THE ALICE NETWORK
by Kate Quinn
Have you noticed how many wonderful novels have been published recently about women and the various interesting roles they played during the World Wars? FromThe Nightengale by Kristen Hannah to The Women In The Castle by Jessica Shattuck toManhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan to Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly to Atomic City Girlsby Janet Beard, we can now experience through historical fiction some of the important ways women contributed to the war efforts. The most recent book I’ve read in this genre and absolutely loved is The Alice Network.
The Alice Network masterfully lays out the stories of three different women, over two World Wars. Our protagonist, Charlotte, finds herself unmarried, pregnant and on her way to Switzerland to take care of her “Little Problem,” when she decides to follow her heart and search for her beloved cousin, Rose, who went missing at the end of World War II. After running away from her mother and traveling to Paris, Charlotte joins forces with Eve Gardiner and her Scottish driver, Finn. Over the course of the novel, Eve reveals the brutal yet fascinating story of her life as a spy for the French resistance to Germany. All the while, Charlotte gets closer to finding out what happened to Rose.
As the story unfolds, we watch the kernel of strength that Charlotte displayed in running from her mother grow and mature. By the end of the novel, Charlotte is in command of her life and has the means to handle all the awful realities she discovers about what happened during the war – to Eve and to her cousin. This is the story of strong women. You’ll want to read it and share it with all of your children who likely don’t know some of the important ways women contributed to the US war efforts. (Liz)
A SECOND HELPING
My mom loved this book and so did I! The story of the female spies of WWI intertwined with a post-WWII search for a lost cousin gives you everything you need for a thrilling adventure with a few intelligent, strong, inspiring women at the center. (Lily)
