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The Red Ribbon

'Captivates, inspires and ultimately enriches' Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
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( 5,339 ratings, 787 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Red Ribbon by Lucy Adlington is set during World War II and centres around a young girl named Ella who works as a seamstress in the harsh environment of a concentration camp. Through her sewing, she forms unlikely friendships and harbours dreams of survival and freedom. The story intertwines themes of hope, resilience, and the power of creativity amidst adversity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are drawn to historical fiction that blends resilience and friendship against the harrowing backdrop of World War II. This poignant story focuses on a young girl surviving in a concentration camp, exploring themes of hope, courage, and the power of creativity through her passion for dressmaking. It's perfect for readers who appreciate emotionally compelling narratives with strong, relatable characters.

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Rose, Ella, Mina and Carla. In another life we might all have been friends together. But this was Birchwood.

For fans of The Diary of Anne Frank and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Rose, Ella, Mina and Carla. In another life we might all have been friends together. But this was Birchwood.

For fans of The Diary of Anne Frank and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

‘Captivates, inspires and ultimately enriches’ Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Nominated for the CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2019

Rose, Ella, Mina and Carla. In another life we might all have been friends together. But this was Birchwood.

For fans of The Diary of Anne Frank and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

As fourteen-year-old Ella begins her first day at work she steps into a world of silks, seams, scissors, pins, hems and trimmings. She is a dressmaker, but this is no ordinary sewing workshop. Hers are no ordinary clients.

Ella has joined the seamstresses of Birkenau-Auschwitz, as readers may recognise it. Every dress she makes could mean the difference between life and death. And this place is all about survival.

Ella seeks refuge from this reality, and from haunting memories, in her work and in the world of fashion and fabrics. She is faced with painful decisions about how far she is prepared to go to survive. Is her love of clothes and creativity nothing more than collaboration with her captors, or is it a means of staying alive? Will she fight for herself alone, or will she trust the importance of an ever-deepening friendship with Rose?

One thing weaves through the colours of couture gowns and camp mud - a red ribbon, given to Ella as a symbol of hope.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Red Ribbon by Lucy Adlington is a gripping young adult novel that offers a well-researched portrayal of life in a Holocaust concentration camp. The narrative is praised for its seamless integration of historical facts into a compelling story and its sophisticated exploration of moral questions. Critics appreciate its sensitive handling of the subject matter for its target audience, highlighting themes of friendship, hope, and humanity amidst the horrors. This novel is frequently compared to other notable Holocaust literature, noted for its potential impact both in classrooms and on screen.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781471407161

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 12 July 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Hot Key Books

Audience: Teenage

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 226g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Lucy Adlington is a writer and clothes historian. Her novels for teenagers, including The Diary of Pelly D, Burning Mountain and The Red Ribbon have been nominated and shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, the Manchester Book Prize, the Leeds Book Prize and the Rotherham Book Award. She tours the UK with dress history presentations and writes history books for adults, including Women's Lives and Clothes in WW2: Ready for Action, and Stitches in Time: the Story of the Clothes We Wear.
Find out more at www.historywardrobe.com or on Twitter: @historywardrobe

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  • The Dressmakers of Auschwitz
    The New York Times Bestseller 'Lucy Adlington tells of the horrors of the Nazi occupation and the concentration camps from a fascinating and original angle. She introduces us to a little known aspect of the period, highlighting the role of clothes in the grimmest of societies imaginable and giving an insight into the women who stayed alive by stitching' -...
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