Set during World War II, A Parachute in the Lime Tree illustrates how war can define a generation. Author Annemarie Neary introduces readers to four young adults whose heart-wrenching experiences mingle and intertwine. I was especially drawn to the tale of piano prodigy Elsa. The plot moves nicely and I loved learning more about Ireland’s stance during the war. Neary excels at conveying each character’s hopes and dreams — as well as their desperation at a world turned upside down. A lovely and satisfying ending makes A Parachute in the Lime Tree a novel I will never forget.
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by The History Press Ireland
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 9 religious exclamations, 5 mild obscenities, 2 derogatory names, 1 scatological word
Violence/Gore: Several second hand reports of violence involving bombings and war injuries; a character is slapped, characters are involved in a bombing, and a character is struck in the back of the head; many die violently in non-detailed scenes due to German air raids.
Sex/Nudity: 4 incidents of kissing; a man paints a nude portrait of a character; a sexual reference is made involving a character’s “manhood”; an affair is reported; a scene of masturbation occurs; a character is undressed against her will; sexual activity occurs without explicit detail between adults; a half-page explicit description of sex involving prostitution occurs.
Mature Subject Matter:
War; death; love; religious conflict and the Holocaust; separation; illness
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Several instances of drinking and smoking.
