I carried this book around like it was my lifeline – without it I felt I would tumble into the abyss right along with Juliet’s patients. For the first time, I didn’t listen in at lunch conversations at work, I read. I read with fervor and passion, anxious to find out if Juliet found out what happened to her brother. In the end, though, it didn’t matter – and that was the most glorious part of the story.

Generally, I’m not a huge fan of books that either jump extended amounts of time or cover great swaths of time in a short period in what I can only describe as a diagonal approach. However, in The Secret of Raven Point, doing so enhances the story telling – while being a nurse during World War II was certainly eventful, I have a feeling that most days, the activities were fairly similar – there are only so ways a bullet or mine can decimate a human being and only so many limbs that can be removed. As such, Jennifer Vanderbes skips to times that are relevant to the plot line she is developing, almost like giving a few select cross-sections of the narrative.

While Juliet’s initial and final goal is to learn the truth about what happened to her brother, it is not prevalent on each and every page. The notion is not drilled into the reader to the point where one shouts, “I get it, enough already!” Juliet has a life, she does other things, has a little fun, and does not spend every waking minute focused solely on her goal. The things we care about can consume us, but they do not need to define us.

It is rarely the case where I read a book that I end every page thinking “There’s no way I could have written that sentence,” or “How did she do that?” Words are words, they only gain meaning when we arrange them in particular ways. Typically, I won’t read a book that has any type of gore at night as I am susceptible to nightmares (Night by Elie Wiesel and Forgotten Fire by Adam Bagdasarian particularly so) but the way Jennifer Vanderbes wrote about the horrors of World War II was both powerful and palatable. But words cannot accurately describe the sensation of being pulled headfirst into Juliet’s world on the front lines of the forgotten front of World War II, the heart of Italy. ( )

https://wifflegif.com/gifs/575010-silver-linings-playbook-jennifer-lawrence-gif ( )

This book was more substantial than I expected. I though it would be a bit of a romance, but it was far more realistic.

Juliet receives a mysterious final message from her brother before he becomes MIA in the European theater in WWII. She trains as a nurse and enlists in order to try to find him. Horrific wartime experiences ensue. It is a powerful story, with characters that seem very real and a plot that is quite believable. I particularly liked that the chaplain was a really good guy, because often the church gets to play the bad guy in fiction.

SPOILERS AHEAD:
My main criticism of the book may not even be warranted and can only be discussed by giving SPOILERS: At the risk of proving myself a provincial boob with no literary discernment, I have to say I am frustrated at the lack of closure with regard to the book's title. I keep saying to myself and those around me, "What IS the secret of Raven Point?" Tuck's letter sends Juliet scurrying across the sea to the midst of war to search for him and find answers to his message, and about halfway through the book the author stops mentioning it altogether. What did Tuck mean in his message about Miss Van Effing and Cher Ami? Even if Juliet is never able to find Tuck's answer, surely she formed some opinion of it herself, but there is no further discussion of it. Maybe that's the point, that life does not always have closure and that mysteries are not always solved, but it frustrated me nonetheless.
END OF SPOILERS.

This book kept me riveted throughout. It was fast-paced and unpredictable and gave a fascinating picture of an army nurse's life, as well as some thought-provoking information on the state of psychiatry and the army's take on mental health at that period in our history. I highly recommend this story! ( )

This is a powerful book, hands down. It’s an emotional journey through loss, the horrors of war, and a young woman growing up in very trying circumstances.

I liked that the author wasn’t afraid to explore the truly gruesome and gory of war. The reader gets plunked down right in the middle of the action and experiences the same pain and loss that Juliet and the others do. The emotions this book brings up are incredible. I was alternately angry at the hopeless situation faced by some, tearful at the tragedy of so many young people lost so quickly, and peacefully cheerful at the quiet moments the characters found now and then.

I liked the characters, too, especially Juliet. She grows throughout the book in a very realistic way, from internally focused teenager to a world-weary adult. I grew to like her as an individual and as a vehicle through which the story is told. I liked all the secondary characters, as well, even Brilling. They’re all realistically portrayed and feel three-dimensional, like they’d step right off the page.

I’ve never read a fictionalized account of the American nurses, their co-workers, and their patients during WWII. It gives me new respect for all involved, seeing and at least in this author’s hands, experiencing, all the horrors and tragedies in evidence. I also was very interested in seeing battle fatigue explored in a WWII context. I’ve only ever read it in a WWI context. It was fascinating to see how it was dealt with thirty years after that first Great War and to see how many of the same misconceptions were still in use.

The one issue I have is a minor one. One aspect of the book, Tuck’s last letter, was never fully explored. It’s mentioned multiple times throughout the book, moving the story forward and keeping the letter’s existence in the forefront of reader’s minds. Yet, it’s never fully, explicitly explained why Tuck wrote what he did. Given the material covered in the book, I can make an educated guess, which I guess isn’t that horrible. But a bit more explanation directly would have been nice.

At the end of the day, though, that’s a very inconsequential quibble. The characters are vivid, the story was intriguing, and the author’s not afraid to go where few have before in the emotions and horrific material portrayed. I was kept spellbound by this book and definitely would recommend it to anyone looking for a different perspective on WWII. ( )

Take a step back in time to the early 1940s and WWII and live a coming of age story about a young girl becoming a woman.

In 'The Secret of Raven Point', we follow Juliet Dufresne from a small town in South Carolina to the front line of the war in Italy. Through her journey as a nurse, she grows up much quicker than most would like, and sees things nobody ever should. These experiences allow to grow as a person and shape her into the woman she will become.

I very much enjoyed reading 'The Secret of Raven Point' and at many times found it hard to put down. The WWII era has always been one of fascination for me and Jennifer Vanderbes did a wonderful job of bringing it to life. The words and descriptions made it very easy for me to play the entire store out in my head and feel as though I was right there with the characters and living their every move right along with them.

I very much recommend this book and look forward to reading more by Ms. Vanderbes in the future.

*I received an Advanced Reader's Edition in exchange for an honest review* ( )