This is a beautifully told and poignant tale based on actual events that took place at a Japanese internment camp in China during WWII. The prisoners are young children and their teachers, torn apart and separated from their loved ones. The characters are authentic and lovable and the story both inspiring and heartbreaking. I found this very similar to Heather Morris’ Sisters Under the Rising Sun.

There have been a plethora of books about World War II over the past few years. I love historical fiction and I'm always happy to read a book that focuses on a lesser known facet of the war. This time it's the Japanese occupation of parts of China, and the children of missionaries who end up as POWs. The story is told in the voices of a teacher and a student with vignettes from the "Girl Guide" handbook (for US readers -- the Girl Scouts).

I really enjoyed this book. It was an emotional roller coaster with some amusing parts, but most of the story is heartbreaking. The main characters' voices are real and fully formed and I became invested in the outcome for each of them. Unfortunately the narrative was a bit tedious at times and I found the writing somewhat simplistic -- this happened, then this happened, etc. There seemed to be a lack of suspense and tension. Despite this, I would still recommend this book for fans of historical fiction. This is a topic that is often overlooked among the many books that focus on the war in Europe and the Holocaust. It was fascinating to learn about the experiences of these children and their teachers.

This was an intriguing book written about a period of history I hadn't read much about. I thought it was well written and the ending left me in tears.

This is a wonderful story of survival in the time of war. Elspeth Kent was a teacher in a British missionary school in China when Japan went to war with Britain during WWII. She kept the young girls in her charge organized and motivated using the Girl Guide handbook. What could have been a time of despair became a time of hard work and dedication in order to earn their badges.

The characters in this book are well-developed and relatable. I will be recommending this to book to my fellow book club members.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found the topic and story line fascinating. It was unlike anything else I have read. I enjoyed how each chapter was from a different character to gain their perspective. I have read many stories about WWII and this was entirely new.

When We Were Young & Brave focuses on young students at a missionary school in China during WWII. Several of the young girls and two of the teachers are the main characters. The characters are wonderfully and lovingly drawn. I've read many WWII historic fiction books, but this story is fresh and unique. It's heartbreaking and hopeful. You'll truly care for the characters and want the best for each one. It's a story about how some of us become our best selves under horrific circumstances, a tale of how the teacher helps the student, but the student also saves the teacher.

WWII has been really overdone in the last several years but this one is different. This is the first I have seen about these particular locations/events. It is also unique in that the dual perspectives are told from an adult and a child, really encompassing the full spectrum of what was occurring during these times. This was my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more.

I love Hazel Gaynor's writing and this book did not disappoint. This is a story about friendship and hope and resilience during the darkest days of war. Books like this remind us there is still good to be found in this world.

I enjoyed this book, told from the points of view of both a young girl and her teacher. I had a period feel for me, evocative of its time, particularly in its language. While I have read about the Japanese occupation of Malaysia and other parts of Indonesia, these particular circumstances in China were new to me. I found it a little lacking in drama, a rather sanitized version of what happened, and while I appreciate not having the horrors described in detail, it felt a little clinical and I found the constant girl guide references eventually grated. However, I did greatly enjoy the book, and would look for more by this author.

This is such a heartbreaking yet hopeful story! When Japanese soldiers took over their school, life changed abruptly for Elsbeth and her young students, including Nancy, whose mother she'd long ago promised she'd keep a special eye on. The children were already struggling because they missed their parents, but when Japan declared war on England and America they became "the enemy" in a foreign land. This began the daily struggle for Elsbeth to maintain her positive attitude and Girl Guide (like the Girl Scouts) leadership while suffering and living in fear of what would happen as the war went on. I fell in love with these characters and the kindness they showed each other in the most unimaginable circumstances. Parts of it were hard to read, especially knowing it was based on true events. It was so interesting to learn about Chefoo School and devastating to learn how awful it was for the Chinese to be under Japanese occupation and the way that the British and Americans in the country at the time were treated. The bravery and resilience of the characters was inspiring. If you love historical fiction from this era you'll definitely want to read this one!

When Elspeth Kent, a young English spinster on the run from marriage, takes a blanket from her trunk and replaces it with books including Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth" it is a "spoiler" for the book will unwind. Elspeth finds an acceptable marriage not good enough, and running to an adventure as a teacher in a school for the children of Caucasian missionaries, diplomats, and other people making fortunes off the Asian continent.

Elspeth quickly establishes herself as a born teacher with serious self esteem issu. She tries not to have favorites, but a trio of children step out of the crowd and become the center of Elspeth's life and also the alternated thread in the story.

Elspeth and another teacher start the girls on a journey as Brownies and Girl Guides, something the girls take seriously. Their Scout pledge to be kind, inventive, loving and loyal serves them well when the world enters World War 2 and the missionary school begins a long trip across China as prisoners of the invading Japanese..

As enemy aliens the students and teachers are treated abominably, especially by the Commandant, who becomes known as "Trouble", and with good reason.. Foolishly, Elspeth does not a remain anonymous to this sociopath and pays the price for her naivete.

It is easy to make comparisons with this book. The aforementioned Pearl Buck is certain, as well as Paradise Road, Empire of the Sun, and a less racy Prime of Miss Jean Brody. With all of these easy comparisons, this book is singular in its touching descriptions of children and the people charged with their care. There is even a guest appearance by a real life Olympian, Eric Liddell, a principle character in Chariots of Fire.

So similar yet so beautifully different. An excellent choice for book club discussion

A powerful story of the human spirit and community bonds enabling people to survive. I was immediately sucked into this story which features the children and teachers of the British run Chefoo School in China. When China is occupied by the Japanese during WWII, the residents of the school find themselves taken prisoner by Japanese soldiers. Elspeth, one of the teachers, and Nancy, one of her students are the main characters focused on in the book - and as it progresses the bond between them is what helps each of them overcome the challenges they face. Elspeth was the one to meet Nancy at the boat when Nancy first arrived at the school, and she feels a deep sense of duty to honor her promise to look after Nancy - even though she didn't know what that would entail. Now the students and teachers are at the mercy of the Japanese, who move them from place to place and enforce punishments on those who won't comply with their rules. Elspeth and the other teachers do their best to keep things as normal as possible for the children - continuing their lessons and their Girl Guide troop meetings. They must all band together to make each new place they arrive at liveable, and they get a lot of chances to practice the Girl Guide motto of being helpful to others at all times. Along the way they help a baby survive, grind up eggshells for calcium, and plant seeds of hope at each new place they come to - hope that is realized when they are finally liberated.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I found it inspiring to see how the teachers and students lived by their principles even under the most challenging conditions. It was also an aspect of World War II that I had not heard of before. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys hisorical fiction, especially if they like survival stories or stories with adult/child relationships.

I like Hazel Gaynor's novels, this one was very good, again a different part of World War II history than I am used to but it was a pleasant read.

When We Were Young & Brave by Hazel Gaynor is a historical fiction book set in China during WWII. It takes place in a boarding school of sorts for the children of missionaries. The chapters are first person accounts by two different characters: a young student and a teacher. The school is taken over by the Japanese early in the war and the students and teachers are both forced into a less than desirable existence. The army later takes over the town and they are moved to an internment camp. This book may have been written for a younger audience as a this very harrowing experience is told a little too simply and, in my opinion, without the requisite depth of fear and desperation that it probably deserved. Overall a very interesting and new/different area/event during WWII.

This is a slightly different take on WWII historical fiction. It is set in China at a missionary school. The students are all children of missionaries serving China. We meet Mouse, Plum and Sprout who are all Girl Guide Brownies. We follow them through the war and their struggles with being imprisoned in various camps.
Miss Kent is the Girl Guide leader and keeps the children safe in so many horrible situations.

I felt very connected to these characters throughout this book. They became friends and I wanted them all to make it through. There are certainly heartaches along the way, but those that make it through have a bond for life.

Such rich character and plot development in this book. Very well done!

Being Chinese-American and having parents who had first-hand experience during that era in Chinese history, I was really drawn to the setting of the novel, but I found that although this was historical fiction, some of the facts and events seemed a bit skewed. Thankfully, the novel clearly wasn't meant to be political and more to explore the dynamics of the characters who happened to be challenged during that time in that place. It was a beautifully written novel albeit slow at times, but shows human and female friendship and resiliency quite well. I recommend this novel for historical fiction lovers!

The intertwined stories between student and teacher I really thought was interesting. Many times with the two points of view in a WWII book, it is past and present. Someone is learning something in the present about the past that's been hidden. These two people are in the same time period. I also really enjoy WWII novels that are set around truth. It makes these stories feel more human and authentic.

This novel provided the reader with a unique WWII experience. The setting was China at a private school for the children of missionaries and diplomats from England, America and other countries. Although Japan occupies China at the start of the book, the trouble develops after Pearl Harbor when Japan declares war on Great Britain and the United States. The children and teachers at the school become enemies of Japan and are now under military control, cut off from their families and homelands. The story is told from the viewpoint of one of the students, “Plum” and one of the faculty, Miss Kent. The group faces increasing hardships, ultimately ending up in an internment camp in an isolated part of China. The resilience of the children over their four year struggle and the dedication of the teachers is moving and admirable.
I enjoyed this sometimes heartbreaking story. My only critique was that the heavy focus on the Brownies and Girl Guides practices bordered a bit on the novel being in the Young Adult genre. Also there was one storyline that left the reader “hanging” as to whether a baby of a former Chinese school servant, taken in by the school group for protection, is successfully returned to her parents after Japan’s surrender.

When We Were Young and Brave by Hazel Gaynor was my favorite read in January and a major backlist read. Historical fiction is saturated with WWII stories, but this one really stands out. Set in China during the Japanese occupation, When We Were Young and Brave tells the amazing story of a group of teachers and students who were prepared for everything but war.

The story is told from two perspectives - Elspeth Kent and Nancy Plummer. Y’all know multiple POV books are my favorite and this was no exception. I loved witnessing events unfold through the eyes of both an adult and a child. Gaynor did a fantastic job crafting two strong female characters and using them to tell what I think is a relatively unknown story. The strength portrayed by both Elspeth and Nancy throughout the novel was moving and heartbreaking. Elspeth, along with her fellow teachers, did everything possible during the occupation to be positive and continue teaching. Nancy was forced to grow up and become a young lady under the watchful and threatening eyes of Japanese soldiers. Both carried themselves with grace even in the worst situation.

This book is based on true events that I had never heard of before. I found myself going down a rabbit hole to learn more about the people, Chefoo School, and the occupation. I was fascinated to read about what these individuals went through and how they suffered yet emerged strong, but forever changed.

I would recommend this to any historical fiction reader looking for a change of scenery. New historical fiction readers would love this too because it isn’t quite as heavy as other WWII reads.

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for my eARC. All opinions are my own.

TW: confinement, mild torture, sexual assault

Sad story but well worth the read. I could not put this book down. Definitely will recommend to my book club friends.