he refused to eat the rutabagas. Without Marie's mother's knowledge, the vegetables were thrown away. Betty ate the pork and beef, while Marie ate the bread and cheese, their favorites.Â
They went ahead to Marie's room after supper, which was upstairs. Max also went up the stairs with them.
"Did you hear we're getting additional homework?" Betty inquired.Â
"As if we didn't have enough to deal with already."Â
âI know! Why do we need more homework?â Marie groaned. âWell, they might want us to take our studies more seriously, which in my opinion is perfectly alright, because it is for our own benefit but still!â
They exchanged a soft giggle. After playing in the room for a while, they went outdoors to play their usual game of âHide & Seekâ. Marie and Betty both had to return home to sleep as it was getting dark outside, so they said their goodbyes and went to their homes.
In the morning, Marie woke up to Max licking her face, her cheek was all wet and she got mad at him for licking her face while sheâs asleep. She got up and walked to the bathroom. She washed her face, checked the time and realized she would be late for school if sheâs not quick. She changed her clothes and stuffed her breakfast while running to school, having no time to say bye to her mum. When she arrived to school, she tried to slip into her class from the back door, but Mrs. Doohickey noticed. Marie always laughed at her name, but her mum had cautioned her that it was impolite to make fun of someone else's name and that each name has a special meaning. The day went by so fast, and before Marie knew it, her school was over. Marie asked why her mum had not woken her up that morning. Evelyn replied, that she needed to learn independence because she is growing older. She also mentioned that they wonât live together forever as one day she will be married and will have to live on her own.
Marie wanted to play outside. She wanted to play with Betty so badly because she couldn't meet her in school that day due to her packed schedule. But her shoulders ached from her heavy backpack. She went inside her room to finish her homework. Marie finished her homework, ate her supper, and then was about to go to sleep when she overheard her parents discussing something however, she was too tired to be curious about any of it.
The next morning, Marie slept in because it was a Saturday. The date was September 2nd, 1939. Her mum made her some scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. She looked very worried. âMum, whatâs wrong?â Marie asked.
âNothing dear, eat your breakfast please,â Evelyn replied.
Marie ate her breakfast but sat there thinking what was bothering her mum so much. Max kept barking at the trash can. âNot now, Max,â Marie said, completely ignoring him and resuming thoughts about her mum.Â
Max kept barking. âWhat is it?â Marie asked while going over to the trash can.Â
She saw a Daily Express newspaper there saying, âWILL WAR REACH FRANCE?â Marie gave Max a soft pat and asked her mum what it was all about.Â
âUmm, thatâs nothing, donât worry about it. Itâs probably some false information,â her mum said.
âThis is the newspaper we read every time, mum,â Marie replied.Â
âDonât argue with me. Now go to your room.â Evelyn scolded.
âOk calm down mum,â Marie whispered under her breath.
As Marie went to her room, she wondered why her mother seemed so strange suddenly. Would there actually be war anytime soon? Was the newspaper article right? When, where, and who started it? She decided to continue her homework but at the back of her mind, she was now constantly thinking about the war.Â
***
Later that evening, despite the perfect weather outside, something seemed out of place. She lay on her bed as her shoulders still ached. She stared at the ceiling, trying to figure out what was going to happen.Â
Marie suddenly overheard her parents discussing the war, then her mum said to her dad, "You can't tell Marie about the war, sheâs too young to worry about it, ok?"
George simply nodded. Marie was shocked and confused. She wasnât completely sure what the conversation was but she had a vague idea.
As Marie took Max for a walk, she kept the conversation she heard in mind. Suddenly, she saw Betty in front of their house playing all alone and screamed, "Hi! Betty!"
âHi, Marie!â Betty replied.Â
âHey Marie, I have a question for you. Have your parents been acting weird lately?â Betty inquired.
âYes, I was just going to ask you! Have your parents been too?â Marie sighed.
âYeah,â Betty replied.
 Marie told her it was something about a war at least from what she had heard.`
âHmm, thatâs interesting,â Betty said, confused.
âWell, I must also take Max on a walk. Want to come?â Marie asked.Â
Betty went to her home, told her parents, and came along.
âMy mum got so mad at me for asking her about a newspaper which said war is happening soon or something, that she sent me to my room,â Marie told Betty.
"Do you think thatâs why the parents are so concerned?" Betty was the one who asked Marie.
âIâm not sure but maybeâŚâ Marie replied.
 âShould we find out?â Betty asked eagerly.
âI donât think we should, letâs just wait right now.â Marie said.
They carried on with their serious discussion while taking Max on a long walk. Marie returned back home; however, her mom wasnât even there. Marie became anxious. What became of her? She finally returned after thirty minutes; Evelyn had just gone grocery shopping. She got plenty of vegetables. âI was so worried about you mumâ Marie said, hugging her mum.
âDonât worry,â Evelyn said.Â
Thatâs when Marie noticed all the groceries she brought with her.Â
"Mum, why did you get so many groceries?" Marie inquired.
"Um, so...that we wouldn't have to go to the store for a while..." Evelyn explained.Â
Marie knew she was lying since she paused often. Evelyn was preparing Marie's lunch, and Marie was helping her.Â
âMum, is there anything bothering you?â Marie asked for the twelfth time that day.
âOh, for heavenâs sake, stop asking me that question!â Evelyn shouted.Â
Marie was shocked as she shut her mouth and chopped the carrots. âMum, can I play with Betty today?â Marie asked.
âNo,â her mum said strictly.
âWhy not?â Marie asked.
Evelyn ignored Marie and served lunch. After she finished, Marie was about to take Max for a walk when her mum said Marie could play with him inside.Â
âWhy, mum?â Marie asked.
âIf I instruct you to do something, you should not question it!â her mum shouted.Â
Marie was startled. Instead of bothering her mum more, she just played with Max. They played a game of tag. It was amusing to watch his paws slip on the wooden floor. After that, Marie went upstairs to play with her dolls. Through the window, she saw Betty, and she waved at her.
Marie pleaded with her mother to let her play outside again. She was very much missing playing with Betty. After a bit of emotional chatter with her mum, Marie was finally allowed to go outside and her mother also came along to give her company. They went outside, and Marie spent some time with Betty that evening; playing, discussing their academics and then finally talking about their parents' strange behavior.Â
They cooked and ate supper when they returned, and after that, Marie went upstairs to sleep. Marie became concerned when she noticed a newspaper in her mother's bed with the headline,Â
"STAY INDOORS. GOING OUT CAN BE DANGEROUS."Â
She was about to open it and read when she heard her mum coming upstairs and she quickly rushed to bed, determined to find out what was going on the next day.Â
***
Marie woke up the next morning. The date was September 3rd, 1939. Marie saw her mother putting out some fruits and cheese on the table for breakfast.Â
"Good morning, mum," Marie remarked as she walked down the stairs.Â
âGood morning, Marie,â Evelyn replied.Â
âCome and eat your breakfast.âÂ
Marie came down, she brushed her teeth and then finished eating her fruits. Afterwards, she went straight to take a shower as she was getting a bit late for her Sunday play time. When she came back down, she noticed her neighbors bickering near the window. That was strange as these were never seen talking loud ever before. Was it possible that this was related to the war? Marie realized that they were none other than Betty's parents when she got a chance to have a closer look. Because the walls were not soundproof, she leaned in close to hear the argument.
 "We cannot tell Betty about the war because she will be afraid." Paul said.Â
Betty's mother mentioned something to Betty's father that Marie could not hear.Â
âAha!â Marie thought.
Marie knew it was something related to the war, but when will it be happening, will it affect her and her family? She had so many questions, but she thought that if it would happen, then it would, and she could not do anything about it. Marie kept this thought at the back of her mind and decided to think about it later.
Marie headed down.
âMum, can I play with Betty today at least?â Marie asked.
Evelyn hesitated.Â
âOk, but I am also coming along.âÂ
âFine with me!â Marie said happily.
They went over to Bettyâs house, and they knocked on the door. Susanne, Marrieâs mother, answered the door.
âHello dear! Did you come to play with Betty?â she asked.Â
She looked a bit tense.
âYes, please, is Betty home?â Marie asked.
âOf course!â her mom replied.
Marie and her mum went inside. Evelyn went to the dining table to get a cup of tea, and Marie went upstairs.Â
âHey Betty, do you want to play outside?â Marie asked.
âSure!â Betty replied.Â
They went down and opened the door when the moms forbade them from going outside.Â
âBut why?â Marie and Betty yelled together, both frustrated.
The moms just said no. Marie was in a terribly upset mood. She asked her mum if they could just go back home, so they went.Â
Marieâs mum started knitting a sweater for her dad while listening to the old radio set they had.Â
âGreat Britain and France have declared war on Germany just today. Both allies of the overrun nation declare war on Germany in response to Hitler's invasion of Poland. People will remember September 3rd, 1939, as the day that Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. The invasion of Poland has cauâŚâ Marieâs mum turned the radio off, as fast as she could.
âMum, what was that about?â Marie asked, still in a bad mood.
âOh god why do you keep asking that question? Do you really have to know everything? For heaven's sake just stop troubling me!â Evelyn scolded Marie.
Marie went to her room, crying, wishing everything could go back to normal like how it was before her mum started acting weird.Â
âThat stupid war!â Marie said in frustration.
 That evening, Marie ate supper quickly and went to bed.Â
âWhy so early?â her mum asked.
Marie ignored her, storming off to bed, not knowing that what her mum was doing was just to keep her safe.Â
***
The next morning, Marie woke up and headed down. It was Monday and she was getting late for school. She gobbled up her breakfast, got her bag quickly, and headed straight to the school.Â
That day she was first to enter her class room.Â
âHmm, itâs very unusual that you are the first student here,â Mrs. Doohickey, Marieâs teacher said in a surprise.
âYes, Mrs. Doohickey" Marie said, hiding her giggle.
All the other kids began to fill the classroom. They initially went over their assignment and then did their math work. It was their recess time now and they all went outside for play time. Betty caught Marie's eye, and she approached her.
"Hi Betty, I was just kind of annoyed at my mum because she doesn't let me play outside anymore, so I wanted to go home yesterday," Marie said, hoping Betty didnât feel bad.Â
âThatâs fine. I understand,â Betty said.
They went to the swings and sat down next to each other.Â
âSo, did you find out anything about what the parents are talking about?â Betty asked Marie.
âNo, not yet, all I know is that they are talking about a war, but I decided to stop investigating whatâs going on,â Marie said.
âOh, thatâs a smart idea. It could have gotten you in trouble,â Betty said.
âYeah, thatâs also the reason I stopped,â Marie said.
After a good long conversion and play time, Marie returned home. When she arrived, her mother handed her an apple as a snack.Â
Marie and her mum had Betty and her family over that evening. Once they arrived, they ate dinner together. In the menu this time, though, there were simple veggies and bread available. Marie suspected it was due to the war, so instead of protesting, she ate those silently.Â
âYouâre not complaining about the vegetables?â Evelyn asked Marie, surprised.
âNope!â Marie said, eating.
Evelyn was taken aback by Marie's lack of complaint, but she also exuded with pride. Marie gulped down her vegetables and ate her bread slices slowly. She and Betty both finished their dinners in time to spend some time with Max. Betty and her family left later that night after saying their goodbye.Â
Marie was about to go to bed when her mother had her do some home chores. Marie already had a lot of responsibilities, but her mother had given her a lot more today. She asked why she had to perform additional tasks, but her mother explained that she needs to learn to be independent. Marie now realized that she said it because of the conflict, but why did they have to become independent when the war was going on? While mopping the floor, Marie continued thinking about it. She washed the dishes, swept the floor, and fed Max. She then went upstairs to rest for a while. Max also came to her room and slept on the floor.
***
The next morning, Marie woke up to a sudden, but distant sound of bombardement. Marie got worried and rushed downstairs.Â
âMum, what are those sounds?!â Marie asked, shouting.Â
âOh, thatâs prâprobably a neighbor playing some music,â Evelyn replied.
Marie figured her mum was trying to hide the war from her, so she sat down for breakfast, not asking any more questions to prevent her mum from getting mad at her again. Evelyn gave her some fruits, and vegetables to eat.Â
âMum, vegetables are for dinner, not breakfast!â Marie said to her.Â
âWell, get used to it.â her mum said, in an angry but sober tone.
Marie knew it was due to the conflict once more, so she stuffed her mouth with veggies and remained silent. She finished her meal and walked to the school, but her mother insisted on going with her.Â
"Are you going to learn something as well? But youâre not in uniform" Marie cracked a joke.
Mum gave her a deep look, so Marie shut her mouth and started thinking about how sheâs going to take a break from her busy schedule so she can see Betty in school that day. They went to school, but Mrs. Doohickey was not there. There was another supplement teacher named Mrs. Smith. They sat down and bombarded her with questions like "What happened to Mrs. Doohickey?" and "Where did she go?"
Ms. Smith asked everyone to take their seats. She said Mrs. Doohickey had relocated to South Africa. Why did she relocate to South Africa? Marie thought to herself. It must be because of the war. She must be trying to protect herself. At the very least Marie could not laugh at her anymore!Â
Marie saw Betty in class and waved at her. Betty waved back. They began today's lesson when another distant bomb sound occurred.
"What's that?" Everyone started whispering.Â
"Everyone, focus!" Mrs. Smith said, clapping for attention.Â
Everyone stopped whispering. They continued with different subjects until lunchtime.
At lunch, Marie saw Betty and went over to her. âHi, Betty! Why do you look so tense?â Marie asked.
âOh, itâs nothing, just feeling a bit sick,â Betty replied.
Marie knew it was not because she felt sick, for she had overheard Bettyâs parents also talking about war, so she kept asking her. âBetty, I am your best friend. You can tell me anything! I want you to know that.â Marie said.
  "Oh, okay since you insist. It is because of the war that I'm worried sick!" Betty said.Â
"Yeah, it's the same here, especially since my dad is a soldier in the French army, so after this war, I am afraid that I might lose him. That is why I try to spend every moment possible with him and with my mum. And you? Why are you scared?â Marie asked.Â
âI do not know. I am afraid to lose my family too, but this house has been my home since I was born. I do not want to lose my home, my family or my friends. I was also worried, not knowing what the outcome of the war could be.â Betty said worriedly.Â
âI don't know either, but I can promise you that whatever happens, I will always be on your side,â Marie said.Â
âOh, thank you, Marie, for always being there for me! I will also always be there for you,â Betty said.Â
On that heartfelt note, they finished their lunch and went back to class.Â
***
The rest of the day passed quickly. Marie and Betty went home together after school. They discussed more about their parents' strange behavior at home and they were lost so much in their talk that they did not realize when they arrived at their homes. "Hi, Mum!" Marie said as she walked through the door. âMum?â
"Oh, sorry, honey, I didn't notice you there. You've been so busy lately," Mom said.
 âSit down. I have something important to talk to you about.â Marie sat down on the chair with the plate of cookies.Â
"So, have you noticed that I've been nervous lately?" Marie's mother asked. Marie nodded. "Well, that's because the possibility of a war in France is high. That is why your father is working and talking about war with the army. Now I know it sounds scary, but you should know that I will always be by your side. All right?" Marie nodded. Even though she knew the truth of the war, she still burst into tears. Her mother gave her a warm hug. âRemember that Iâll always love you, and you must never give up. Be there for yourself and for Betty too,â she said.
"Yes, mom,â Marie said, crying.Â
âHoney, why are you crying? I told you I would be there for you,â her mum said.
âHonestly speaking, I knew about this war from quite some time now since you two talked about it, but recently I have learnt that this war has picked up and is no longer limited to a city or one country. It has already spread to multiple countries across Europe. This is where loved ones die, families mourn, and nothing good comes out of it,â Marie told her mother.Â
Evelyn was shocked. She had never heard her daughter say something so mature and sensitive.Â
âSo, are you afraid of this war? Is it bothering you?â her mum asked.
âYes, that too but also the fact that cities after cities are getting destroyed. So many people are losing their loved ones because of this. Why is this happening, mum? Why did this war begin?â Marie asked.
âWell, there are several reasons, honey. Germanyâs ruler Adolf Hitler is planning to invade Poland, a nation to which Great Britain and France had guaranteed military support if it were attacked by Germany. You must love and appreciate whoever you have in your life right now because you never know how long we are together,â her mum said.
âI know,â Marie said as she tried to hold back tears, âBut mum, arenât you going to ask how I found out about the war?â Marie asked.
âNo, I know you are a sneaky little child,â her mum said. They both laughed.
They continued the day while Marie was cherishing every moment with her dad, mum. She hugged them, she even hugged Max, knowing that he might not be with them always. Marie was also scared a lot but pretending to stay strong. What if she never saw any of them ever again? Marie shuddered, thinking.
Historical fiction readers are aware that this market been inundated with HF novels set during World War II. Give Peace a Chance is set in France during the same time frame, but with a twist: Itâs the story of two young girls and the effect the war has on their lives, families, and friendship.
Marie and her family are French. Bettyâs family is originally from Germany but has settled in France. Now the two countries are at war. What will happen to their friendship and their families?
The rest of this intriguing story is told through the eyes of these two girls. The story is quick and well-paced. It does an excellent job of conveying the different emotions and experiences Betty and Marie face during and after the war. These include stress, confusion, fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Also extra chores, relocations and evacuation, stockpiling food, blackouts, and no outside play.
The tone is earnest and heartfelt. The story idea is intriguing. But the text would benefit from a professional edit and another application of polish. Some errors in grammar and basic punctuation pop up now and then, such as dropped quotation marks and commas. There's also some subject/verb confusion. But these are minor issues and do not detract from the overall story.
The phrasing is occasionally problematic. Itâs smooth as silk and highly readable in places. Elsewhere, however, itâs awkward and butter-fingered. Examples include: âArlene and Lucinda who were faintly awake got up almost immediately, hearing loud thud to answer the door.â Betty kneels âwith her face buried in her palm with tears.â âThe allied armies comprised majorly U.S., British, French and Canadian troops.â âGeorge went silent knowing where things are heading now.â At age twenty-seven, Marie and Betty âboth got wedded in the same months.â And so on.
Some scenes could use more work. This includes the âreunionâ scene between George and Paul, which seems contrived. Other scenes may confuse some readers, such as when Evelynâs husband, George, sustains a âfatal shotâ in the leg. Heâs described as âthe dying George.â We later learn that the injury results in an amputation. Apparently, George survives the âfatalâ wound. Also, the scene in which Max the dog is received as a birthday gift reads as if Max arrived in the mail with the motherâs letter.
A re-categorization of this book might be helpful due to the youthfulness of the writing. âHistorical Fiction/Young Adult/Middle Gradeâ would be more accurate.
All in all, Give Peace a Chance is a solid effort and shows great promise. It represents a substantial accomplishment for such a young writer. Look for more from this talented budding young author.