The second novel by Grinberg (author of Variations on the Beast) is a delightful story of a precocious nine-year-old growing up in the throes of the Second World War. Harry Glass, the Britain-born, accident prone, mischievous child of Jewish immigrants in London, often finds himself in trouble with the grownups. Though he resents the constant criticism of his parents, there are people he adores: his Aunt Lily and his music teacher Miss Levenstein. After the fall of France, Harry is sent to a farm in Wales as an evacuee. He loves his adopted family and his teacher but an unexpected turn of events has him back in London just before the Blitz. Few authors succeed in portraying the mind and behavior of children with the insight and power that Grinberg demonstrates here. An adult Harry narrates the events of his childhood, but there is no emotional distance between the later perspective and the present of young Harry as readers are plunged into his world, with all of its perceived injustices, anxieties, heartaches, and triumphs. Though his parents’ criticism gets to him sometimes, and the war looms over everything, nothing deters Harry from being his normal curious self, and he is aware in his own fuzzy way of their love for him. Among many characters it’s a pleasure to meet, including the protagonist, Owen the Welsh nationalist, sassy Gwen, and Captain Ashbourne all linger in the mind.
Often hilarious and briskly paced, with never a dull moment, Wild About Harry deftly portrays the anxieties and tensions in an immigrant family’s life alongside the nuances and complexities of parent-child relationships. War-era London—with its wireless sets, candlestick telephones, and schoolmarms with stiff upper lips—comes alive in these pages. The author also effectively captures the enchanting Welsh countryside and life on a farm. Readers will find this brilliantly told story of WW II Britain from the perspective of an intelligent and sensitive child an absorbing, humorous, and poignant read.
Takeaway: Accomplished story of an imaginative child in Britain during WW II.
Comparable Titles: Michelle Magorian’s Good Night, Mr. Tom, Rachel Seiffert’s A Boy in Winter.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Funny, emotional, and full of heart; a hugely relatable must-read.
Grinberg’s captivating tale of growing up in Britain during WWII chronicles the struggles of an immigrant family navigating complex parent-child dynamics in war-torn London. It is 1938, in London. Harry Glass is an eight-year-old Jewish boy who’s full of life and unyielding to authority—much to the chagrin of his immigrant parents. As news from Europe reaches their ears and home, fear sets in. So, when France falls in 1940, Harry is sent to Wales to live with a farm family. Though shipyards near his new home are bombed and raids occur, nothing prepares Harry for the destruction he finds back home four days before London’s bombings begin. Grinberg’s work stands out for its ability to capture the thoughts and actions of his young protagonist with precision and force. Told in Harry’s first-person voice, the novel takes readers along to experience the world as perceived by Harry, filled with distress, joys, and a pervading sense of dread due to war. Harry’s frustration over wanting to be understood but never trusted by grown-ups, particularly his parents (though nothing stops young Harry from being his mischievous, inquisitive self), adds a layer of conflict to the affecting narrative. The finely crafted portrayal of characters goes beyond the young boy, providing an immersive experience for readers. Grinberg also brings to life London during WWII, the Welsh countryside, as well as farming life in Britain during the era. Though Harry often experiences heartache and despair, this is ultimately a comforting story of family, friendship, and growing up. A stunner.
