Seeking Refuge

Gr 5–8—This follow-up to Watts's Good-bye Marianne is a fictionalized account inspired by the author's real-life experience with the Kindertransport, a heroic rescue operation that brought Jewish children to Great Britain prior to World War II. Eleven-year-old Marianne flees Austria, arriving in London in December 1938. Though she trusts her family's decision to send her away to safety, it doesn't make the process any less painful as she struggles to adjust to a new country and sponsors who never seem pleased with her. Cold Aunt Vera treats Marianne more like hired help than a guest, while Auntie Vi is overprotective and views her as a replacement for the daughter she recently lost. Her days pass in confusion, hurt, and sadness. Black-and-white pencil sketches reflect a mood of loneliness and the bleakness of the time period. With about six panels per page, it can be difficult to discern the action, given that the sketches are shadowy and individual features are very small and similar. The glossary, which defines terms associated with the Nazi Party and Welsh phrases that appear in text when Marianne must flee London late in the book, does a great job of explaining terms at an age-appropriate level without shying away from harsh truths. Though the conclusion may feel abrupt, middle grade readers will appreciate the happy ending.