Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Cha
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Speak (2007), 320 pages
Description
Alternates between two stories--contemporarily, seventeen-year-old Jacob visits a daunting Amsterdam at the request of his English grandmother--and historically, nineteen-year-old Geertrui relates her experience of British soldiers's attempts to liberate Holland from its German occupation.
Media reviews
Great book to curl up with, blankets & cocoa required.
Subjects
Original publication date
1999
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member bridgetb27
History - War - Westerns - Holocaust Book Review
Chambers, Aidan. Postcards from No Man’s Land. 2002. Dutton Books: New York.
Genre:
Fiction, Historical Fiction
Themes:
War, Love, Sexuality, Family secrets
Age / Grade Appropriateness:
16 and up/10th Grade and up
Awards:
Printz Award, Carnegie Medal, ALA
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book, ALA Outstanding Books for the College Bound, Booklist Editors’ Choice Award
Censorship Issues:
There were a few censorship issues which included gay, sexuality, war, and teenage pregnancy.
Plot Summary:
This story is mainly about two characters. The first character is a seventeen year old boy named Christopher. He goes to Amsterdam, requested by his grandmother, to attend a ceremony honoring English soldiers that served in Holland. As Christopher is in Amsterdam, he finds out many different things about his grandfather’s past. Along the journey looking for answers, he meets an elderly lady named Geertrui, whom is in the hospital. Geertrui just happens to be Christopher’s grandfather’s girlfriend during the war. Geeertrui also has a baby fathered by Christopher’s grandfather. The story is about a young boy that is finding out many family secrets through a personal journey.
Critique:
This book was defiantly a book that would fit the bill of young adult literature because it was about a teenage boy. It also had many different controversial components, like many young adult books. I did not particular like this book because it did not keep my interest. I was also not interested in the topics that were discusses through out the book. It was very boring to me. I think it lacked an ongoing suspense.
Curriculum Uses (Possible uses in the classroom / school library / public library):
This book could be used in a History classroom that was discussing early times in the war. This book would also be great for anyone that likes to read about war and family secrets.
Chambers, Aidan. Postcards from No Man’s Land. 2002. Dutton Books: New York.
Genre:
Fiction, Historical Fiction
Themes:
War, Love, Sexuality, Family secrets
Age / Grade Appropriateness:
16 and up/10th Grade and up
Awards:
Printz Award, Carnegie Medal, ALA
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Best Books for Young Adults, A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book, ALA Outstanding Books for the College Bound, Booklist Editors’ Choice Award
Censorship Issues:
There were a few censorship issues which included gay, sexuality, war, and teenage pregnancy.
Plot Summary:
This story is mainly about two characters. The first character is a seventeen year old boy named Christopher. He goes to Amsterdam, requested by his grandmother, to attend a ceremony honoring English soldiers that served in Holland. As Christopher is in Amsterdam, he finds out many different things about his grandfather’s past. Along the journey looking for answers, he meets an elderly lady named Geertrui, whom is in the hospital. Geertrui just happens to be Christopher’s grandfather’s girlfriend during the war. Geeertrui also has a baby fathered by Christopher’s grandfather. The story is about a young boy that is finding out many family secrets through a personal journey.
Critique:
This book was defiantly a book that would fit the bill of young adult literature because it was about a teenage boy. It also had many different controversial components, like many young adult books. I did not particular like this book because it did not keep my interest. I was also not interested in the topics that were discusses through out the book. It was very boring to me. I think it lacked an ongoing suspense.
Curriculum Uses (Possible uses in the classroom / school library / public library):
This book could be used in a History classroom that was discussing early times in the war. This book would also be great for anyone that likes to read about war and family secrets.
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LibraryThing member KrisMac
I loved this book, however I must admit that I quickly lost interest in the narrative of Geertrui and her experiences in the war. I would have much preferred if it had simply been about the adolescent adventures of its protagonist in Amsterdam. I really liked Chamber's portrayal of a young british
As a young man about to partake in a degree in Dutch Studies, I particularly admired the snippets of dutch and amsterdam culture, such as the encounter with the portrait of Theo, which for me made the novel more authentic, and increased my eagerness to travel to Holland and explore it for myself.
I'm currently re-reading it, though I admit I am skipping out most of the passages concerning young Geertrui, which would maybe serve as a seperate novel in themselves.
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man in Holland and his encounters with the local 'culture'. I take my hat off to Chambers for his treatment of the relationship between Ton and Jacob, as he manages to present a relationship outside of the heterosexual norm, yet without slipping into the cliche of the "LGBT novel". As a young man about to partake in a degree in Dutch Studies, I particularly admired the snippets of dutch and amsterdam culture, such as the encounter with the portrait of Theo, which for me made the novel more authentic, and increased my eagerness to travel to Holland and explore it for myself.
I'm currently re-reading it, though I admit I am skipping out most of the passages concerning young Geertrui, which would maybe serve as a seperate novel in themselves.
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LibraryThing member C.Vick
I feel in love with this book at first reading, and have reread it for the sheer joy of it several times since.
There are really two stories in this novel. One is the story of Jacob, visiting Amsterdam on behalf of his deceased grandfather who served there in WWII. He intends to stay with the woman
Jacob is in love with the idea of Amsterdam, mostly because he is more or less in love with Anne Frank -- predictable that a boy who has so much trouble with human relationships is in love with a dead girl. Fortunately, while the Anne Frank house is not quite what he expects it to be, neither is Amsterdam. In Amsterdam Jacob will finally flower, learning about himself and about love.
The other story follows the history of Gertruii, who shelters Jacob's grandfather, a British soldier who parachutes into Holland during WWII. Mostly it is the story of Gertruii in WWII, who, when war comes blazing into her home, learns a little more about the world, and about love.
And that is mostly what this novel is. It may be called by some a historical fiction novel or a LGBT novel or whatever, but it is a story about love and the many varieties there are of it.
There are really two stories in this novel. One is the story of Jacob, visiting Amsterdam on behalf of his deceased grandfather who served there in WWII. He intends to stay with the woman
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who sheltered his grandfather, Gertruii, but she is in hospital, so he finds himself staying with her grandson instead.Jacob is in love with the idea of Amsterdam, mostly because he is more or less in love with Anne Frank -- predictable that a boy who has so much trouble with human relationships is in love with a dead girl. Fortunately, while the Anne Frank house is not quite what he expects it to be, neither is Amsterdam. In Amsterdam Jacob will finally flower, learning about himself and about love.
The other story follows the history of Gertruii, who shelters Jacob's grandfather, a British soldier who parachutes into Holland during WWII. Mostly it is the story of Gertruii in WWII, who, when war comes blazing into her home, learns a little more about the world, and about love.
And that is mostly what this novel is. It may be called by some a historical fiction novel or a LGBT novel or whatever, but it is a story about love and the many varieties there are of it.
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LibraryThing member kayceel
I liked the historical aspect of this book, and was a bit shocked at the sexual content – homosexuality is addressed very forthrightly. Not for young teens…
LibraryThing member 59Square
Kearsten says: I liked the historical aspect of this book, though I was a bit shocked at the sexual content – homosexuality is addressed very forthrightly. (Though I read this back before I read teen books regularly - I think I would be less surprised today...)
Not for young teens…
Not for young teens…
LibraryThing member jas91
my favourite Aidan Chambers book.
LibraryThing member hwilliams1
Jacob Todd, named after his grandfather who died during WWII, is set out to go to Amsterdam to visit his grandfather’s grave. As his approach to this foreign country, he had no clue whereabouts of where he was supposed to go or who can help him. Along the way, searching for the address his
Young Jacob was able to seek the truth from a former Dutch lady who is near her death hour about his grandfather. The Dutch lady, Geertrui, was able to give him every detail of what when on between her and his grandfather in a memoir that was given to him typed by with the help of her grandson whom he found out was his relative. After seeking the truth, Jacob has no idea of whether to tell this to her grandmother who was his grandfather’s wife, the soldier who Geertrui cared for in the war. The novel is told from two narrator of one which goes back in time with the incident of the war activities and the other is in the present-day with young Jacob.
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grandmother gave him to lead him to the designated place; Jacob goes into somewhat troubles of being mugged. He was able to retrieve help from a woman name Alma who welcome Jacob and feeds him and yet help him find the person Jacob is looking for of where he was suppose to be. While in trouble or searching for the place, he found comfort in visiting Anne Frank’s Museum nearby but only to know that this broke his heart in the end.Young Jacob was able to seek the truth from a former Dutch lady who is near her death hour about his grandfather. The Dutch lady, Geertrui, was able to give him every detail of what when on between her and his grandfather in a memoir that was given to him typed by with the help of her grandson whom he found out was his relative. After seeking the truth, Jacob has no idea of whether to tell this to her grandmother who was his grandfather’s wife, the soldier who Geertrui cared for in the war. The novel is told from two narrator of one which goes back in time with the incident of the war activities and the other is in the present-day with young Jacob.
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LibraryThing member satyridae
Dual narratives, one a modern young man's, one a young woman's during WWII, alternate throughout this stunningly good book. Sensitively told, heartbreakingly real, and skillfully plotted. A wonderful story, highly recommended. Won the Carnegie Medal and the Michael Printz Award.
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
My first attempt at an Aidan Chambers novel since I failed to finish “Dance on my Grave” whose explicitness stunned my teenage self many years ago. This one had its moments – I suspect this author likes raising the issue of sexual freedom. I did finish it without difficulty, and very much
Though its wartime theme is something which has been done by other authors, this had an individual feel, as though the author was determined to take it in certain directions whatever anyone else thought. My only issue was the voice of the modern day protagonist Jacob – for a seventeen-year-old he came across astonishingly (unbelievably) mature and ridiculously naive by turns – it was hard to place him. Maybe that’s the nature of 17 year old boys but somehow I’m not convinced.
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appreciated its depiction of the Nazi occupation of Holland, as well as modern life in Amsterdam. In particular I found the depiction of the commemoration ceremony for the Battle of Arnhem, interspersed with factual accounts of the actual events, particularly effective.Though its wartime theme is something which has been done by other authors, this had an individual feel, as though the author was determined to take it in certain directions whatever anyone else thought. My only issue was the voice of the modern day protagonist Jacob – for a seventeen-year-old he came across astonishingly (unbelievably) mature and ridiculously naive by turns – it was hard to place him. Maybe that’s the nature of 17 year old boys but somehow I’m not convinced.
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LibraryThing member WetheReaders
Long dialogs are boring at times, some good historical information, the historical part of the book would have made a far better book on its own
LibraryThing member lilibrarian
Jacob goes to Holland to attend a memorial for his grandfather, a British soldier who died there during WWII. His stay is short, but he makes discoveries about himself, others and a long-hidden family secret.
LibraryThing member electrascaife
Details the parallel stories of a Dutch woman falling in love with an English soldier whom she nurses and hides during WWII and of a young man visiting Amsterdam for the first time while dealing with his occasional bouts of depression, his social anxiety and his sexuality. The two plots are joined
There are good things about this one (the stories are good and I enjoyed the way in which they are entwined), but Chambers tries to do too much here, taking on not only the telling of two separate tales and the fleshing out of two main characters, but also trying to add a history of a specific instance during the war via direct quotes from first-hand accounts, along with philosophical dialogue on the nature of love, the pointlessness of war and even a slightly hackneyed pro-and-con on euthanasia. The result feels disjointed and cluttered.
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by the relationship of the young man (grandson) and the soldier (grandfather).There are good things about this one (the stories are good and I enjoyed the way in which they are entwined), but Chambers tries to do too much here, taking on not only the telling of two separate tales and the fleshing out of two main characters, but also trying to add a history of a specific instance during the war via direct quotes from first-hand accounts, along with philosophical dialogue on the nature of love, the pointlessness of war and even a slightly hackneyed pro-and-con on euthanasia. The result feels disjointed and cluttered.
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Pages
320