The
Diary of Devorah Bernstein takes place in Alberta, Canada during
World War II. Devorah is Jewish and is trying to do everything she
can to help the war efforts and starts an Anti-War group called
the TO’s. Devorah’s brothers are overseas piloting fighter
planes. Her relatives are in France, affected by the war as well,
and are awaiting visas from the Canadian government.
The Diary of Devorah Bernstein, while fictional,
provides notable information on World War II along with a well-balanced
and interesting story. This novel is not so much suspenseful as
it is written well, but eye catching anyhow.
For this novel there wouldn’t be the need
for an age limit or recommended rating, although the age of interest
would be ten and up. The genre of this novel is historical fiction.
Unlike most novels, but like all from the Dear Canada
Series, this one is in diary form and the “torn” pages
add to it for an aged look. The story is creative and uses a medium
amount of description but not too much to overwhelm the reader.
Although the novel could have been longer, there are enough events
to keep the reader greatly interested.
I would recommend
this novel to anyone who has an interest in World War II. I would
also recommend this to fans of the other novels by Carol Matas.
This novel carries on the Dear Canada Series well and is enjoyable
to read.
Reviewed by Maria Tchernikova at Monsignor Paul Dwyer High School
