Parents' Guide to

Lovely War

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Poignant World War I romance weaves in jazz, Greek gods.

Book Julie Berry Historical Fiction 2019
Lovely War Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

Panda Incognito
Panda Incognito Adult
April 14, 2019
age 13+
This book is SO UNSPEAKABLY GOOD. It is everything I could possibly want out of historical fiction, and the dual love stories are phenomenal beyond imagination. I have followed Julie Berry's career for ten years, and I don't think she can possibly top this book. She was born to write this particular novel in this particular way, and no one else could have done it this well. The themes! The attention to small details! The historical accuracy! The pathos! The plot and pacing! The use of Greek mythological figures as a framing device! Everything about this book was unique, gripping, and irreplaceable, and I adore it with my whole heart. The only significant content concerns for this book are its realistic depictions of wartime violence, racism, racial violence, attempted sexual assault, and the psychological trauma of war. Other than that, there is almost nothing objectionable about this book, and all of the above issues are handled with tact and discretion. The romances are both portrayed in respectful, dignified ways that value love over lust, and the language is limited to a few expletives and racial slurs. I recommend this book for kids thirteen and older based on this book's reading level and thematic content, but mature and advanced readers may enjoy it at a younger age.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
2 people found this helpful.
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What's the Story?

In LOVELY WAR, the Greek god Hephaestus has caught his wife Aphrodite in an affair with Ares, the god of war. Hephaestus captures them in a magical net and wants to drag them off for punishment. But Aphrodite, goddess of love, wants to defend herself by telling the story of two young couples who meet and fall in love during World War I. The lives of Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette are about so much more than love, so Aphrodite calls on Apollo, Hades, and Ares himself to fill in the parts they played in the four young lives. From the Belgian countryside to the Harlem Renaissance, these four young people learn about living and loving, for the ages.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (16):

This beautifully written historical romance has it all. Lovely War weaves love, loss, jazz, war, Greek gods, and so much more together with relatable and unforgettable characters, against the backdrop of sweeping changes in the lives of millions. Framing the two epic love stories with Aphrodite pleading her case to Hephaestus adds a timeless quality to the sweeping wartime romance.

Author Julie Berry is as skillful at narrating large-scale war action as she is at finding real poignancy in small, intimate moments. Keep a tissue handy for surprisingly moving moments sprinkled throughout.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Lovely War depicts World War I. Does it seem realistic? Did you know much about the war before you read this book? Go to the library or search online to learn more about the real people and events in the story.

  • Who was your favorite character? What are that person's strengths and weaknesses? What did you like about him or her? Were there any characters you didn't like?

  • Did you like that the Greek gods tell the story, or do their parts get in the way of the story? Look up the original myth about Hephaestus and the unbreakable net. How is it different from this book?

Book Details

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