Rose, Ella, Marta and Carla. In another life we might all have
been friends together. But this was Birchwood.
For fans of The Diary of Anne Frank and The Boy in the Striped
Pyjamas.
Lucy Adlington is a writer, actress and costume historian. Her novels for teenagers, including The Diary of Pelly-D and Burning Mountain have been nominated and shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, the Manchester Book Prize, the Leeds Book Prize and the Rotherham Book Award. She also writes non-fiction for adults about the history of clothes, including Great War Fashion and Stitches in Time: The Story of the Clothes We Wear. Follow Lucy at www.historywardrobe.com or on Twitter: @historywardrobe
The Red Ribbon is the best YA novel about the Holocaust I have
read. The story it threads together is gripping, moving and
important . . . deeply-researched, but wears its learning so
lightly that the history is woven seamlessly into the fabric of the
colourful story. I was especially struck by its sophisticated
handling of the moral questions that the camps ask. More honest
(and much more historically accurate) than the overly-simplistic
fable The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, The Red Ribbon deserves to be
very widely appreciated indeed, and I urge teachers and Holocaust
educators especially to read it.
*Robert Eaglestone, Professor of Contemporary Literature and
Thought, Holocaust Research Institute, Royal Holloway, University
of London*
Lucy Adlington's 'The Red Ribbon' is a very worthy addition to the
canon of young adult Holocaust novels and it well deserves its
place alongside 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas', 'The Book Thief'
and the Morris Gleitzman trilogy. I had heard of the musicians of
Auschwitz before but not the clothiers although as someone who has
visited the concentration camp it is poignantly ironic to contrast
the mounds of clothing there with the thin striped outfits the
inmates were forced to wear and as the novel shows that some were
able to prolong their survival because of their dressmaking skills.
Adlington does not shirk from conveying the horrors of such a place
but portrays them in a sensitive manner never forgetting her target
audience. She also manages to show that even in the darkest of
situations compassion, friendship and humanity can never be totally
extinguished. Her characters are well drawn, the prose skips along
and the novel is cleverly divided into sections represented by a
colour. I was particularly moved by the final part with its
emphasis on hope and looking to the future without ever forgetting
the past rather than on despair and retribution. This is a finely
written novel about a delicate subject and one that like two of the
aforementioned novels would I have no doubt translate well to the
screen.
*Benjamin Peel, Skegness Library*
A Real Weepie
*My Weekly*
Lucy Adlington's read is a tear jerker. Bookworms are calling it a
cross between 'The Diary of Anne Frank' and 'The Boy in the Striped
Pyjama' and it's a reading list essential
*Maximum Pop*
In Auschwitz, teenagers Ella and Rose survive because they create
clothes for the Commandant's wife. Despite the dark situation, the
friends' compassion, friendship and humanity win out
*Candis Magazine*
A terrific read and a great story of endurance and survival
*School Librarian*
A sensitive and brilliantly-written look at the Holocaust
*Book Murmuration*
compelling, illuminating, ... and female
*Notes On Paper*
an engaging read
*I Wuv Books*
My thoughts as I finished reading the book were that I had just
read an amazing book. The author has written a fictional version
based on the extremely real facts that took place at the horrific
prisoner of war camp that is better known as Auschwitz. This is the
sort of history that should be taught about in schools so the
atrocities and those who died are never ever forgotten
*Jeanz Books Read and Review*
For a moment, I was wondering how such a deeply harrowing time in
history could be conveyed as a Young Adult story, but Lucy does
this with care, sensitivity and raw emotion that is suitable and
readable for any reader from the early tween years. Overall, I just
can't stop thinking about The Red Ribbon ever since I closed the
last page. I am truly in awe of the effort, truth and pure
brilliance that Lucy Adlington has put into this novel, with these
fragile and broken, yet strong and kind, characters bound together
in a time where they were forced apart. This is a truly mesmerising
tale of hope, sacrifice and friendship and I loved it!
*Pretty little Memoirs*
an affecting and enlightening read
*Black Plume*
Adlington's writing is beautiful and often moving. Keep the
handkerchief ready
*The Lady*
With four strong female protagonists, this is an original tale that
runs high on emotions
*School Library Association*
Fashion and Auschwitz may seem an unlikely pairing in a children's
book, but this story is tremendously thought-provoking about the
horrors of the Holocaust and the deeper meaning of clothes and the
way you present yourself to the world.
The Red Ribbon is a moving story of friendship, kindness and
heroism under impossible circumstances
*Booktrust*
I feel that this book is a brilliant example of showing that hope
and friendship is possible in even the darkest of places, even in
the monstrosity that was the Holocaust, which destroyed the lives
of millions of people. So, to all the readers and dreamers out
there, don't give up hope.
*Grace, aged 14*
There were many instances whilst reading this that I paused, my
heart breaking at what I was reading, like most takes set during
this time period, they are not for the feint hearted. There is a
harsh reality that has to be faced, and whilst this is a fictional
tale there are elements of truth to it and from reading other books
it's quite easy to imagine events playing out as they did in this
book. The rawness of the emotions I felt reading this are a credit
to Lucy Adlington, her writing is superb and truly left me feeling
so caught up in the story of Ella.
*The Quiet Knitter*
This powerful young adult Holocaust novel is an incredibly moving
and important read that resonates with its message of hope and
compassion
*Culture Fly*
The theme of hope running throughout the book and the sadness of
that time brought tears to my eyes and gave me goosebumps. It is a
disturbing, heartbreaking story - especially as it is based on true
events.
I would definitely recommend this book, because it is so
interesting and unexpected. It really left an impression on me -
but be prepared with a box of tissues!
*Times Educational Supplement*
I found this book extremely moving, a great read for anyone who
loves bittersweet endings and sudden twists
*Times Educational Supplement*
Gritty historical fiction with a symbol of hope
*Times Educational Supplement*
I wanted to let you know I finished reading The Red Ribbon, and I
am truly impressed and touched by the sensitivity with which you
handled this awful topic.
*Amy Kanka Valadarsky, daughter-in-law of Irene Reichenberg, one of
the real dressmakers of Auschwitz*
Captivates, inspires and ultimately enriches
*Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz*
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