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Violins of Autumn

by Amy McAuley (Goodreads Author)

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 240 ratings · 58 reviews

When the Germans begin bombing London in World War II, Betty is determined to do her part. Instead of running air raid drills like most girls her age, she lies about her age and trains to become a spy. Now known by her secret agent persona, Adele Blanchard, she finds herself parachuting over German-occupied France under the cover of darkness to join the secret Resistance m...more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published June 19th 2012 by Walker Childrens

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YA Historical Fiction 2012

27th out of 79 books — 444 voters

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

June 2012

32nd out of 46 books — 129 voters

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Community Reviews

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Apr 09, 2012 Jenn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: besties, teenreadcontest-2012

I love World War II. I love everything about it. If I was a character in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” I’d be one of those women working in the factories or be on the streets of London ducking for bombs. There are so many stories that are left untold. I was happy when I stumbled upon the book Violins of Autumn by Amy McAuley.

The book is beautifully written and takes you on through Adele’s journey. After witnessing a traumatic event, she’s determined to do her part in the war. She never knows...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Leila rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

*This is a Goodreads First Reads Book that I won. Thank you!*

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book. A 16 yr old American girl who's been living with her aunt and uncle in London lies about her age in order to train and then work as a British spy in France during World War II.

Despite the significant time gap between reader and character, Adele (the 16 yr old main character) is fairly easy to identify with. What teenager doesn't go through the "Who am I? What am I doing? Where am I going?" phas...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Maria added it

Shelves: favorites

Guys. It's on my favorites shelf. This is intense.
Sooooooooo gooooooooooood! I'm freakin' out!
Okay. Breath. The awesome things about this book:
- awesome heroine who be awesome!
- fantastic sidekick / best friend who be fantastic!
- lovable love interest who be lovable!
- "last line zingers" be zingery!
- WWII era with AMAZING historical details
- incredible characterization and development
- fantastic beginning and end
Overall: SUPERCALLIFRAGIAWESOMESAUCE
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Caution spoilers below. Proceed at...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Jisha Mishra rated it 4 of 5 stars

just love the cover...

Read the complete review here: http://thebookhog.wordpress.com/2013/...

Edited:

Loved the book too.

I can't say why, exactly, I fell in love with this book. I have read many accounts of the Nazi invasion - both fictional and non fictional. I can't even say this book really stood out from among them - that honour remains with 'The Diary of Anne Frank'. But the glimpse this book offered into young people drafted and expected to serve as spies... was laudable and very convincing....more

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Apr 02, 2013 Amanda Kitz rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of those amazing discoveries when browsing in the library, this book is staged in World War 2 in France with a special young lady working in espionage with the Resistance. The author expertly leads you through the intricate story-line, and the characters are so exquisitely constructed that they seem more real than you and I. The characters experience real dangers, real emotions, and real thoughts and dialogues... it's too perfect to be fictional. One of the best books I have read in a long t...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Ella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, ya, pretty-good

(posted on my blog)

I had to have this book the moment that I saw it was about a female spy during the second World War. Given the fact that for some reason I never really thought that anyone would need female spies during WWII (I have no clue why, it makes perfect sense that they would), I was intrigued by the possibilities of this book.

The best thing about this book is that there isn’t a slow start at all – you are immediately placed in the middle of everything. There’s no “My name is so-and-so...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

A young spy is captured in Nazi-occupied France and interrogated about her mission. No, this isn't CODE NAME VERITY. It's VIOLINS OF AUTUMN, and the book may begin with a flash forward to Adele's interrogation, but her story begins a little over a month before in May 1944.

The Allies are poised to invade France at any moment. Meanwhile, their spies must arm and train the French Resistance in preparation for D-Day. Plain, unassuming Betty, now known as Adele Blanchard, is a courier. Trustworthy an...more A young spy is captured in Nazi-occupied France and interrogated about her mission. No, this isn't CODE NAME VERITY. It's VIOLINS OF AUTUMN, and the book may begin with a flash forward to Adele's interrogation, but her story begins a little over a month before in May 1944.

The Allies are poised to invade France at any moment. Meanwhile, their spies must arm and train the French Resistance in preparation for D-Day. Plain, unassuming Betty, now known as Adele Blanchard, is a courier. Trustworthy and poker-faced, fluent in French and German, it is her job to pass secret messages throughout France. It isn't long before things go wrong for her and fellow spy Denise, leaving them stranded in Paris with downed pilot Robbie.

I enjoyed VIOLINS OF AUTUMN despite not being a historical fiction fan. (There is more than enough history woven throughout to thrill any World War II buff.) A great deal of my goodwill is for Adele. She's an admirable character. She thinks fast on her feet and is extremely practical. She's a young woman who knows that her decisions could result in her death or the deaths of others. She begins the book armed with a poker-face, quick lies, and her training, but by the end she must use everything in her arsenal to survive.

There is, of course, romance. Robbie, a sixteen-year-old, lied about his age to join the Air Force and is too soft for the situation he finds himself in. Pierre, a handsome member of the French Resistance, thinks Adele is nothing more than a flighty girl. I appreciated that Amy McAuley gave her heroine two love interests but didn't force a love triangle. Adele is too busy fighting an underground war to worry about which boy she likes.

The missions were quite exciting. Germans lurk around any corner, ready for any slip, from accidentally speaking in English to ordering black coffee. (Due to rationing of milk and sugar, black coffee was assumed.) Adele must complete her missions with little more than a bike and a notebook.

I also liked the friendship between Adele and radio operator Denise. Denise is a little more impulsive than Adele, but she's a skilled spy in her own right and a good friend. I've recently read a lot of books centered around female friendships and I really can't get enough of them. Friendships last a lifetime, especially when your friend is the only person you can trust not to be a double agent.

Espionage, friendship, and romance all played out to the background of WWII. If that doesn't appeal to you, then VIOLINS OF AUTUMN probably isn't your thing. But given how many people love CODE NAME VERITY, I think there are quite a few people looking for just that. (less)

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Jun 08, 2012 Chelsey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Adele Blanchard is a secret agent or spy for an organization known as Special Operations Executive which was aligned with the resistance against Nazi occupied France. The book starts off in a plane flying high above the streets of France where Adele and her partner, Denise Langford, are about to parachute out in order to begin their assignments for the resistance. This book drops the reader right in the middle of the action. One reason why I loved it so much was because from page one until page...more Adele Blanchard is a secret agent or spy for an organization known as Special Operations Executive which was aligned with the resistance against Nazi occupied France. The book starts off in a plane flying high above the streets of France where Adele and her partner, Denise Langford, are about to parachute out in order to begin their assignments for the resistance. This book drops the reader right in the middle of the action. One reason why I loved it so much was because from page one until page three hundred and twenty-four I was right amongst the action and more so, right amongst World War II.

The writing was so realistic and entirely historically correct. From the resistance organization called, The Maquis, to the Nazi and French police, it was all very relevant to the happenings that actually took place during the war. Being someone who appreciates every inch of history, I was entranced by the book and by the fact that Amy McAuley definitely did her homework as far as the research is concerned.

The book was written from Adele’s perspective and such a brave woman was she! She was up against many prejudices being a woman in the war resistance. It was even said to her, “Taking back our country is a job for men. Not for girls” (40). I was curious to see how Adele would respond to that statement and I was very pleased with her immediate response. Adele took comments like these as challenges and eventually proved her worth as a woman fighting for the freedom of her country. She breaks through Nazi and French police and gets information from places like Nazi factories, which the men of the resistance thought they would never see inside of. Her self-esteem is enough to keep anyone reading this book because of the assurance and faith that she places within herself; we need more young girls like Adele.

The relationships that Adele forms within the resistance are remarkable simply because of the issues that they bond over. They are all fighting for freedom for their home and homeland of their people. Her partner, Denise Langford, that I mentioned before is quite the complete opposite of Adele. This, however, is what makes their friendship so monumental. They complement each other in ways that I do not even think they realized that they could. Adele is more realistic where as Denise has more spontaneous and adventurous tendencies. I believe we all need a friend that is the opposite of us so they can drag us into situations that we never thought we would end up in the first place. These girls are running from Nazis, French police, and a mysterious man who keeps following them, but the beauty of their story is that they never leave the other behind.

Lastly, I love the audacity and willpower of both of these women. They considered themselves of the levels of men, and so they should have. Nothing scared either of them and it was so uplifting to think how these two women made such as difference within a movement of men. One of my favorite parts of the book was when Adele is asked by the leader of the resistance movement to train a handful of young men to use the weaponry that will be provided to them. She makes many statements like this one, “After intense SOE training I’m able to handle and fire Sten guns, Bren guns, bazookas, what have you, but the pistol is my personal favorite” (185). Don’t we all wish that we were bad enough to make those kinds of remarks to a crowd of men armed with weapons? She is awesome! The best part of it all is that Adele has the dominating demeanor to her while at the same time she produces the same amount of class and sophistication.

Amy McAuley’s, ‘Violins of Autumn’, was something that I could not put down until I reached the final page and had finished Adele’s story. For anyone who loves a classy yet kick butt heroine or has a taste and love for history, I will immediately recommend this book! It is full of rapidly unfolding characters and plenty of action that will have you biting your nails and literally praying for Adele’s safety. I love Adele and I am sure by the end of this book that you all will too! Will you help Adele defeat the Nazis?
(less)

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Jan 27, 2013 Celeste_pewter rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Disclaimer: I'm going to sound critical of Violins of Autumn in my review. However, this isn't because I didn't like the book. It's more that I liked it, but also saw the potential of what the book could have been.

Also, I still absolutely recommend this book to anyone who's interested.

***

Violins of Autumn was one of those books which I really wanted to love, and I ended up feeling bad that I only liked it.

The premise and set-up of Violins of Autumn is awesome. 17-year-old American Betty a.k.a...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I received "Violins of Autumn" by Amy McAuley as a free book from Goodreads First reads. What a wonderful gift! Not only is the book beautiful, so is the story. I've read a lot about WWII, and D-Day, but "Violins of Autumn" brings to light the role of women as spies sent to join the underground Resistance movement in preparing for D-Day. A great tribute to the women and men who gave all!

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Jul 05, 2012 Allyssa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-historical-fiction

May I first say that I really loved this book? It felt authentic, and I could really imagine myself right there with Adele throughout the whole thing. Set in Paris, right before D-Day, Adele, and American spy for the Allies, has to courier messages, be a lookout for her friend and partner Denise, smuggle important itimes, and sabotage anything and everything that could help the German effort once D-Day has arrived.

My one problem with it was the romance part. The author portrayed Robbie, a downed...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: should-have-sequels, judged-by-the-cover

I randomly picked up this book from the library after seeing the cover. The plot summary grabbed my attention (I had recently started watching the TV series 'Bomb Girls' and really enjoyed it) so I decided to take it.

I'm glad I did! I really enjoyed it and appreciated it. It's obvious that the author has done her research and the atmosphere she creates is amazing. So if you enjoy WWII young adult novels/settings then I recommend this.

The book started a little slow for me but it really picked up....more

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Nov 08, 2012 AnnaBnana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

Adele--known by Betty in another life--is an American in Paris. She is a 16-year-old WWII spy for England--an American who had been living with her aunt and uncle in London, but ran away to be a part of the war effort. The book opens with Adele and Denise (a friend she met during training) dropping from a plane into the French countryside, where their adventure begins.

I enjoyed this book, but admittedly probably would have found it more awesome if I hadn't read Code Name Verity first. That said...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Clare Cannon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

It was interesting to read this alongside Code Name Verity. Both stories recount the life of a courageous female Allied spy in France during WWII, but if one were to compare them Verity is a brutal, worst-case-scenario account of the spy's interrogation and collapse, while Violins is a heroic story seen through teen-romance tinted glasses.

Undoubtedly some research has nourished the plot: we learn about part of the Resistance movement in France, the conditions of civilians and spies in Paris, and...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Adelena (A Page of Heaven) rated it 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars

What first caught my attention was this book's cover. Pearl Harbor was one of my favourite films of all time and the get up of the cover girl reminded me of it & completely captured me. It's quite thrilling, picking a random book up at the library instead of looking them up beforehand on Goodreads. Feels a little like I've been transported back in time, before I became (regrettably) affected by book ratings and all that. Violins of Autumn is also a standalone book, which is...more 4 out of 5 stars

What first caught my attention was this book's cover. Pearl Harbor was one of my favourite films of all time and the get up of the cover girl reminded me of it & completely captured me. It's quite thrilling, picking a random book up at the library instead of looking them up beforehand on Goodreads. Feels a little like I've been transported back in time, before I became (regrettably) affected by book ratings and all that. Violins of Autumn is also a standalone book, which is sort of liberating in a way, given all the trilogies, chronicles and series I've been reading.

Anyway, Violins of Autumn was mainly about WWII , self-discovery, friendship and adventure. It wasn't spectacular but it was very refreshing. My interest in history has definitely been piqued, giving me motivation to actually pay attention during class... Moreover, all the secret agent and spy stuff were really cool! There were quite a few points in the books where I got all teary-eyed because it was devastating, how the people in France had to live, while under the rule of the Nazis.

At first, reading the book was a little strange, since the protagonist had a similar name (or code name) with me. The name thing was another reason why I picked up this book too. I won't lie, having similar names with the protagonist really made the story a lot more personal. My friends do call me Adele in real life so whenever Adele's name was mentioned... it was strange yet cool. Name thing aside, I really loved Adele as a character. She's sort of lost and still finding her place in this world, but which teenager and young adult isn't, really? Although she might be young, her courage and sense of responsibility is admirable. She knows many lives are depending on her and takes her job seriously. However, that doesn't mean she's some overly-mature, boring teen. How else would she have gained a best friend and two admirers?

Most characters in this book had their own little parts to play in the story and I loved that not all the German soldiers were portrayed as ruthless and evil. Everything in the book seemed realistic and I completely understood the required death of some much-loved characters (though that doesn’t mean I wasn’t sad about it). However, many details could have been better elaborated to further enhance the world-building of the plot and the links from one event to the next needs strengthening.

All in all, Violins of Autumn was a bittersweet, enjoyable read that's thrilling and touching. I seriously hope there would be more historical YA books based on WWII because it was truly a hard time for people of all sorts to live through and so many interesting characters could be shaped from that time frame. Beautiful and somewhat light, this would make a pretty good book to read with some tea/lemonade and cookies.

- Adel(less)

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Apr 24, 2013 Kris Irvin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

I'd give this a 2.5 star rating. I feel bad for doing that, because it's clear the author worked really hard on the research for this novel. but...

The characters didn't interest me at all. I didn't get the "best friend" vibe from the two girls in the slightest until about 3/4ths through the book - up till then it was like barely concealed but civil dislike for each other. So weird.

All the tiny characters kept cycling back but they were so insignificant that I would forget their names and then b...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Karen Yingling rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Betty is living in England with an aunt's family after the tragic death of her mother and brother, and is approached to be a spy because of her fluency in French and German. Soon, she is Adele, and parachuting into Nazi-occupied France to work with the Resistance. With her is Denise, who operates the radio they use to communicate with headquarters. Since the Nazis don't suspect girls to be much trouble, the two are able to add a lot of information to the Resistance-- Adele is taken on a tour of...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Alexandria Brim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, european-history, young-adult, reviewed

In 1944, a seventeen-years-old American girl living with her relatives in London named Betty becomes Adele Blanchard and parachutes into Nazi-held France. Part of the British operation helping the French Resistance, she is to become a courrier in Paris while her friend Denise is to become a radio operator. They are first taken in by a welcoming French woman and her less-welcoming son, Pierre. For reasons unknown to Adele, she feels the need to prove herself to Pierre and volunteers to spy on a n...more In 1944, a seventeen-years-old American girl living with her relatives in London named Betty becomes Adele Blanchard and parachutes into Nazi-held France. Part of the British operation helping the French Resistance, she is to become a courrier in Paris while her friend Denise is to become a radio operator. They are first taken in by a welcoming French woman and her less-welcoming son, Pierre. For reasons unknown to Adele, she feels the need to prove herself to Pierre and volunteers to spy on a nearby factory. Denise and Adele head to Paris, rescuing a downed American pilot named Robbie along the way. He and Adele bond but they get separated upon reaching Paris. Their safe house compromised, they scramble to find safe places to stay. Once these are secured, the girls get to work helping the Resistance while Robbie waits to be returned to his unit.

First person present tense must be a growing fad in historical fiction. Once again, my usual complaints per my personal preference remain. But this one has an added reason--the story starts with Adele being tortured by the Germans. So most of the story is technically in flashback, so it should be in past tense. Which would also help when we find out more about Adele's life as Betty. I know many rules aren't set in stone, but I wish changing tenses was one.

Adele is a protagonist one can support, even if she wasn't our narrator. McAuley creates a portrayal of a young woman pretending to be older in a world that's all turned upside down. And she's trying not to die. I like how she's not immediately good at her job. She screws up her first drop. And she loses two bicycles. But she gets better and still manages to spy on the factory. She grows as an agent as D-Day approaches and develops a deep friendship with Denise as well as a relationship with Robbie. Along the way, she also manages to impress Pierre and he starts relying on her more. It makes you wonder how she ends up captured, but the reason is quite good and realistic.

The other characters are interesting as well. Denise at some times was annoying. You wanted to take her, shake her and remind her: "This is war, damnit!" She seemed more interested in being in Paris, shopping and partying. But when she flips out on a German soldier at a nightclub, a new side emerges. (view spoiler)As the danger grows more imminent, she's a good soldier even when the enemy tricks her. (view spoiler) She and Adele have a true friendship which is one of the best relationships in the book.

I do not think I will ever be adding this to my "romance" shelf. It doesn't fit in with the definition of "romance" held by the RWA and the industry. Neither her relationship with Robbie nor hers with Pierre is central to the book. Neither has a happily ever after or even happily for now. (view spoiler) We do not see the end of the war so are not told if Robbie and Adele reunite. I personally would like to believe they do. Pierre was a distraction during the war. Two people facing possible death who found comfort in each other. Even Adele admits she prefers Robbie's company. And you can see the chemistry between them better.

McAuley creates a good picture of Paris under occupation. She also writes the tension the city was under well.

If it weren't for the present tense, I think this might have gotten 5 stars. (less)

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Aug 09, 2012 Alex Baugh rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: world-war-2

While it may be hard not to make some comparisons of Amy McAuley's Violins in Autumn with the very excellent Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, I think it is always better to form my opinion about a book on its own merits.

It is 1944 and Adele Blanchard, her friend radio transmitter Denise Langford, and two men have just parachuted into Nazi-occupied France as undercover agents for the Britain's Special Operations Executive, or SOE, to work with the French Resistance sabotaging German operation...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Recommended Age:
16+

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With its evocatively realistic language and determined heroine, Violins of Autumn drew me in immediately and kept me in its thrall until the very last page. Amy McAuley does a terrific job of blending the simple, happy details of everyday life with the harsh realities and heart-pounding dangers of wartime, creating a nuanced and multi-layered portrait of occupied France during...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Originally reviewed on A Reader of Fictions.

Violins of Autumn mines the fertile literary ground of World War II, which has a seemingly limitless number of stories to be told. The plot of Violins of Autumn follows the work of a teenage female spy in the months leading up to D-Day. While I did enjoy this novel, the timing of my reading was bad. Unfortunately, Violins of Autumn came out on the heels of another novel about a young female spy for the Brits who is captured and tortured, Code Name Veri...more Originally reviewed on A Reader of Fictions.

Violins of Autumn mines the fertile literary ground of World War II, which has a seemingly limitless number of stories to be told. The plot of Violins of Autumn follows the work of a teenage female spy in the months leading up to D-Day. While I did enjoy this novel, the timing of my reading was bad. Unfortunately, Violins of Autumn came out on the heels of another novel about a young female spy for the Brits who is captured and tortured, Code Name Verity, and I could not help comparing the two, which weakened my experience of VoA.

This novel begins, as so many do these days, with a brief into a climactic scene from the end of the novel. This technique has become exceedingly popular in YA fiction and, while it can and has been used to great effect in some cases, I maintain that it should be used sparingly. The right scene put at the beginning can create dramatic irony, keeping the reader on tenterhooks throughout the book to figure out what's going on or how the main character ended up in that situation. If this technique does not succeed, it comes off simply as a lame attempt to create additional drama, often having the adverse affect.

The opening dramatic snippet of Violins of Autumn depicts Adele's torture by the Nazis. Adele (though her real name is Betty, I prefer her spy name for her and will refer to her that way), we now know will be captured at some point, and, based on the ending of that concluding section, possibly die. Wow, really, prologue? You mean a spy might be tortured or even die? Can this be true? This felt like such an unnecessary ploy, as I already expect that sort of stuff to happen in a novel about a spy and I felt less interested knowing what was coming than if I had been waiting to find out. Plus, Code Name Verity also opens with torture, and that made comparing the two even more inevitable.

Where Violins of Autumn wins over Code Name Verity is readibility. The story is much less complicated, the characters simpler and it also doesn't make you want to weep for the rest of your life. For the reader that loved the idea of a teenage spy but could not get through Code Name Verity (and seriously no judgment for that since I nearly DNFed it too), Violins of Autumn is the book that you're looking for.

McAulay keeps the plot moving along at a steady pace. Missions and danger and Nazis abound. All of the action kept me turning the pages. While I didn't particularly connect with the characters, nor did I dislike them. Adele is capable and skilled with language, so that was awesome. She avoided making stupid mistake and proved herself much cleverer than a lot of the other spies we see in the book, though she does struggle to do so well. However, I did not care for the love triangle, which resolved in an annoying way. Adele is one of those 'I love them both in different ways' girls, which I just cannot stand. With constant possibility of death, I am all for enjoying oneself, but attraction and fear do not love make.

The ending of Violins of Autumn struck me as the weakest part of the book. I thought it too optimistic. In the chapters before the last two, some sad things happened: people died, torture, etc. Yet, in those last two concluding chapters the tone is one of unmitigated celebration. There is not one mention of the fallen comrades, and, while I don't think they should wallow, THIS JUST HAPPENED. I expected something a bit darker and more contemplative.

Looking back on my review, I see how most of my comments are negative. I want to stress that this isn't a bad book; I did enjoy it. The timing was just off. Had there been a year or two gone since I read Code Name Verity, which covers the same basic concept, I would have appreciated this much more. So, if you've read CNV, give yourself some time.(less)

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Sep 05, 2012 Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction-ya, war_ww1-ww2-vietnam, 2012

Y’all, I picked up Violins of Autumn by Amy McAuley despite hearing little to no buzz about its release. I love historical YA, and seeing the magic word spy got my reader senses all a-tingle. The WWII backdrop definitely came to life and I found myself very much enjoying most aspects of this story.

Our intrepid heroine, Betty (code name: Adele), isn’t satisfied sitting on the sidelines. She lies about her age so she can train to become a spy. Along the way she makes an unlikely best friend, falls...more Y’all, I picked up Violins of Autumn by Amy McAuley despite hearing little to no buzz about its release. I love historical YA, and seeing the magic word spy got my reader senses all a-tingle. The WWII backdrop definitely came to life and I found myself very much enjoying most aspects of this story.

Our intrepid heroine, Betty (code name: Adele), isn’t satisfied sitting on the sidelines. She lies about her age so she can train to become a spy. Along the way she makes an unlikely best friend, falls in love with an American pilot and manages to pull off more than her share of bravery. This all makes for a very engrossing read, y’all!

The one weak spot of Violins of Autumn is definitely the romance. It isn’t the focus of the story, and while I’m glad…I was disappointed with Robbie, the American love interest. Bless his heart, he just didn’t do anything for me. I wasn’t feeling the swoons. I did feel a little more with Pierre, the French bad-boy resistance fighter. Cue the groans – I can hear you guys already. “Nooooo! Not another love triangle!” Well, fear not. I definitely don’t think there was enough development to call it a triangle. Just enjoy the boys for what they are and focus on the real strengths of the story!

From parachuting into Nazi-occupied France until its liberation by Allied forces – we follow Adele and see the part she plays in the war. From undercover tours of enemy munitions factories to dodging check-in points on bicycle – there certainly aren’t a lot of dull moments! Then, when things start to go wrong, Adele has to ferret out the existence and identity of an unlikely double agent.

Seriously, I loved seeing Adele’s growth throughout Violins of Autumn. She has to deal with a lot of confusion and growing pains along with the constant pulse of danger. Seeing how the war was changing her while at the same time seeing her struggle not to let it? Definitely made the pages keep turning. I found so many passages very elegantly written:

“Regular life. It still goes on around me.

While a kind man was working up the nerve to ask me on a date, I was working up the nerve to kill him with my bare hands.”

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, Violins of Autumn by Amy McAuley is definitely a book you’ll want to pick up!(less)

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Mar 22, 2013 Amanda McCrina rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, wwii, france, eto

Two and a half stars. I liked it more than I thought I would; I was afraid the characters would be too obviously modern teens written into a WWII story, and for the most part that wasn't the case. There were some nice period details. But the plot felt thin and disjointed (more on that in a moment), predictable in places, lacking closure in others. The love triangle felt forced, shoehorned in to meet YA genre conventions; Adele conveniently forgets about Pierre when Robbie's around, and vice-vers...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

I still don't understand the title but I really enjoyed the book. It's a historical fiction about young women serving as British (Allied) spies in France during WWII. I appreciated the intensity and suspense the author created as she portrayed what these women experienced as they tried to support the Allied forces during the war.

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Feb 22, 2013 Adrienne rated it 4 of 5 stars

After lying about her age, Betty has become a Special Operations Executive, alias Adele, and parachutes into France to serve as a courier for the French resistance. Adele has been well-trained but at the same time, nothing can quite prepare someone for the dangers of spying on and opposing the Germans, and Adele, who has been isolated and lonely for most of her life, isn't prepared for falling in love or even forming friendships with her fellow agents.

I really liked this book! It's similar to C...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Bayla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

While I enjoyed reading this, I found myself somewhat detached from it. Despite all the action and danger happening, I wasn't drawn in and it didn't feel real - perhaps because things happened too fast, because there was too much telling and not enough showing.

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Mar 14, 2013 Ifahh rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, history, action, spy, realistic-fiction

"There were ringing telephones, playing radios, children running past open windows. A dog barked or a neighbor's car pulled up to the curb. Ordinary everyday connections I took for granted my whole life - I can't put into words how much I crave them now."

What can I say about this book? It was so beautifully written. It brought tears to my eyes, knowing this book would be almost realistic enough. Who knows? In this story we see the heroine (yes, heroine. I don't want to use protagonist as she des...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Tracie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school, historical

A young woman lies about her age to join special ops during WWII. She goes under cover in France and works to overthrow the Germans as she makes friends, falls in loves and faces danger including torture.

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Nov 01, 2012 Aliisa Percival rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amazing perfect book about a 17-year-old female spy during WWII in France! It has great friendships, nice romance, and a bit of suspense! I would probably warn for some violence and non-explicit torture.

1 like · like · see review

Aug 26, 2012 Lindseyandrick rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, I loved this book! It's about an American spy and her travels into France. She has some amazing adventures and is so strong and courageous throughout them all. Great historical fiction:)!

1 like · like · see review

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Historical Fiction

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Young Adult

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Romance

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History > World War II

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War

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Young Adult > Young Adult Historical Fiction

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Young Adult > Teen

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Mystery

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About Amy McAuley

Amy McAuley grew up in Kincardine, Ontario, a small town on the shores of Lake Huron, where she read voraciously and dreamed of one day becoming an author like her idol, Judy Blume. She is the author of the historical YA, VIOLINS OF AUTUMN, published by Walker & Co, and OVER AND OVER YOU.

She now lives in London, Ontario, with her family and two cats.

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