Hello all, and welcome to All About Books. Today, I'll be discussing the interesting sort-of- historical fiction novel, The Romeo and Juliet Code.
Now, don't be fooled by the title. This isn't just another love story that follows the romantic archetype. This is about trust, truth, adjusting.
This book starts out where we find a young Felicity Bathburn-Budwig being dropped off at her grandmother's house in America. You see, this takes place in the 1940's, right around the time the US joined the second World War. There is lots of bombing in England, so, like many other parents, Felicity's parents are sending her off to safety until the war ends.
Felicity Bathburn-Budwig is a typical Englosh eleven-year-old, except for one thing: she still clings to her stuffed bear, Wink, and talks to him like he's real. At least she realizes that she might-just might- be too old for Wink, but refuses to give him up. She is also very upset that her parents are just dropping her off in a place where's she's never been before, to live with people she's never met before. At the same time, she is very curious about her new surroundings.
Sooner than you know it, Felicity witnesses an awkward reunion between her father (whom she calls Danny) and her Uncle Wilson. She later finds out that there was a very serious quarrel in the family, and that's why Danny and Winnie (Felicity's mother) stayed in England
Felicity (whom is nick-named Fliss by Uncle Wilson) discovers lots of secrets on the very first day she arrives. Her grandmother, called The Gram, refuses to talk about her son Danny, there is someone named Derek locked in his room and never comes out, the biggest probably being Wilson's receiving letters from Portugal, in hand-writing that Fliss swears is her father's
Later in the story, we get to meet Derek, who is only one year older than Fliss. He hides in his room because he just got over polio, which paralyzed his left arm. He's very se;f-conscious about it and hardly gets out of bed except to see Fliss. As the story progresses, though, he loses this pride.
When Fliss intercepts one of the letters from her Danny, she sees that it is all in code, and she can't help but think that her parents are in trouble. She has to crack the code, mend her family's quarrel, all while surviving her crush on Derek. All this leads to a surprising confession from Uncle Wilson and Winnie.
I found that this book starts out very slowly, and that you don't get a very good idea on the characterization of everybody until the end! As the letters come in it gets interesting, though. When I finally finished it, i was begging for Phoebe Stone to write a sequel so I can learn more about Fliss and Derek's relationship now, and get a follow-up on Winnie and Danny. Sadly, this was not to be :(
Until next time, abinata!
P.S. I will get my review of the second half of the Carter House Girls Series ASAP!
