The Year It All Ended

by Kirsty Murray

On Armistice Day 1918 Tiney Flynn turns seventeen and it feels as though her life is just beginning. Her brother and his friends are coming home from the Great War and her sisters are falling in love. But Tiney and her family find that building peace is far more complicated than they could ever have imagined.

Tiney's year will hold a world of new experience, from tragedy to undreamt-of joy, from seances to masked balls and riots in the streets. At the end of a war and the dawn of the jazz age, Tiney Flynn will face her greatest fears and begin a journey that will change her destiny.

'The story of [the sisters'] struggles to come to terms with grief, anxiety, and unbearable loss at the same time as trying to forge some kind of realistic future is tough and believable and ultimately heartwarming.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, War, Fiction, Australia

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2015

About the author

Kirsty Murray is a multi-award-winning author of more than 20 books for children and young adults. Her works include eleven novels as well as non-fiction, junior fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction and picture books. She loves books, libraries, bookshops, readers, writers, puddles, puppies, and stories – especially stories about kids and teenagers. Her 2019 releases included the non-fiction title 'Kids Who Did' and a gorgeous new picture book 'When Billy was a Dog', illustrated by Karen Blair. 'Strangers on Country', by Kirsty & Dave Hartley with stunning illustrations by Dub Leffler was published in 2020.

You can find me all over the internet. There's stacks of information on my website at:

hhtps://www.kirstymurray.com


and I'm on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/kirstymurrayauthor



and Twitter:

http://twitter.com/kirstymurray

Reviews

[Debbie Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is the first young adult fiction book that I have ever reviewed and it is definitely a worthwhile read. Murray sensitively tackles some big issues - Germans living in Australia during and after World War I, the effect of the war on the soldiers that survived and the impact on women’s lives as well.
I am a little bit disappointed by some glaring historical points that I encountered early on which really broke the spell for me just as the author was creating and building the world that 17 year old Tiney Flynn is moving in. There’s mention in late 1918 of both cloche hats and the term flappers. The word flapper was not in common use until 1920 at the earliest and cloche hats weren’t worn in Australia until 1922/1923. There is also mention of wisteria flowering in January and later in the novel the green fields of England in February. These things are minor but very frustrating when you consider all the marvellous research work Murray has obviously done for the rest of the novel.
Kirsty Murray convincingly sets up the Flynn household - Tiney and her three sisters, their German mother and their Australian father that is now out of work because he used to teach German. There are some excellent details about the announcement of the end of the war and the street scenes in Adelaide afterwards are very evocative.
At the beginning of the novel Tiney is working in the Cheer Up hut for returned soldiers. Conflict regarding the speaking of German is woven nicely into the plot as is the storyline concerning Paul, Tiney’s cousin, who wants to go to Germany and find out what’s happened to his brother. There is also mention of the problems arising because Germany won’t sign the Peace Treaty. All these things help to provide a complete world that the Flynns live in day to day.
With the return of the McCaffrey boys Murray really shows her skill in portraying the damaged George and the problems that his behaviour creates. Around this time tragedy befalls the Flynn family and Tiney is faced with a whole set of challenges that test her In The Year It All Ended.
For anyone interested in the impact of the Great War on the returned servicemen and the families left behind, this book really evokes the hardships of those times. I found the last fifty pages or so particularly moving with nothing to break the spell of a young woman learning about the new world dawning in 1920 and her place in it.

[Anna Blanch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book from my school library as it was one of the only interesting books I could find. I must say, I really enjoyed it. It was kind of nice to read a book when the world wasn't ending (although being set after the war, the world was being rebuilt in a way).
Tiney Flynn is a normal girl, the youngest in her family, and she is relatable and mature as well as cute and funny. It was interesting to watch the way she changed over the course of the war ending and the Jazz Age beginning. She felt lonely at times as various members left and went through many hard times.
I really don't have much to criticise about this book. I liked the characters and their personalities and it was interesting to hear about a time in history I know little about. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationships between characters and the deaths throughout where very effective and tear-jerking.
I would definitely recommend if you feel like a different style of young adult fiction.

4 STARS

[Chloe Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a a fascinating read on what life like for German-Australians living on the other side of the world when the Germans were considered the enemy we were fighting against.
The Great War to end all wars was supposed to have happen and so everyone went partying and some went travelling to Europe- Paris especially, during the 1920’s to enjoy their freedom.

[Eugenia (Genie In A Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This review also appears on the blog Genie In A Book*

4.5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Year It All Ended is a fantastic piece of YA historical fiction set in Australia after the conclusion of WWI. While many novels explore the nature of the war itself, in this case Kirsty Murray has taken into account the consequences of life when some soldiers return, and others do not. It seems that even after the short burst of euphoria on Armistice Day 11th November 1918, many who made it back were broken men, and the families who lost their relatives in the war are left to grieve. I loved this book for its honesty in portraying what life must have been like for many Australians affected by the war, with an enthralling plot and well-developed characters.

But who can know anyone now? The war has turned those boys inside out, and the skins they're wearing, they're not the skins they left home in.

Aside from looking into the aftermath of the war, the novel also touches on some other issues of the time. The influenza outbreak which had been across Europe and traveled to Australia had an impact on Tiney's family and others, affecting some of the post-war celebrations. Elements of the Jazz Age come into fruition also play a small role, which in some ways lightened the mood in places. In essence though this story is one of a family trying to move forward after a tragedy, and finding closure for parents to see where their son rests. It is about the relationships between sisters, between potential yet complex love interests and finding peace after one of the biggest conflicts in modern history.

Inside her was a stillness so deep, so profound it was as if she had been hollowed out. She felt like a bell, as if the touch of another human being might set her ringing, a sound so pure and sad that everyone would weep when they heard it.

Martina, or Tiney as she is better known, was a character that stood out. The youngest of her sisters at seventeen years old, she still took it upon herself to look out for each of them, and her parents too. I admired her strength throughout the book, even during the toughest times. This work highlights that 'the women left behind' during the war also had hardships to face, not knowing what was truly happening to their loved ones, or if they would ever see them again. There is some emotional depth to the story while being based on the facts, which adds to its appeal as one which readers could connect to.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Year It All Ended conveys the sentiment among Australians after WWI and how to pick up the pieces to move forward. This is my second novel by Kirsty Murray and I will definitely be reading more from her in the future.

[Emma Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

There is nothing I did not like about The Year It All Ended. Despite how it made me cry, it also made me smile uncontrollably. I could never see or guess what was just over the page, but that kept me reading.
With all the time we spend learning about this era in school, I never got a real understanding of what it was like to live then. Kirsty Murray gave me that understanding. It was a history lesson that I could actually relate to and I felt a deep connection with Tiney Flynn.

Above all, what I loved the most about The Year It All Ended, was the ending, which I am generally never satisfied with.

[Phe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Kirsty Murray for three things:
1) you made me enjoy a work of Australian fiction, which happens all too rarely;
2) you included excerpts of relevant and moving Australian poetry, and you did it in such a way that it didn't feel artificial;
3) you reminded this historian/history teacher that the lens we should be using to view history is through the "tapestry of daily rituals" rather than "a sequence of interconnected acts of aggression."

[Bron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of this book - what it was like for the families who had their sons, brother etc who went to war and didn't return and how it was when the waar ended. I thought the book picked up significantly in the senond part when Tiney went to Europe.

However I could have easily not finished this book for several reasons. Being set in the city I live and speaking of the area in which I grew up in I found the misspelling of Cobdogla inexcusable especially as it was neither uniformly correct or incorrect, the spelling kept changing to Cobdolga. I actually thought maybe this was a self published book as I also find it astounding that between the author, who thanked a list of people for helping her with research, and an Australian publishing house that no one picked up the glaring error that the Riverina is in NSW not SA. Rather the region that Cobdogla is in, is the Riverland in South Australia not the Riverina, as frequently referred to in the book. I found this utterly infuriating. Googling that would take all of three seconds!

I also think this book would have benefited from a better editing. I thought the scene where some of the family are suddenly at a seance was really random and did not fit with the characters at all. It felt like the author had an idea she just wanted to use to maybe appeal to the younger audience she was writing for??? Also this was set just prior to the 1920's but flappers were not really a thing when this book was set so some of the use of this imagery didn't really fit.

I actually think that there is a good book buried in this version of it, if only it could have been polished into being.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes you to a historically significant era through the eyes of a 17 year old girl who lives in Adelaide as World War One ends. It follows Tiney’s journey to adulthood as she learns the fate of the men who fought, the resulting impacts and the expectations of society at the time. It takes you into her world, with all the heartache and joy.

[Sami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at random at my school library, although it took me a couple chapters to get into it I was fully emersed in the descriptions and talent from the author. I adore this book

[Astrid J · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good. the sad bits were not too crushing, for those who don't like crying.

[deniz ♡]

dnf at 25%

[Jess G · Rating 2 out of 5]

absolutely traumatised

[KJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best historical fiction books i have ever read. amazing, intriguing, writing style that is easy to read. addresses some informative issues that australia faced after ww2, through the perspective of a family that lost people in the war. definitely recommend for others that are interested in starting with historical fiction!

[Liana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Year it all Ended was quite the emotional story. It tore at your heart strings and forced you to confront the tragic possibility of living during a war and losing someone you loved. Through Tiney’s eyes you got to see firsthand the struggle she went through in order to understand the death of her brother and the frustration she felt with her family and other circumstances that prevented her from fulfilling her dream of wanting to find where he was buried; to find closure and say goodbye. For some people death is the end and when you’ve heard that someone has died you say your peace and you move on but some people need more. Tiney’s Dad needed more. He needed to understand how something so tragic could have happened. He needed to hear from someone, someone that he would 100% listen to, that he lost his only son. Tiney needed to be close to her brothers body in order to move forward and because she couldn’t she felt the gaping hole that was left inside of her at not being able to say “goodbye” properly; ie. Face to face in a way. That was all she wanted. All she needed and it was a struggle to get there.

The opening, “Before” describes a time that has a habit of coming to the forefront many a time because it helps the reader relate to Tiney and understand her close connection to her brother. You were able to place yourself in her shoes and see firsthand the affects the war has had on her and the people around her and it struck a chord inside you that made you realise that death and war has lasting effects on the ones that were left behind.

There was one part in particular that brought tears to my eyes and that was when Tiney met an old lady in the graveyard her brother was buried. She was looking for where her son might be even though it would be in an unmarked grave and she had no way of knowing if that was where her son really was. And the old lady had said to Tiney “…A mother should be able to sense where her boy is resting, shouldn’t she?...” She was distraught at not knowing where he was; couldn’t make herself select one grave and be happy with it. And as a mother myself, I realised just how she felt. I would be at a loss if either of my two boys had died and I never knew where they were. I would feel as if I could never rest or move forward until I could see my baby/babies and say goodbye. And that was the point of this story – to see how hard it would have been for thousands of people/families to take the word of a military letter that their child was dead and that they may never see them again.

It is one of a kind novel that gives you the point of view that no one ever reads about: the point of view of those that are left behind and having to deal with the effects of the war. It was very real and easy to relate to and one I will most likely never forget. Kirsty Murray has created a fantastic novel about history that I recommend everyone read if they really want to understand what war does to everyone and not just the soldiers.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I commend Murray for writing about the aftermath of the First World War from a fresh angle. She touched on many issues: the upheaval and grief felt by so many families who'd lost a loved one, the future for returned servicemen particularly those physically and psychologically damaged, the role of women in Australian society, the social mores of the time, and references to world politics. I connected with the Flynn family early in the story as each member of the family was introduced to the reader. I had a strong sense of individual characters, particularly the four sisters as they developed into young adults and made new lives for themselves.
I found Tiney's trip to Europe later in the novel improbable but understand Murray was using poetic licence. In truth, trips to the battlefields shortly after the war were taken by very few Australians but for those who did, it was usually the wealthy parents of the deceased soldier. Murray got around that problem by having Onkel and Tante pay for Tiney's trip.
Another reason I initially connected with The Year It All Ended was because it was set in South Australia so was disappointed when some inaccuracies appeared. On the second page the author refers to 'togs', a term not used by South Australians. It might have been wiser for Murray to have used 'swimming costume' or 'bathing costume' even if the South Australian colloquialism 'bathers' was not in common use at the time. Another mistake was to suggest the settlement of Cobdogla was in the Riverina district. Yikes! The Riverina district is in New South Wales not South Australia. Cobdogla is in the RIVERLAND region of South Australia. Again, though there is little evidence of the now common term 'Riverland' in use in 1919 it would have been better to have written that the settlement of Cobdogla was on the River Murray near Berri or Renmark. Perhaps these mistakes can be rectified should the book be reprinted? Many readers wouldn't know (or care)about the particulars of geography but it's irritating to read these inaccuracies when you're familiar with the area.
On the whole, a solid story.

[Mel Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd been wanting to read this for a while, because it falls into that weird transitional spot in history after WWI but before the whole 1920s 'Jazz Age' thing. Because I'm a historical pedant, I found some of the period world-building and exposition a bit clunky – and it did annoy me that the author seems to have introduced the 'flapper' archetype to late-1910s Adelaide – earlier than it would have been widely adopted in Australia. The vampish, glamorous image on the front cover didn't develop until at least the mid-1920s; the Phryne Fisher books are set in the late 1920s. But I understand that to 'sell' the book to a YA audience, perhaps it needed to be spiced up with familiar 1920s signifiers such as bobbed hair, short skirts, sexual freedom and dancing the Charleston.

For me the book picked up considerably when the heroine, Tiney, travels to Europe. The tone gets a lot darker and Tiney gets to be spunkier, with a romance of her own. The earlier sections set in a household full of girls were fluffier and reminded me of Sugar and Spice . I did like the way the book explored the fraught position that German-Australians found themselves in during and after the war, and the ongoing trauma on the home front due to a generation of men with PTSD whose suffering wasn't adequately recognised or treated. It was quite affecting to learn at the end that Tiney was inspired by a relation of the author.

Overall, this was a light and enjoyable read. I whipped through it in a couple of days.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first word that comes to mind after reading this book is emotional. At first there is the joy of the ending war, followed by the sadness of the many Australian boys who never came back from the First World War. They were buried so far away, and many families never were able to visit the places Tiney goes in this book. Her story was that of a German family living in Australia during the war too, despite the fact they consider themselves Australian, they quite often referred to their German origin too.

I love YA historical novels, and read any I can get my hands on. This one was particularly compelling because of the Australian author and scene. The writing is beautiful too, and the characters are exquisite. I love as well that this is set just after the war ends; too often we think yep, the war ended and everything went back to normal fairly quickly. We forget the destroyed towns, families. It was a sad but precious thing to read about.

Hopefully you read this review and go out wnd buy this book. You won't regret it, there isn't anything to criticize. Definitely Five Stars!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful heartfelt read that really pulls at your emotions as it shows not only what happened during WW1 (the facts) but also how it affected so many others, sometimes for the rest of their lives, it was both confronting and enlightening.

The information about actual burial sites in each area and the travel was well researched. The after effects of war was heartbreaking.

While this story is fiction it is based on people's accounts and experiences that the author documented and then changed the names and characters to create a fictional but historically accurate version of WW1 and the aftermaths in several family situations.

Get ready for the tissues, its heartbreaking in places, breath taking in others and then it will make you smile. how could a book offer more and its so well written and very easy to read.

I have never read work by Kirsty Murray before but it certainly won't be the last of her books I read, if you have to pick one book to read next year (2015) make it this one. 5 stars all the way

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book gives a sensitive indication of family life during post-WW1 Australia. It raises many relevant cultural issues which would lead to good classroom discussion.

[Elouise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book but if you’re looking to read something happy, this isn’t it (except for the perfectly romantic ending). This wonderful book maps out all the trials and tribulations an Australian family faces during World War One, and in the aftermath. It is an emotional ride for the reader and it made me realise how fortunate I am. From the first chapter, the characters draw the reader in, allowing them to experience the past and understand the history of Australia. This book is a great edition to the Australian WWI canon and it makes me excited to explore more books as Australia commemorates the centenary.

[Josephine Baumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was told by my boss that this book was going to become an important book to remember, she was not wrong. 'The year it all ended' is a stunning portrayal of the lives of those truly affected of the aftermath of World War One, the families of the deceased, the ones who's tales are often forgotten.
From the first chapter Kristy Murray emotionally draws the reader in to not only care about the protagonist "Tiney", but also her brother, her family and the love and sacredness between their relationship. Definitely a book worth reading!

[Katg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first couple of pages - really captured a moment in childhood so clearly and this moment resonated so much that I re- read those pages once I had finished the book. Otherwise I enjoyed the book but nothing compared to that perfect capturing of a moment at the beginning of the book - perhaps that is kind of what the author intended. Nothing else compared to that moment of security as character grows up at the end of the war

[Brigid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for school and it was actually very enjoyable and I learnt lots of new things about World War 1 and how it affected not only the soldiers, but the families they left behind and the different communities of France and Germany, and how war torned they became.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end of WWI from the perspective of those left behind; sisters, friends, mothers. A good read, but not brilliant, makes a nice companion read with the abc series The war that changed us.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book, but I was disappointed that the ending felt quite rushed

[Tanya Grech Welden · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://tanyagrechweldenyawriter.wordp...

[Nella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moving story of a family caught in the grief of the aftermath of World War 1. Some very clever writing with subtle references - "wolf boys" etc.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!

[Jaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly wonderful read, and a rare and true look at the world after the "Great War".

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Lovely central character. Easy, nice read.