When We Were Young & Brave

When We Were Young & Brave follows teacher Nancy Plummer and her students at Chefoo School, a British boarding school in China during World War II. The story spans from 1940 to 1942, as the Japanese army's presence in China grows increasingly threatening. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese military takes control of the school and forces the teachers and children to relocate to an internment camp. The narrative alternates between Nancy's perspective and that of ten-year-old student Kathleen Clegg, showing how both adults and children navigate their new reality. The characters must maintain their school routines and British traditions while confined within the walls of the internment camp. Through Nancy and Kathleen's experiences, the book reveals how education, friendship, and determination help preserve hope in the darkest circumstances. This historical novel examines resilience and the power of community, particularly how children's adaptability can triumph over trauma. The story illuminates a lesser-known chapter of World War II history while exploring themes of survival and cultural identity.

Readers emphasize the emotional depth of this WWII story about children in a Chinese internment camp. Many note the detailed historical research and appreciate learning about this lesser-known aspect of the war. Liked: - Dual perspectives between teacher and student provide complementary views - Character development, particularly of the children - Educational value about the Chefoo School history - Balance between darker themes and moments of hope Disliked: - Pacing feels slow in the middle sections - Some found the teacher Nancy's voice less compelling than student Ollie's - Several readers wanted more details about what happened to characters after the war Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (12,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (2,000+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Makes you think about how children cope with trauma and maintain resilience in impossible situations." Some readers note the book works better as historical fiction than as a thriller, despite marketing suggestions.

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🔷 The book was inspired by true events at the Chefoo School in China during WWII, where British and American students were interned by Japanese forces from 1942-1945. 🔷 Author Hazel Gaynor was moved to write this story after discovering a photograph of children playing in the courtyard of the Weihsien internment camp, where the real Chefoo students were held. 🔷 The novel was published under two different titles: "The Bird in the Bamboo Cage" in the UK and "When We Were Young & Brave" in the US. 🔷 The real Chefoo School teachers maintained a full academic curriculum throughout their internment, even creating textbooks from memory when their materials were confiscated. 🔷 Temple Hill, one of the camps featured in the book, was actually a former American Presbyterian mission compound before being converted into an internment camp by Japanese forces.