Never Forget You

Set in the late 1930s, this coming-of-age historical fiction explores the unlikely friendship of four young girls during the second world war. United through their shared boarding school experience, the group are left wondering how their friendship will last as they grow into young women that follow separate paths through the war.

The prologue, which I found slightly abstract yet gripping, set the tone for the story, making for an exciting and explorative read. Author, Jamila Gavin, achieved this by highlighting each young women's perspectives and individual journeys. The change in POV delivered a tense, realistic look into how the war impacted specific communities at different levels and kept the story engaging.

Shy of 500 pages, this book would be excellent material to study for a reading assessment/exam as a group or individually. Two main characters are based on real-life wartime heroes, Vera Atkins and Noor Inayat Khan, which can be a huge selling point for educators and librarians.

Overall, a strong read. The cover is gripping and will surely draw people into picking up the book. The story doesn't get into horrific war detail so it would be suitable for readers 12/13+.