Story of a British school in China that became occupied by the Japanese during WWII. The story followed the perspective of a teacher and a few students. They are first under occupation at their own school, then moved to a much worse school, and are moved to an isolated internment camp. I generally liked the story and reading about the occupation and internment through the eyes of the young girls. Some of it felt like a bit like a typical WWII/war type of story though it wasn't overly descriptive about violence which was nice. I liked how the author wrapped up all the storylines at the end. It maybe felt a bit too 'neat' but I like finding out what happens with characters in the long run.

As a lover of both historical fiction and WW2 history, I was excited about this one as it is about those in Asia instead of Europe - where most WW2 fiction is based - and is written in the viewpoints of a missionary teacher, Elspeth and a young student, Nancy. Fast paced and full of emotion, you feel for both the young students and the grown ups who are now enemies of Japan , prisoners in China.
Conditions for women and teen girls are not good, as the Japanese troops treat any women in conquered areas as 'comfort women', causing a lot of terror for both the captives and the local Chinese women.
I think it would of been a terrible thing to be trapped as they all were and the end of the war brought freedom for so many. A great read!

I received an advanced copy for my honest review...When We Were Young & Brave by Hazel Gaynor is a historical fiction novel set in China during World War II. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, a group of children and their teachers at a missionary school in China is trapped in enemy territory. Gaynor tells an interesting story of hope and survival through the eyes of a young female student and a female teacher. Having read many historical fiction stories set in this time period, it was a little slow to start for me. I did enjoy the different vantage point—as many WWII fiction stories are set in Europe. As the story continued, I did become invested in the stories of the characters and wanted to see how their stories ended. If you like historical fiction, I would recommend this book.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

When We Were Young & Brave is not my favorite Hazel Gaynor novel, but it is still fairly compelling in, once again, educating me about a part of history I didn’t know much about. I knew, of course, about American internment of Japanese, German, and Italian American citizens, but I didn’t realize until picking up this book that the Japanese did a similar thing for British, American, Chinese, and others from “enemy” nations in a similar way, although I was not surprised.

While this is a somewhat dark, bleak book at times, it is also one of hope. I loved following the experiences of both Nancy, a student, and Elspeth, a teacher, as they make their way through their changed circumstances as time passes, and bonds are forged with each other and others.

A common thread of the book is following the tenets of the Girl Guides, and as a former Girl Scout (albeit briefly), I liked getting that aspect of history and the role the organization and the school played at this time.

This is a wonderful book about a part of World War II that hasn’t been discussed very much. I recommend it for anyone who loves historical fiction set during World War II.

When We Were Young and Brave by Hazel Gaynor
This is a very good story of friendships; friendships between the children, friendships between the teachers, friendships between the students and the teachers, all of whom are thrown together because of world circumstances.
It's the story of children of missionaries from England Australia and the US, at a boarding school in China prior to World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Japanese occupation of China, the boarding school becomes basically a Japanese prison for the teachers and children. The children lean on each other, as well as on their teachers, and the teachers lean on their students as inspiration to carry on.
Although fictional, it's an inspirational story of resiliency . The author's use of the sunflower as a symbol of strength and the the ability to persevere was especially poignant to me since I actually witnessed so many sunflowers blooming amid the destruction from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.
I like that the story goes full circle so there's closure for all characters at the end of the book. I highly recommend.

The best historical fiction entertains me with a story, and leaves me wanting to learn more about the historical events it is based on, and WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND BRAVE is is one of those books. In 1941, the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor and both the United States and Great Britain declare war on Japan, while in China, the Japanese army takes over, Chefoo, a British-run school in China.

The book follows the lives of the teachers and children from the school, as they are cut off from their families and the outside world by the events of WW II.

Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers, Goodreads and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book, in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful book, "When We Were Young and Brave" by Hazel Gaynor. A story of the strong connection between students and a teacher during a horrific period of WW2. It is such an inspiring story of the human spirit and the never-give-up attitude. Well done!

When We Were Young and Brave by Hazel Gaynor is an excellent historical fiction account of a little known topic. I have not read any of Gaynor's previous books, but this one hooked me quickly.

Even though I read a lot of historical fiction books that take place during World War II, I was not familiar with conditions in China for British citizens. This book tells the story of a group of children who are at a British boarding school in China while their parents are traveling either as missionaries or diplomats. Most of the children and teachers are British, but there are a few American, Dutch and Swedish students. When Japan declares war on the US and Britain in 1941, the school comes under Japanese occupation. At first the Japanese guards just monitor the school, but later they move the entire school to a less desirable location, and eventually they are moved to an internment camp.

The story is told from the alternating points of view of a student and a teacher as we witness their trials and tribulations during their long years of occupation and internment until their eventual liberation at the end of the war. Of course, not everyone survives, and the survivors are forever changed by all they have endured.

This may sound like a bleak premise, but I found the story both tragic and heartwarming. The resilience of both students and teachers was amazing, and the way they were able to find joy in the the darkest moments of their lives was inspiring.

For readers who enjoy historical fiction and the theme of finding grace and courage in the face of adversity.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing advance access to an electronic copy in exchange for my honest review.

The thing I love so much about Hazel is that she paints historical landscapes for me in places I wouldn't otherwise know to look. This book takes place in China; I know next to nothing about China during World War II, simply because my US History books tends to only focus on the Holocaust and Pearl Harbor. However, the whole WORLD was at war, and there's very little I know outside of my scope. I love that Hazel thoroughly researches and educates me on a history, while also being wildly entertaining. I think there is so much to gain from her writing. I will always be a fan of her, and read everything she puts out!

I really enjoyed this story, even though it was really rather sad in many ways, but it also showed the resiliency of people. Hazel Gaynor does an excellent job making you really care about the characters and make you want to know more about the events surrounding the story she has written. I will be recommending that my library purchase this title.

This historical fiction was told from an interesting perspective! I loved the setting and the characters. The dual perspective was a nice touch, as we get the view of the teacher and the student. I was never really hooked by the story. There was nothing wrong with it, it just never really grasped my attention. I enjoyed the story but I didn’t love it. My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly, this book started out pretty slow for me and I was having problems getting in to it. It wasn’t bad, it’s a unique perspective of WWII as it’s set at a children’s school in China, and I’ve read several other books by the author and have enjoyed. So there were things on the ‘pro’ list. But I kept at it and by the end it had me crying. I would recommend.

Thank you to Book Club Girls and NetHalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an ARC from Netgalley.

We've all read books about the Holocaust and the war in Europe. This book gives a glimpse into the war in the Pacific when a group of British/American school children and their teachers are interned at a camp in China.

It is a moving story about a part of WWII that is rarely touched among. The struggles are really. The book tells both a student's and a teacher's story. I was really impressed by the writing and story telling.

Told in alternating paragraphs by students and a teacher, this is the story of courage and resilience during the atrocity of internment. Chefoo School was a place for the children of missionaries and well-to-do British families. It was located in China, and was a fine, comfortable boarding school. The support staff were native Chinese, and all lived and worked together harmoniously.

The harmony ended fast when the school was taken over by Japanese troops. Food was rationed, conditions deteriorated and treatment was cruel. From Chefoo, the population was moved first to Temple Hill and finally to Weihsien, each worst than the last. Through the next six years, bonds were formed, people were lost and through it all, they survived. Brownies forever!

This is a book that will stay with you, especially in contrast to the children of today. I couldn’t help but wonder how some of them, used to electronics and trophies would manage, but resilience is in our DNA so my hope is they’d do just as well.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own..

The Chefoo School, in Northern China, is home to privileged British and American children of missionaries and diplomats. In 1941, Nancy Plummer (“Plum”) and her brother are students there and teacher Elspeth Kent has insured Plum’s mother that she will take special care of the young girl. The Japanese have overtaken China and the lives of the students and teachers are going to change forever.

When We Were Young & Brave starts in 1975 with Nancy looking back at her time during the war. This moving book is told through the eyes of Nancy and Elspeth, who develop a close bond. In addition to their studies, Elspeth has formed a troop of Brownies/Girl Guides (comparable to the Girl Scouts in the U.S.) which teaches Nancy and her friends leadership and life skills. Once England and the United States declare war on Japan, the school is overtaken and the students and teachers are their prisoners. Life in the school is able to continue with Japanese soldiers watching over them. They eventually are transported to a Civilian Assembly Center, otherwise known as an internment camp, where the children and teachers are living with others deemed as enemies of Japan. Life becomes progressively worse for everyone. The children and teachers rely on one another to survive as they are met with lack of food, sickness and extreme cruelty.

When We Were Young & Brave shines a light on a rarely told, heartbreaking side of the war. And seeing the war through the eyes of a young girl was particularly powerful. Nancy and Elspeth were two very appealing characters who show courage and resiliency. This was a very beautiful and worthwhile read inspired by the author's own family's personal story.

Get your Kleenex ready.

Rated 4.25 stars.

I loved this book! I had never heard about this part of WWII and it was really interesting. I also liked the two perspectives - it was interesting to hear about the same events from both the child and adult perspectives.

When I read historical fiction, I want to learn something that I didn't know before. I was aware of the Japanese occupation of China during WWII because my Dad was part of a Marine division, known as China Marines, who were sent to occupy northern China after Japan's surrender. I was not aware, however, that at the same time Japanese residents in the U.S. were being sent to internment camps, in Japanese-occupied China, the Japanese were sending Westerners to their own camps.
This is the story of the Chefoo school in northern China (a British-run school for children of missionaries & diplomats) and how the children & teachers became victims of these camps. I enjoyed how the author intertwined the principles of Brownies/Girl Guides through-out the book--the mention of earning badges brought back fond memories.
While the book tells the story of unimaginable hardship, it emphasizes friendship, courage, and above all else, hope. Grab your tissues...

I have long been a fan of Hazel Gaynor’s writing. When I was given the ARC of this book, I began reading immediately. The bulk of historical fiction books written about WWII seem to be set in Germany or England. This book is set in China at the Chefoo School which is primarily populated by the children of diplomats, missionaries or others in foreign service. The story is told by Elspeth Kent, a British teacher at the school, and Nancy Plummer, a young student. Chefoo School is located in a beautiful area on the bay, and the students have a very comfortable learning environment. Then one day, Japanese soldiers take control of the school. The Chinese workers are turned out, and everyone else become prisoners of war. The story takes us through two moves, hardships, starvation and loss. It also tells the story of perseverance, resilience and survival. Miss Kent has established a Girl Guides group which she continues throughout their captivity. As we follow the story of the Chefoo students and staff (primarily the girls), we see how this centers them, keeps them moving forward and offers hope during the most trying of times. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. If you are a fan of historical fiction, and you are looking for a WWII story with a different perspective, this is a book that you should read. It will stay with you long after you have read the last page. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this wonderful book in advance.

A heartbreakingly beautiful story of resilience and perseverance set in China during WWII. The story follows a group of student and teachers at a boarding school for diplomat and missionaries children and is told though the alternating perspectives of Elspeth, a teacher and Nancy, a student. Enduring occupation and eventual internment by Japanese forces, the children and teachers underwent extreme hardships, starvation and abuse by their captors. The shining light in this story is the teachers resourcefulness and the students eagerness to make the most of a horrible situation. The author bring to light a WWII story that I was unfamiliar with and I believe this book could be a good one for students to read and discuss.

I have to confess that I am drawn to books about World War II but I also have to admit that perhaps I’ve read too many in too short a time because I almost passed on this book until I realized it did not take place in Europe but in China. Now here was an area of WWII in which I had only read a couple of books so it suddenly seemed very appealing to me.

I’m so glad I read this book. I was a Girl Scout and I love the fact that the girls in this story find some of their strength and endurance because they are Girl Guides (precursor to Girl Scouts) and continue to be throughout their ordeal in the camps in China.

This story is told in two voices. Nancy Plummer aka. Plum, who in the beginning of the book is ten years old and that of one of her teachers, Elspeth Kent. The two characters alternate chapters and sometimes the chapters overlap with different perspectives of what is currently occurring.

They are at times the victims of extreme cruelty at the hands of their captors and yet there are also little moments of kindness.

This was such an interesting story and clearly the author did a great deal of research to have produced such an engrossing historical novel.

Thank you to The Book Club Girls, NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers and the author Hazel Gaynor for the Advance Reader’s e-proof copy of this book.