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When the World Was Ours

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When the World Was Ours

By: Liz Kessler
Narrated by: Tom Lawrence, Willow Nash
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About this listen

One moment can change a life forever.

A powerful and heart-breaking novel about three childhood friends living during the Second World War whose fates are closely intertwined, even when their lives take very different courses. Inspired by a true story, this is the perfect story for fans of The Book Thief and Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl.

Vienna, 1936.

Elsa, Leo and Max have always been best friends, a special team of three. Then the Nazis come.

As a growing darkness descends around them, Leo and Elsa run for their lives, taking two very different paths across Europe. And Max, once their closest friend, now becomes the enemy as he is drawn into the Hitler Youth. Will the friends ever find their way back to each other? Will they want to?

Inspired by a true story, When the World Was Ours is an extraordinary novel that is as powerful as it is heartbreaking, and shows how the bonds of love, family and friendship allow glimmers of hope to flourish, even in the most hopeless of times.

Three friends. Two sides. One memory.

©2021 Liz Kessler (P)2021 Simon & Schuster UK Historical Fiction History & Culture Literature & Fiction Fiction

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Critic reviews

"When The World Was Ours is Liz's masterpiece...an instant classic." (Anthony McGowan, winner of the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal)

"An exceptional read." (The Sunday Times)

"Vital glimmers of hope enlighten this profoundly poignant book." (Guardian)
All stars
Most relevant
This book makes you think of the innocent lives lost to war. Parts of it made me smile and made me sad.

Emotional read

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Full of love, hope for the future and tragedy coming together to make a brilliant story.

A Great Read

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It was so amazing and really sad. An awesome book I would definitely recommend it hone you like it as much as I did

Amazing

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It’s difficult not to leave a no spoilers review.
I’ve no idea what I can say to encourage people to read this book…
It’s very visceral, though gently written it doesn’t hold back any punches.

Read it.
Look into your heart as you look at the world today.

Make changes if needed.

We need to learn from this recent history and not let it happen again

Harrowing

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You will smile, Cry, and realise how precious life is and how lucky you are.

Incredibly, amazingly sad

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