Tamar

This six weeks I decided to read Tamar by Mal Peet. Candlewick Press published the book in 2007. It’s a historical fiction book about WWll that takes place during the Hunger Winter of 1944-1945 in Nazi-occupied Holland. This book trades off between 2 different time periods as well 1944-45 and 1995. Tamar and Dart are British operatives that are parachuted into Holland to help piece together the fragmented Dutch resistance into a unified force. The second Tamar is Tamar’s granddaughter, his namesake born 50 years later. Her grandfather was a big fan of puzzles and riddles and when he dies he leaves her a box of different objects (money, maps, half finished crossword puzzle) that all connect in some way. In her part of the story she tries to figure out what the underlying message is that he’s trying to tell her. You may find yourself slightly confused it you don’t pay attention to what time period you’re in, but it isn’t that difficult to keep track of.  I would say the theme would be discovery; the characters in both time periods were all trying to discover something whether it was war plans or a message from a dead relative.

It mainly trades off between the point of view of 3 different characters Tamar, Dart, and another Tamar.  It’s nice because since it’s written from mainly 3 different points of view you get to connect with multiple characters, although on different levels. The plot is mainly Tamar and Dart trying to unify the Dutch resistance into an allied force that will make more of an impact against the Nazis. Tamar in 1995 is trying to figure out what her grandfather is trying to tell her through the articles that were carefully left in the box. I think the author wrote this for teenagers, it enlightens you about some of the horrors of the Second World War, but in a story that makes it not as intense. The author uses foreshadowing and a wavering story that makes you want more, and want to figure out what happens. The author uses words that are not difficult to understand but a concept and story line that is different and intriguing, as well as creates characters that you may not be able to relate to but is written so that you want them to succeed.

The book affected me because it made me realize how good I have things compared to how people were in the war. Even Tamar in 1995 had her challenges even though she wasn’t alive during the war, her dad left her when she was ten, and then her grandfather dies and he was like another fatherly figure that stepped in when her father wasn’t there. People in the war had to deal with the Nazis which in and of themselves was a challenge, they feared for their lives daily, they were starving, didn’t have enough clothes in the winter to keep them warm, didn’t have enough food.  It didn’t change any ideas or beliefs or ideas that I held previously, but I am glad that I don’t have to live through that. It did remind me of “Number the Stars” by Lois Lowry.

I did enjoy reading this book, but I found some parts of Tamar’s (1995) story boring at times. The author seemed to have most of his creativity on Tamar (1944-45) and Dart. However even though it was slightly boring I was still able to finish it quickly which means it was still an enjoyable book and not boring enough for me to avoid reading it. It was a different take on WWll that I haven’t read before and it was well written. I would recommend this if you like books on WWll. 

Abi Pitman

10/10/2013

4/5