A story you won't forget

Jamila Gavin is amazing – born in 1941, she has written about fifty books for children and young adults, many of them absolute classic stories such as Coram Boy. And now there is Never Forget You.

Gwen, Nor, Dodo and Vera have formed a firm group friendship at the English boarding school, bonded by their shared experience of having parents living abroad. Their bond is so close that of course it will last for ever - won’t it? But this is 1937 and as they finish their school days, the threatened war finally arrives across Europe endangering themselves and their families.

Gavin is brilliant and creating totally real characters and a meticulously detailed and accurate background. What makes her so satisfying is her rugged approach to the reality of t war: the London Blitz, the devastating treatment of the Jewish people in Europe, the theories of the belief in the Aryan race, interrogation under torture:. Themes such as these are viscerally and dramatically created whilst inside the girls’ young minds they struggle with concepts of duty, betrayal, love, fear of death and loss, loyalty, bereavement, and violence. The story shies away from none of these tough topics, showing too the intensely moving endurance, hope and courage of those living through those years.

I’m surprised that it is recommended for readers of 11+ and 12+ . I think many readers this young could be really distressed by quite a lot of the content, would find many of the concepts beyond them and find some of the language too challenging. It will no doubt be used in schools as part of WW2 learning topics – but I would have thought for Years 8 or 9.

The narrator has a very pleasant voice and she reads the French well, as in the touchingly plangent Never forget You refrain in French. But she makes far too many mispronunciations of words – the one I found most puzzling was her word “Pee-Kay”. Is she saying ‘picquet’? But that makes no sense in the context. Then I realise she means ‘pique’ (which should be pronounced ‘peek’). It’s a shame that there are these glaring errors in an otherwise professional narration.

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Entertaining book, infuriating reader

The reader has a nice voice, reads dramatically, does accents well enough, but has been so lazy about pronunciation. Inculcated becomes incalculated (whatever that means), intimated becomes intimidated, shtetl is shetl, yarmulke is mispronounced, ditto French words, etc etc. Look it up if you don’t know how to pronounce it. If it doesn’t make sense, check that you’ve got the word right. And someone should be checking.

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2 people found this helpful

Absolutely beautiful story

The book is amazing and one I will recommend to young readers. I like the reader’s voice but such a shame she didn’t pronounce some words correctly.

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