Love in a Time of War

Lovely War by Julie Berry

Firelight plays across Aphrodite's face. "Do you want to see what real love looks like?"

Berry spins a fantastic tale of love and life, war and death. The story centers on a setup involving three Greek gods: Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus.
A trap is sprung. Aphrodite and Ares are caught. There will be a trial, with Hephaestus serving as judge and jury.
Aphrodite pleads her case by telling two love stories set during World War I. ​James, an aspiring architect and Hazel, a talented young pianist meet in England and fall in love before he leaves for the front. Colette, a Belgian girl with the voice of an angel and Aubrey, an African American composer and performer meet in France where both are entertaining troops stationed in Europe.

​Apollo and Hades offer corroborating "testimony" and contribute important details. Interestingly, Hades relates his narrative from the perspective of those who experience death, both in the moments preceding death as well as the life after death.

"I just hope that the war doesn't...change him, you know?"
"It's unavoidable that the war will change him."

Berry does not shy away from graphic descriptions of murder, racism, cruelty, and war-related injuries. Life for her characters is not simple nor is it always just.

Reading this novel and especially the book's final chapters will require either a large box of tissues or, if you want to stay true to the time period, a few dozen handkerchiefs.

Occasionally I encounter a book that I call a masterpiece. Lovely War is one such book. The writing is sublime, filled with tenderness and hauntingly exquisite imagery. There are battle scenes so real that I could taste the acrid smell of gunfire from deep in the trenches. A kiss delayed before finally being realized is as sweet as the ripest peach, waiting until the exact moment of perfection before it is plucked from the tree and savored in all its deliciousness. Juxtapositioning the agonizing story of a soldier's tragic death against a young toddler building and demolishing block towers is sheer brilliance. ​Berry relieves the tension with clever asides and sly humor.

This YA novel comes in at a substantial 500 pages, including a Historical Note, Selected Bibliography, and Acknowledgements. That's big enough to be a doorstop and may be a bit daunting for some teen readers. But don't let size deter you. Every chapter, every single word is pure gold.

Note: When I first picked up this historical novel and began to read, I was puzzled by the cover. After l finished reading, I understood its significance. You’ll get no spoilers from me. But after you read the book, let’s discuss!

Want More? Try These

Elizabeth Wein's World War II series is classic. Code Name Verity earned a Prinz Honor Award.

Martha Brockenbrough's story of love and death involving two gods and two mortals.

Characters James Reese Europe and Noble Sissle are real individuals. Listen to this recording of their Ragtime music from the World War I era. 
​The period photographs and other images of music and African American musicians add context to the story.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: March 5, 2019  Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers  ISBN:  978-0451469939