When We Were Young & Brave

A Novel

By: Hazel Gaynor

Narrated by: Rosie Jones, Imogen Church

""Gaynor's story of courage and strength will make you believe in the heroic spirit in each of us."" —Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home sets her unforgettable new novel in China during WWII, inspired by true events surrounding the Japanese Army’s internment of teachers and children from a British-run missionary school.

Their motto was to be prepared, but nothing could prepare them for war.

China, December 1941. Having left an unhappy life in England for a teaching post at a missionary school in northern China, Elspeth Kent is now anxious to return home to help the war effort. But as she prepares to leave China, a terrible twist of fate determines a different path for Elspeth, and those in her charge.

Ten-year-old Nancy Plummer has always felt safe at Chefoo School, protected by her British status. But when Japan declares war on Britain and America, Japanese forces take control of the school and the security and comforts Nancy and her friends are used to are replaced by privation, uncertainty and fear. Now the enemy, and separated from their parents, the children look to their teachers – to Miss Kent and her new Girl Guide patrol especially – to provide a sense of unity and safety.

Faced with the relentless challenges of oppression, the school community must rely on their courage, faith and friendships as they pray for liberation – but worse is to come when they are sent to a distant internment camp where even greater uncertainty and danger await . . .

Inspired by true events, When We Were Young and Brave is an unforgettable novel about impossible choices and unimaginable hardship, and the life-changing bonds formed between a young girl and her teacher in a remote corner of a terrible war.

best audible I have ever heard

loved it. the story, the history, the voices. I could wait to find out what happens next.
very well written

Engaging

The narrators voices were great and accents kept my interest and focus. I only heard a few trips in the flow or switching when one narrator did more than one voice, and they were minimally distracting. The storyline and history were very interesting. There were some places it seemed to get lost in the weeds, perhaps for length, and I would drift away. Then the story ended with wanting ‘the rest of the story’ which is touched on as an afterthought, but could have been an important piece of the story and replaced the ‘weeds’. Overall really enjoyed the book, learned some things, and mostly stayed engaged, the narrating adding so much to the experience.

Loved everything about it!

The narration of Imogen Church captured me from the beginning. but the whole book was wonderful.. I always appreciate a historical fiction book that tells the story in a personal way without adding unnecessary side plots. I also appreciated that it had no swearing in it and even delicate topics were handled in a discreet rather than vulgar way. The appearance of Olympic champion turned missionary, Eric Liddell, was another special treat. Highly recommended for adults and teens.

Experience every emotion!

I loved this and will be listening to it again! I couldn't get anything else done!

Loved this book

I don’t give many 5 scores, but this book deserved it. I’ve read a lot of fiction novels based around WWII, and sometimes they get boring. There are so many books about the WWI and WWII era that they can get old. This book gives a different look into the era. Narration was good.