I went to Spain in 7th grade and I really do think the art, architecture, and history has been a part of me ever since. A highlight and privilege of this trip was our viewing of Pablo Picasso's 'Guernica'. Even at a young age I was moved. That is the reason I wanted to read this book-- to learn more about history through historical fiction.

I feel as though this book had a simply amazing beginning and gradual build-up to the actual bombing event. The characters were lovable and I was interested in them. I ached inside because I felt and knew that they were headed toward tragedy.

And it was tragic. The descriptions of the bombing of Guernica were ruthlessly terrible. As it should be. The chaos was real and the damage incomprehensible.

However, after the bombing and the immediate aftermath is where I begin to find fault with the book. I don't know what the author was trying to do-- was he trying to let the characters have some redemption? Part of me feels as though he was concerned more with telling the story of the painting after the bombing, and thus it carried on until he finally felt as though he had built it up enough to let his Picasso have those final words to the Nazi soldier who had come up to him while he was having his cafe.

In summation, I was pleased with the book up until the aftermath of the bombing, and then I felt that it lost focused. However, the characters were rich and the core topic still, and unfortunately always will be, a timely one.