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Book Reviews​

8/29/2019

13 Comments

Never Young

 
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Author: Krystyna Bellamy
Genre: Memoir


Krystyna was destined for a life of hard labor. The eldest child in a small Polish community, she helped her family scratch a meager existence from the soil. Disappointed in her beloved but volatile binge-drinking father, she is desperate to avoid the fate of her depressed, melancholic mother. Though she squirrels away every penny for a train ticket to the big city, where she dreams her aunt will take her in and love her, she despairs of ever having enough.

When she turns eleven, an innocent mistake makes her the target of vicious small-town gossip. Then a miraculous opportunity presents itself. Certain her prayers have been answered, Krystyna embarks on a dangerous journey to a uncertain future. Will she find a safe haven-and the chance to experience childhood-before it's too late?

Never Young is a compelling story, exploring the complexities of family and the power of a young girl's faith.

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Reviewer: Marta Aldrighetti

This is a true story, set in Poland, the year 1955-1960, city of Topola.

Krysia, eleven-years-old, is the main character in the book, and she tells the story of her life to the readers.

She lives in a small rural village, Topola, where all the people know each other and where all are farmers with vegetable-gardens and some animals.

They work to survive, no more left to sell.

Nice sentence: "But we are family, after all, and we should love each other no matter what. Jesus loves everyone, and He tells us to do the same".

Krysia is a hard worker with a warm heart. She loves Jesus and talks to Him, hoping for a better future, and she loves nature.
​
The book is written in first person, so the story is easy and fast to read. The language is clear and easy, also for me because I'm Italian.

13 Comments
Annemieke Blaakmeer
10/2/2019 03:10:07 am

Love to read this story.

Reply
Dawn link
2/4/2020 09:47:04 pm

Good read

Reply
Annemieke Blaakmeer
10/2/2019 03:11:56 am

Great story to read.

Reply
Margot Snow
10/3/2019 04:31:28 pm

Amazing book by an inspiring author.
Loved it.

Reply
marilyn kennedy
10/4/2019 08:40:08 am

This book Never Young, takes the reader on a journey back in time to our youth. Tho Krystyna Bellamy has told her story from Poland, many of us can relate, as the theme is universal. Well done Krystyna!

Reply
SLAVOMIR ALMAJAN link
10/5/2019 06:14:54 pm

Intriguing, emotionally charged story of a child without childhood from far Eastern Europe. Krystyna, keep writing!

Reply
Margot Snow
10/9/2019 08:04:21 am

Fantastic book

Reply
L. Biffard. Very true
10/10/2019 11:31:39 am

Very interesting

Reply
Carol Mayo
10/11/2019 12:15:42 am

I liked how the book is written as if the girl was writing it at the time it was happening. Very insightful of the author to be able to do that.

Reply
Jane Rozek link
10/11/2019 10:52:54 am

I felt like I was there and a child too. Loved the voice you projected in the story. Well written!

Reply
RJanet Bayman
10/24/2019 01:35:50 pm

Compelling story of a childhood that never was. .

Reply
Shelly
1/30/2020 11:03:39 pm

Oh my gosh, what a story. Right from the heart, loved it!
The fact it is a true story ......brought me to tears.

Reply
Bill Andersen
2/3/2020 02:36:25 pm

I was glued to this book and Krystyna gave me a real feel for what it was like growing up during that time. Things were so hard and expectations so high for those little ones. I felt every fear you felt and I cheered on your every victory...Well written and a compelling read. Well done, Krystyna.

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